Haitian and African American Connections Project Assistant Internship at the National Museum of African American History and Culture Summer 2023

The Office of Curatorial Affairs (OCA), including the Centers, facilitates the intellectual work of the Museum by collecting artifacts, ensuring collection preservation and stewardship, conducting research and scholarship, and sharing the rich history and culture of African Americans and all people of African descent with a diverse public in accessible, multifaceted ways including exhibition, digitization, and publication.

The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. One of its foundational pillars is to help all Americans see how their stories, their histories, and their cultures are shaped and informed by global influences. One sphere of global influence is the long established and deeply rooted artistic and cultural intersections between Black Americans and Haitians. The museum has an interest in developing a project that explores these connections and is offering an internship in association with the planning of this initiative. Rooted in the models set by the cultural exchanges and artistic productions that emerged out of the Harlem Renaissance period in the United States and the indigenism period in Haiti, this initiative will consider where these connections exist today and the synergies that historically and contemporaneously allow them to flourish and be sustained. The initiative will draw from a wide cross-section of artistic genres including music, literature, fashion, art, foodways, museum curation, and more.

The Haitian and African American Connections Intern will work directly with the Supervisory Museum Curator of the African Diaspora with the goal of deepening their knowledge of this topic and developing and refining content research skills. The intern will be given the opportunity to learn program/project development at its conceptual stages, practice critical thinking skills as it applies to audience centered projects, and gain familiarity with museum operations in a curatorial department. By the end of the internship, the Haitian and African American Connections Intern will have gained an understanding of curatorial research processes and museum-specific program development practices. Applicants should be enrolled in or completed a Masters in African American, African Diaspora, Caribbean or Haitian studies; Be able to provide evidence of strong research and writing skills; And excellent oral and written communication skills. Proficiency in French or Haitian Creole is preferred.

Duties Include (but are not limited to):

·      Research and communicate with Haitian and African American organizations and professionals

·      Gather content on SI's Haiti related content for a potential resource guide

·      Research the history of African American and Haitian cultural intersections

·      Research contemporary influencers of Haitian descent across multi-disciplinary arts

·      Develop and refine a list of scholarly and community advisors

·      Assist in the execution of an advisory committee meeting

·      Assist with the development of a conceptual framework for the project

Apply at:

https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/internships-fellowships