METRO is pleased to announce the recipients of the METRO Studio Internship:
Read more about these three great projects at The Bytegeist Blog.
The METRO Studio Internship is an opportunity for graduate students, recent graduates, and individuals in career transition to engage in high-impact projects using the equipment and space available in the METRO Studio. Interns will foster collaboration, discover and apply innovative techniques, and gain valuable professional work experience. Institutions gain the benefit of a dedicated intern funded by METRO, working on a focused project to advance institutional capacities.
The METRO Studio internship will involve at least 120 hours of work over the course of a semester on a project within libraries, archives, or museums. Projects might focus on digital archiving, born-digital collections, digital humanities, or other relevant areas. Each internship will focus on providing hands-on training, project scoping and management, and exposure to a typical work environment. The program will offer a level of autonomy for each intern that will further develop skills they will need when transitioning from entry-level positions into mid-career or managerial positions.
Interns will utilize the METRO Studio to expand access to collections, innovate organizational thinking, and broaden engagement with cultural heritage materials and data. The Studio is an open community space that offers tools and resources focused on the digitization, description, and presentation of cultural heritage materials. It features a recording studio, an audiovisual media transfer station, flatbed scanners, media migration and recovery stations, and mobile digitization equipment. It also boasts an event space with a square footage of 1,150 feet, two additional meetings rooms, and a newly-renovated shared kitchen and common space. Interns will have full access to the METRO office and Studio space regardless of institutional placement or fieldwork.
The program allows individuals or supervisors/institutions to propose a project. Individuals must be currently enrolled graduate students, recent graduates, or individuals in career transition. Proposals can focus on a special interest or research question and can involve student or community groups as appropriate. METRO is available to assist individuals in matching with an institution if necessary. Institutions must be METRO members and may appoint their own intern or be matched with an intern by METRO. If you are unsure if your status is relevant, contact Margo Padilla at mpadilla@metro.org.
New projects or projects currently planned or underway are welcome. Special consideration will be given to projects that demonstrate the capacity to serve underrepresented communities, as well as projects that show how the project will continue to be supported after the internship period has ended.
Yes. Interns will be paid $15/hour for 120 hours of work completed over the course of the Spring 2019 semester ($1,800 total stipend). Professional development and regional travel funds may also be available. Interns are not eligible for benefits. The stipend will be paid directly to the intern.
Yes. Program staff are available to meet and talk with you in person or over email/phone and assist with devising and refining a project proposal, discuss institution-matching, or any other assistance you might require in the application process. Contact Margo Padilla at mpadilla@metro.org.
Note: Dates subject to change.
Strong proposals will focus on advancing institutional capacity, exposing hidden collections, or improving the collection, preservation, and availability of records of New York’s under-documented communities.
While digitization might be the primary activity, projects should also be engaging and demonstrate value for the organization, the wider cultural heritage community, or underrepresented communities.
Proposals can focus on a special interest or research question and can involve student or community groups as appropriate. METRO can also work with interns to pair them with an appropriate institution.
Projects must utilize the equipment and resources available in the Studio. Projects can embrace the Culture in Transit model of taking equipment to different locations to scan/record/migrate collections or conduct trainings. Interns will be trained on use and handling of all equipment. Interns can use the conference rooms and event space at METRO for meetings, gatherings, presentations, trainings, or events.
Interns are required to create at least one item for wider benefit to METRO members (e.g. toolkits, documentation, exhibits, workshops, etc.) in addition to regular project work.
Interns may be asked to contribute a blog post to the METRO blog, meet semi-regularly with other METRO Studio interns, or present on their work to the METRO staff.
The internship must entail at least 120 hours of work over the course of a semester to qualify for funding. Intern supervisors will be expected to confirm hours worked.
Examples of projects include but are not limited to those involving:
The application period has closed.
Questions about the program? Email Margo Padilla at mpadilla@metro.org