SAMUEL S. FLEISHER ART MEMORIAL POSITION DESCRIPTION

TITLE: Gallery and Studio Assistant
POSITION CLASSIFICATION: Part-time Internship
WAGE CLASSIFICATION: Unpaid, College Credit
REPORTS TO: Visitor Services Manager

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION

The Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial is the nation's oldest tuition-free art school and a thriving community hub, providing transformative arts education to people of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels. In addition to its roster of free classes, Fleisher offers tuition bearing workshops, operates a year-round exhibits program including the prestigious Wind Challenge Exhibition Series, and provides art instruction in Philadelphia's public schools through its Community Partnership in the Arts (CPA) program. For more information, visit www.fleisher.org.

BACKGROUND

The Fleisher Art Memorial is a vibrant organization serving a wide range of participants. Recent facilities improvements and programming enhancements have led to a welcomed growth in several divisions. The year-round exhibitions program at the Fleisher Art Memorial consists of over a dozen shows in two locations, involving both professional and student artists. The primary goals of the exhibitions department are to support the artistic growth and skills development of artists, and to provide an environment in which artistic exploration and innovation is fostered and promoted.

Fleisher Art Memorial seeks an intern to support the organization as it grows to accommodate an expanding audience in our new building at 705 Christian Street. Such benefits of interning with FAM are: a singular learning experience at the oldest tuition free art school in the nation; the ability to learn first hand about the active and creative art scene in Philadelphia; meet and network with a lot of people in the industry; learn about programming, exhibitions, and studio spaces geared toward community participation. As an intern at Fleisher, you will be overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Center for Works on Paper. This includes greeting and maintaining a secure environment for visitors, and participating in the installation and de-installations of exhibitions. Some of the duties of the internship will include:

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Greet visitors and students


• Provide information on exhibit, artists, and FAM


• Monitor studio visits, keep log book of studio hours and attendees


• Interact with contemporary artists


• Assist FAM staff and faculty with opening and closing of the gallery and building


• Maintain order and cleanliness of the studio classrooms


• Occasional other duties as needed

TRAINING & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Preferably a BFA, BA, or MA candidate [Studio Art, Museum Ed, Art History, and Art Ed Majors welcomed]


• Knowledge about printmaking processes helpful, but not required


• Passionate about contemporary art


• Strong written and verbal skills


• Strong communication & interpersonal skills


• Computer proficiency with Microsoft Office and ability to use constituent management database software to its fullest capabilities


• Well presented and well mannered


• Sense of responsibility and reliability


• Respect for artists and artwork


• Comfortable working with a diverse audience within the Fleisher community

The commitment will be either 1 semester or can be extended to a full school year. The weekly commitment is approximately 8-10 hours. This is an unpaid internship; yet, interns will have access to workshops, open print studio times, discounted school store purchases, and admission to the Philadelphia Museum of Art as incentive.

INTERNSHIP GUIDELINES

• Student Projects: The internship is both an academic and vocational experience. In order to complete the academic component of the internship the student must create a tangible work product. The work product can take a variety of forms. Examples of acceptable projects include a research paper, a weekly journal, and/or project reports. The student should negotiate the specifics of his/her project with the gallery supervisor and the Museum Studies Internship Coordinator.


• Supervision: The college or university and Fleisher Art Memorial jointly supervise the internship.


• Evaluation: Fleisher Art Memorial will provide an evaluation of the student's progress as required by the college or university.