I have been following the discussion for a while on this list and haven't
as yet said anything, but I think this thread deserves some mention.

Often times with unpaid internships the museum recieves much more than
the student, networking and experience aside.  However, a student going
into museum work should, above all, consider their goals and needs as both
a student and future professional.  As a student you deserve to pick the
best internship you can and if that includes pay then look for one with
pay and disregard others.  Some will say this is easier said than done
but, hey it is your future.
        Regarding this, I believe students should pick only leading
institutions for their internships.  By this I mean museums setting the
industry standard.  Museums that can't afford to pay interns should
expect to get what they pay for.  Fortunately there is a great deal of
give and take in these situations, and like others have said, housing
deals and other arrangements can be made to offset the lack of actual pay.
        The academic institution that the student is affiliated with
should take these things into consideration for it is also their
reputation that the student will be representing while completing the
internship.  In my opinion this is one area (among the many) that
universities and museums fail to adequately interact.  Museum Studies
Graduate programs (even undergrad), if they are going to give credit for
an internship then, they should have some relationship with the
organizations that will be in charge of the student's education.  The
internship organizations should exhibit the goals of the educational
program.  Often the student is left with the responsibility
of finding an internship and the two organizations know nothing about
each other.


Bill Peterson
[log in to unmask]