I had a great internship experience at the Maryland Science Center. On my
first day I came all dressed up and ready to write. They looked at me and
said "Can you paint?" So I painted for two weeks, but after that I got to
do real exhibit development work. They really treated me like a peer and I
learned a lot from the experience. I spent two summers there and worked on
contract during the school year.

I didn't mind doing occasional dirty work because I saw that the full-time
staff had to do it as well. There was a real sense of teamwork.

>I am wondering about people's opinions of interns who come to museums for
>summer experience or more lengthy experience.  Do you feel that the work
>done by interns is more often the "dirty work" or do your museums truly
>offer staff level experience?  If the "dirty work" IS in fact being saved
>for interns, then how can we expect to increase interest in museum work?
>Shouldn't their experiences be similar to what they might encounter as a
>museum professional?
>Former or current interns AND musuem professionals please reply.

Sharyn Horowitz, The Health Museum of Cleveland
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8911 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44106
(216) 231-5010
fax 216-231-5129