On Mon, 8 Apr 1996, Jay Smith wrote: > Jeanne: > > How about asking foundations to help set up and support a fund for interns? > We ask for foundation support for projects, bricks and mortar, programming, > and a multitude of other needs. Why not ask for support for the most > valuable asset that museum's possess--People. > > Jay Smith > Reno County Museum > Hutchinson, KS > I have been reading this discussion with much interest for many reasons. I was a past intern during my undergrad at the Smithsonian (no pay), the Denver Children's Museum (no pay), and the Children's Museum in Boston (minimum wage, part-time). I understand the need to support yourself when doing this but I was so sure about my career path that I found ways to support myself while I was in those cities. Babysitting, cleaning houses, etc. It was all worthwhile; I thought of it as a new adventure--discovering a new city, meeting new people, etc. These have been some of my best memories. Now to the present... Currently, I am a Collections Manager but I also have a strong background in Education. I began the Museum Internship Program here at the Milwaukee Public Museum in Jan. 1991 and since then we have had over 270 students complete internships in depts. from Anthro. to Marketing to Geology. Except for 6 of those positions, all of them were unpaid, some for credit, most for experience. We have anywhere from 65 to 75 students per year and while they would love to have a paid internship, they all understand that it is just not feasible. They accept the internship with this knowledge; they find ways to support themselves. So my advice to you (and I talk to hundreds of undergrad and grad students per year) is don't limit yourself. If you want something bad enough, you'll find a way to support yourself. It is so important to build your resume as well as your character in this field. Now concerning funding for museum internships...Museum people, try something creative! Jay is right, start a foundation, advertise in your museum magazine or newsletter to adopt a student for the summer (or fall or spring). I am just starting to fundraise; I wanted to wait until our program was well-established. I am contacting previous interns and asking for donations. Since I sent out the letters last week, the money has started to come in. Even if the amount is small, don't refuse it. Be grateful. You have to start somewhere. To fund student workers for the summer, we are also having a bake sale and a rummage sale. Granted, this is to support students in our dept. but why can't it be museum-wide? If you raise $500 to $1000 by this method, that is one more student who can be supported. The money I raise for the internship fund will go to help support a student from out of state or out of the country. So...instead of harping on having no money to support students, I would like to hear from museums who have found creative ways to make money to support smaller goals or projects like these. Dawn Scher Thomae Milwaukee Public Museum Collections Manager/Asst. Curator-Anthropology Museum Internship Coordinator Graduate Museum Studies Instructor (So, I wear many hats...museums are my life...good or bad)