Internships

Each year, the Icon Museum and Study Center hosts interns who contribute their talents to the organization while gaining professional skills. Past interns have worked on substantial projects such as curating small exhibitions, creating marketing material, planning programs, and designing products for the Museum Shop. Tasks vary depending on Museum needs and students’ interests. One of the benefits of being at a small organization is that interns can observe all staff and departments while specializing in one particular area. The Museum currently offers in-person, virtual, and hybrid internships.

2024 Summer Research Internships

In summer 2024 The Icon Museum and Study Center (IM+SC) will offer two on-site, six-week research internships: The Raoul and Mary Smith Research Internship and the John Barns Research Internship. Interns will be based in the Study Center and will focus on building knowledge around the icon collection and Eastern Christian art. In addition to having full access to the icons on display and in storage, they will enjoy borrowing privileges at the Study Center library and may make use of materials-based study resources. Interns will take part in workshops on painting techniques and paleography and will join in trips to area collections. In consultation with the Curator, interns will develop a project in the first week of their residency; the internship will conclude with a final presentation at an evening event open to the public. 

The internship is open to advanced undergraduate and graduate students at the MA and PhD levels. Reading knowledge of a modern research language (French or German) and some knowledge of Greek or any Slavic language is desirable but not required.  

IM+SC internships will ideally begin in mid-June, with some flexibility on start dates. 

To apply, please submit: 

  • A statement of interest (1-2 pages single spaced). Applicants should present ideas for a project pertaining to their course of study and the collection. 
  • A C.V. or resume 
  • Names and contacts of 2 references 

Interns at the undergraduate level will be compensated $15 per hour and those at the MA and PhD levels $20 per hour for twenty-eight hours a week (four days). Housing stipends are available with final allotment dependent on available funds. 

Applications are due March 31

Please submit all materials to the Curator, Justin Willson ().

Since its founding in 2006, The Icon Museum and Study Center has hosted wide-ranging exhibitions including Two Museums / One Culture (2008) with the Tretyakov Gallery, Treasures from Moscow: Icons from the Andrey Rublev Museum (2010), Byzantium to Russia: Origins and Development of Russian Icons, 1200 to 1900 (2015) with The British Museum, In Company with Angels (2016), Rushnyky: Sacred Ukrainian Textiles (2018), and Icons of the Hellenic World: The Tiliakos Collection (2018). The Museum strives to showcase the breadth of Orthodox artistic traditions. 

What our interns are saying:

“The opportunity to intern at the Museum of Russian Icons allowed me to do research in a unique environment where I could explore the museum’s extensive collection and pair my findings with texts from their library, not to mention consult with the experts on staff who were open and willing to talk about anything icon and/or museum-related. All in all it was an enormously rewarding and intellectually invigorating experience.”

– Natasha Zinos, Boston College, 2019 intern

“My Curatorial Internship with the Museum of Russian Icons was invaluable. Throughout the summer, I researched lacquer boxes, which involved translating inscriptions, researching production centers and folktales, and collaboration with the Registrar. My summer culminated in a presentation on my research and a discussion of the commonalities between lacquer box design and Orthodox icons. Even after my internship ended, the museum presented me with many professional development opportunities, such as returning for a gallery talk. The MoRI’s internship program is an excellent opportunity for students of all academic backgrounds to expand their skills.”

– Erik Livingston, The College of Wooster, 2020 remote intern

“Interning at the Museum of Russian Icons was a truly enriching and amazing experience. As a Russian Studies Major, it was incredible to have access to the museum’s wealth of resources and artwork as I conducted independent research on the connections between icons and Russian literature. My internship culminated in a detailed presentation of my research paper to staff members and professors. Overall, I had an unforgettable and fulfilling experience interning at the museum.”

– Clement Doucette, Vassar College, 2020 hybrid intern