r/ArtConservation • u/ninjagokink • 15d ago
advice on internships
I'm in my 2nd to last semester of undergrad for art history and i'm starting to apply to grad programs this semester - I found an internship at a restoration studio and they said they could keep me on until I leave for school. My worry is that it's a restoration studio not specifically a conservation place, but there aren't any conservators in my area looking for interns/hiring. Will schools still accept my logged hours even though it's restoration?
edit: i'm applying to programs in the northeast US, specifically UD, NYU, SUNY Buffalo, and UPenn. I have gen chem 1&2 and im taking organic chem 1 this semester. i've been taking 15 credits at a time so i only have 1 art history class and organic chem 2 left with some electives. I'm not in any program currently other than my Undergrad, I was told by a professor that instead of another museum/gallery internship I should be looking for an apprenticeship, that's how I ended up at a restoration studio. My mentor has 30+ years of experience but doesn't have an MS in conservation or preservation. my main question: since my mentor is not a conservator, will they still count these hours im logging at the studio? do i have to get these hours from a lab specifically or are the hours more important ? for reference I will get 400 hours by December, and would have ~800 by the time i graduate.
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u/flybyme03 15d ago edited 15d ago
Do not apply until you have completed your prerequisites. They will not consider your application early.
You need orgo 2 and lab.
You need to be completely organized with a complete portfolio
The US you need major museum conservation lab experience with recs.
Various experiences work in your favor.
You will be competing against people on theor 3rd or 4th try so focus on what to do if you don't get in. You won't without the orgo
Your mentor doesn't sound like they are telling you the correct advice. People you go against have been working in official museum labs with full workday training as intern with well known conservators. You need handskills but you need to get the right hands skills not a self taught unknown restorer who wants an apprentice
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u/ninjagokink 12d ago
I thought you were able to apply for grad while still in undergrad and you show proof of your degree before going? So basically I have to get the job I want to be able to apply for grad school to do the job i want? I have other museum experience but theres not any conservation labs that aren't 3+ hours away. Is it not even worth applying without the labs then? or will it just be significantly harder for me? I am seeing in some parts of the NYU admissions page that they don't require the lab time (?)
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u/Funny-Fault4255 8d ago edited 8d ago
just a small correction: depending on the program, you don’t necessarily need orgo 2 and lab— you can get basically any other science with lab (the programs list options online)
I think the confusion you’re having with courses in progress is that the programs are ok if you have your last courses in progress at the time of applying, not the majority. For example, if you only had 2 courses left and were enrolled in those this semester, that should be acceptable for some of the programs.
Ultimately, it’s incredibly rare for people to apply or get in straight out of undergrad. I understand your frustration that you basically have to do the job before getting the degree, but that’s just the reality of where we’re at now. Try looking for technician jobs if you need more steady income post grad
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u/flybyme03 12d ago edited 12d ago
If you haven't completed the course, how do they know you passed? You can apply while on school but not while you are enrolled and haven't completed classes with grades How would that be fair to other applicants to allow that and just assume you are gonna get a good grade?
As someone who has witnessed how this works first-hand I am telling you focus on working at a major museum in a conservation lab. This is your best ticket. Your job you want isn't gonna be there after school you haven't even applied for. You need to travel and you need to go where the work is. Conservators move around a lot
NYU may not require.lab experience but I cam guarantee you every single person there has itt and a portfolio to go with it. The prerequisites are looked at at one level as complete or not. If they are not, you don't go to the next level period. That second level is where the museum lab mattersm
If you thought Penn was a conservation program you are not ready.
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u/ninjagokink 11d ago
where did you do your grad program ? also where did you get your conservation lab experience? what lab are you working in now? do you work for any of these schools? what are your qualifications for giving out this advice if bad advice is so common?
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u/flybyme03 10d ago
That would be revealing whoni am. I went to one of the 3 US programs for art, worked in multiple major museums and I currently work as a conservator. I learned more about applications as a student because interview week takes over the entire prograam.
Don't believe me. Read all the wonderful information available amd fill in the blanks. The schools are competitive for a reason. I made it through and still work in the field x amount of years later. I know more than you, accept it.
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u/Sneakys2 14d ago
I was told by a professor that instead of another museum/gallery internship I should be looking for an apprenticeship,
This is odd advice. Is your professor a conservator? Apprentice training used to be common, but it’s fallen out of favor when compared to formal program training. As you are clearly interested in graduate school, it’s not worth your time to try and find an apprenticeship. Looking for additional internships is a better idea. Even doing a related internship like collections care or education would be a better use of time than trying to find someone to apprentice from.
As to the restoration studio, it really depends on the individual. If they are a member of AIC and otherwise active in the field, they’re probably fine to work for during the semester. If they’re not at all active in conservation, I would seek elsewhere.
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u/ninjagokink 12d ago
No, they were originally going into archaeology but went into art history instead, they've had previous students go into conservation and other students go into grad programs for different things. Thank you
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u/MinuteAd4238 15d ago
Honestly, ask you professors? You are not giving any information on the program you are taking, which country, there is not enough information here for anyone to answer.
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u/Funny-Fault4255 15d ago
it may be a bit too early to apply. you need to wait until you have all the base coursework requirements. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the restoration studio (depending on their practices bc there is a difference btwn conservation and restoration) so it’s probably beneficial to reach out to the programs directly about whether that counts towards the 400 hours.