An Opportunity for Future Latino Museum Professionals!

This is from the Smithsonian Latino Center:

The Smithsonian Latino Center's Young Ambassadors Program consists of an in-depth seminar designed to encourage Latino youth to examine and embrace their cultural identity and an internship opportunity that increases the participants exposure to the arts and culture field. The goal of the program is to foster knowledge and pride in Latino cultural identity, as well as provide the participants with financial support with which to seek higher education. Through the program, we empower Latino youth to develop leadership and academic skills. This program is made possible through the generous support of Ford Motor Company Fund.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Young Ambassadors is a national leadership development program for high school seniors with the aim to cultivate the next generation of Latino leaders in the arts and culture fields through one-on-one interaction with artists, curators, historians, and other museum and arts professionals.
Students with an interest and commitment to the arts (e.g. film, dance, design, music, visual, performing, and/or literary arts) are selected to travel to Washington, D.C. for a week-long arts enrichment and leadership seminar at the Smithsonian Institution. Conducted by world-renowned experts in their respective fields, the seminar encourages youth to examine Latino identity and embrace their own cultural heritage through first-hand observation of the Smithsonian’s Latino collections, lectures, and other activities. Following the seminar, students return to museums and other cultural institutions in their local communities, including Smithsonian affiliated organizations, to participate in a four-week summer internship. This program is made possible by Ford Motor Company Fund.

For more information, go to the Program's site

Please spread the word!

Getty Institute Offers Multicultural Undergraduate Internships

The following announcement comes from the Philanthropy News Digest at the Foundation Center:

In order to increase diversity in professions related to museums and the visual arts, the Getty Institute is offering summer internships at the Getty Center and the Getty Villa to undergraduates from culturally diverse backgrounds.

Internships provide training and work experience in areas such as conservation, library collections, publications, museum education, curatorship, grants administration, public programs, site operations, and information technology.

The Multicultural Undergraduate Internships at the Getty are intended specifically for outstanding students who are members of groups currently underrepresented in museum professions and fields related to the visual arts: African Americans, Asians, Latinos/Hispanics, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders.

Applicants must be currently enrolled undergraduates who either reside or attend college in Los Angeles County and who will have completed at least one semester of college by June 2009. Students who complete their undergraduate degree by September 1, 2009, are also eligible to apply. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Candidates are sought from all areas of undergraduate study and are not required to have demonstrated a previous commitment to the visual arts.

Internships provide stipends of $3,500 for ten-week summer internships at the Getty Center in Los Angeles or at the Getty Villa in Malibu, California. The internships are full-time, begin June 15, 2009, and end August 20, 2009. Housing and transportation are not provided.

Visit the Getty web site for complete application guidelines.

Diversity Fellowships Available

American Association of Museums Offers Diversity Fellowship Program:

"The Diversity Fellowship Program is designed to assist full time students, in a museum-related course of study by providing support to attend AAM’s Annual Meetings. Diversity is a great strength of our society, there is significant disparity between the diversity of our communities, and the people who visit, work in, and lead our cultural institutions. AAM encourages museums to strive for greater inclusiveness of individuals and communities that are diverse with regard to their national origin, gender, race, culture, economic status, religion, sexual orientation, physical or cognitive ability, age, and/or family structure." For more information, or to apply, please visit the Diversity Fellowship Program site.

Multiculutral Scholarships Available to attend TAM Conference!

The Texas Association of Museums is offering a limited number of full scholarships for the Annual Meeting to be awarded to minority professionals currently working in Texas museums. Applicants must be early-career and/or new to the Texas museum profession. These scholarships will include meeting registration, one workshop, one luncheon, one breakfast, and an evening event. The scholarship recipient(s) will be responsible for his or her travel, lodging, and incidental costs.

For more information on the Annual Meeting, to be held in El Paso, please visit the TAM website.

Following the meeting the recipient (s) will be asked to write an article for the TAM quarterly e-newsletter, The TAMALE, offering observations on the state of diversity in the museum profession and/or their observations on diversity based on the annual meeting.

To apply, send a resume, references, and a one-page letter stating reasons for applying for the scholarship to the TAM office. This information is to be received no later than January 30, 2009. Representatives of the MIC will assist in evaluating applications and selecting winners. Notification of the award(s) will be made by February 6, 2009

Become a Member of the MIC

MIC is the place to exchange ideas, news and thoughts about diversity in museums. Because it is an issue that impacts all of us, everyone is welcome in our committee!

In order to achive our purpose, we need your support. Please Join the Multicultural Initiatves Commitee. By becoming a member, you are supporting our efforts to promote all aspects of diversity in museums!

Job Opportunity in South Texas

Do you have heritage tourism-related experience? Are you interested in a challenging, yet extremely rewarding job in South Texas helping tell the real stories of the Texas Tropical Trail Region? If so then consider applying for the Tropical Trail Regional Coordinator position.

Salary is $30,000-$33,000 annually depending upon experience and the coordinator is an employee of the Texas Tropical Trail Region Board of Directors. Application deadline is January 5, 2009 or until filled.

For additional information, including how and where to apply, go here.

And please feel free to pass this on to anyone you think might be interested.

Diversity Internships in Historic Preservation

2009 THC PRESERVATION FELLOWS PROGRAM
Diversity Internships in Historic Preservation

The Texas Historical Commission (THC) seeks to increase the diversity of professionals working in historic preservation, acknowledge the variety of cultures that enrich Texas’ heritage and engage a wider range of organizations and communities in supporting efforts to protect and preserve the history of our state. The THC Preservation Fellows Program was created to build interest in and awareness of historic preservation, specifically among students from underrepresented ethnic groups. This initiative targets undergraduate and graduate students to encourage their interest in pursuing fields of study in history, preservation, architecture, landscape architecture, archeology, downtown revitalization and heritage tourism. Preservation Fellows receive a $5,000 stipend for eight weeks of employment (40-hour week) under the supervision of the THC, either at its headquarters in Austin or “in the field” with an associated preservation organization such as a Main Street program, a heritage tourism program, a history museum or a historical association.

Eligibility
· U.S. citizens of African, Hispanic/Latino, Asian or Native American/Hawaiian/Alaskan heritage
· Sophomore level or above
· Attending a college, university, junior college or community college in Texas, or a Texas resident attending school out-of-state
· Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 system (or comparable GPA)
· Prior recipients are ineligible

This year we especially welcome applications from:

o Students of landscape architecture
o Students from the following counties in East Texas: Angelina, Jasper, Nacogdoches, Newton, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Cherokee, Trinity or Tyler;
o Students who attend Stephen F. Austin State University or Angelina College.

Deadline: Applications must be postmarked by December 31, 2008.

To download application, please go to the Texas Historical Commission site.