Summer Internships at Compton Verney
Collections Research
Compton Murdack, 17th century drawings by Wenzel Hollar (1607-1677) of heraldry of the Verney family in stained glass windows of their manor house then called "Compton Murdack" in Warwickshire, later demolished to make way for the present Georgian mansion known as "Compton Verney". Published in Sir William Dugdale, The Antiquities of Warwickshire Illustrated: From Records, Leiger-... (J. Osborn and T. Longman, 1730), p. 564. ©Public Domain
Applications are now open for two Oxford University students to undertake a 4 week-long summer internship each, working with the collections of Compton Verney. These internships are funded by the TORCH Heritage Programme and were set up in collaboration with the Careers Service of the University of Oxford. Students who are selected for these internships will work remotely and receive the equivalent of National Living Wage for the duration of the placements.
Compton Verney is an award-winning gallery, based in a Grade I-listed Georgian mansion amidst 120 acres of Grade II-listed Lancelot 'Capability' Brown parkland in Warwickshire. With six permanent collections (Naples, Northern European Art 1450-1650, British Portraits, Chinese, British Folk Art & The Marx-Lambert Collection) and a programme of thought-provoking exhibitions and events, we are an accredited museum, and a registered charity.
Our eclectic collections are at the heart of our core gallery experience. Our goal is to ensure that the works in these collections are documented accurately and presented engagingly to the widest possible audience. During 2020, we are beginning an exciting programme of collections review. This includes devising research strategies to enhance our existing knowledge of our collections, exploring opportunities for contemporary interventions in the collections, and trialling new digital engagement initiatives.
We are looking for two creative, proactive candidates to work with colleagues across the Creative & Engagement team to develop the documentation and presentation of our two of our permanent collections. The collections that these positions will focus on are our Chinese Collection and our Naples Collection, with one intern based in each for a 4 week period.
Based with our Curators, but working remotely, the role will involve:
- Undertaking detailed research into the given collection, including: reviewing, updating and collating current institutional records, researching aspects of iconography, provenance, conservation history and existing scholarship.
- The intern will be required to capture their research in the form of an Object Report for each item in the collection. These Object Reports will be used in diverse ways, including informing our digital content, gallery displays and object files.
- A second outcome will involve identifying broader opportunities for development of / engagement with the collection, including: identifying relevant specialists, digital platforms and resources in the field and thinking about the relevance, reach and appeal of the collection today.
- There will be opportunities to meet with colleagues to gain a broad picture of roles and responsibilities across the organisation.
- Where appropriate, there will be opportunities to visit Compton Verney and look at the objects in person.
Please specify which collection internship you are applying for.
For more information and to apply, log in to the Careers Service website with your SSO.
2
4 weeks, flexible start July / Aug 2020
29 June 2020
3ENJM
