Volunteer - The Beach institute African-American Cultural Center |Museum and Art Gallery

Internship & Volunteer Opportunities

We're looking for a few good people

The King-Tisdell Cottage Foundation Inc (KTCF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that manages the historic Beach Institute African-American Cultural Center property located at 502 E. Harris St and the King-Tisdell Cottage located at 514 Huntingdon St.; located in in Savannah's downtown Historic District. The Beach Institute was founded in 1867 as the first school for emancipated African-American's and serves today as museum and art gallery dedicated to promoting and preserving African-American art and culture.
If you are interested in contributing to the important work of preserving art and culture in Savannah, we would love to have you. Below are the current opportunities we have at the Beach Institute.

Museum Historic Preservation Intern 

Under direct supervision, interns learn curatorial procedures, policies, and processes to perform the following:
Assist in the care, cleaning, and cataloging of the museum collection. • Perform general curatorial duties such as cleaning objects and exhibits. 
Assist with accessioning, processing, cataloging, and digitizing items within the Beach Institute Museum collection. 
Create finding aids for those collections. 
Conduct artifact inventories, to include condition reporting, measuring, photographing, and labeling objects, and updating home locations. • Develop proficiency in using Past Perfect, the museum's collection management software, for artifact inventories and to update collections data. 
Conduct condition assessments and undertake the conservation and preservation of objects and artifacts as directed. 
Assist with research, special projects, archival organization, and other duties as assigned. 
Maintain a cooperative and pleasant work relationship with fellow employees, volunteers, and guests of The Beach Institute African-American Cultural Center. 
Qualifications:
Must be at least 18 years old and possess a valid driver's license. Recent graduate or currently enrolled in advanced training in museum studies, history, special collections, anthropology, or a related field, with a 2.5/4.0 GPA, is preferred. Pre-arranged course credit, if applicable, is the responsibility of any student and his or her institution of learning. 
Demonstrated understanding of museum fields and related curatorial responsibilities and a genuine interest in gaining experience in museum methods and processes. 
Excellent written and verbal skills.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Strong collaboration and interpersonal skills
Email your resume and cover letter, with the subject line: Museum Internship, to: engage@beachinstitute.org. This is a non-paid academic internship.

Research Specialist

Description: The Beach Institute is seeking junior and senior level college students to assist in the research and development of content for its Genealogical Research Support Center (GRSC). The GRSC will focus primarily on providing resources, including information and access to international databases, contacts and expert support and guidance to individuals (primarily African-Americans) seeking to trace genealogical roots. The Research Specialist will find and catalog available resources in an accessible database.
 
Requirements: The ideal candidate will have strong interest or curiosity in genealogy. Requisite research skills consist of the ability to conduct logical online searches and the ability to confirm contact information. Organizational skill is astorng asset, as is the discipline to work somewhat independently and with consistency. Research Specialists are expected to devote at least 5-hours per week to the project. Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel is required.
 
Benefits: Research Specialists interns will work closely with the Project Director, other Research Specialists and staff of the Beach Institute to produce a top-quality data and international network of genealogical resources in a collegiate environment conducive to the further development of professional and technical skills essential for future success. Interns will experience collaboration at a high-level, thereby developing an essential skill for 21st century success.
 
A small stipend to offset personal expenses related the the internship will be provided bi-monthly.
 
Please email your cover letter CV/resume to: alicia@beachinstitute.org with subject line: GRSC Research Specialist.

Volunteer Museum Staff

The Beach Institute is seeking volunteers to work in the following areas:
Gift Shop (merchandising and management)
Exhibits (Curation and Cataloging)
Docents (Tours & Education)
If you are interested in volunteering for the Beach please send an inquiry to: engage@beachinstitute.org with the subject line: Volunteer

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Terms & Conditions

Closed for the following Holidays:
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Day (Day after New Year’s Day)
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
St. Patrick’s Day Observance
July 4th
Labor Day
Thanksgiving
Day After Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day

Closed to the Public when Private Events are held at either museum.

Closed when severe weather conditions occurs (T-Storms ,etc are indicate by the national weather systems as a severe warning).

Closed when events are held in the City of Savannah or City Limits that required streets closing (marathons, parades and so on).

Mobility Access: All galleries at the Beach Institute are wheelchair accessible.
Accessible Entrance and Parking: The wheelchair entrance is located in the garden entrance of the Beach Institute from Price Street Lane. There are accessible parking spaces immediately outside the wheelchair entrance located directly behind the museum on the Price Street Lane. An elevator provides access to the upstairs galleries.

Accessible Programs: The museums offer programs by appointment for audiences with special needs. Each year, the museums schedule visits for non-profit organizations serving senior and individuals with disabilities. For more information or to request a visit, please call 912.335.8868 or email kingtisdell@bellsouth.net

Sketching: Sketching is permitted in the galleries (pencil only, no ink or paint) with sketchbooks no larger than 8 1/2 x 11 inches (21.6 x 27.9 cm). No easels, stools, or sketching while sitting on the floor is permitted. If galleries are crowded, staff may ask visitors to stop sketching or writing.
Photography for Studio Projects or Class Assignments: All Visitors must obtain and signs a onetime image-usage permission form from museum staff. And visitors must also provide museum staff with official documentation concerning the Studio Project or Class Assignment while visiting the museums. Still photography and video taken from a handheld device are permitted for personal, noncommercial use. The camera must be at least three (3) feet from the work of art. Flash photography, tripods, additional lights and extension cords are not allowed.
Additional Guidelines:
• No Touching. Visitors must at all times remain at least two feet away from all artworks and must not touch any paintings, sculptures, books, foyer furniture, or displays.
• No Photographs. Visitors are not permitted to take any photographs inside the Museums at any time for any reason. This includes cell phone cameras and video recording devices of any kind.
• No Food or Beverage. No food or beverages are permitted inside the Museums.
• No Smoking. Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the Museums or immediately outside the entrance.
• No Firearms. Firearms are not permitted in the Museums.
• No Pets. Pets are not permitted in the Museum, except service dogs for the disabled.
• No Cellular Phones. All cellular phones and other electric devices must be turned off or put on vibrate before touring the museums.
• Strollers: Baby strollers are welcome.
• Children. All children must be supervised at all times by their accompanying adults. (Due to the fragile nature of the collection and the intimate environment in the galleries, children under the age of 8 must be supervised at all time while inside of the museums, and children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by at least one adult for every four children).

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