Hi all,

I'd like to pass on information about a recently opened Kress Fellowship in
Textile Conservation at The Textile Museum.  Details below.  Please share
with colleagues and recent grads and thanks for help in getting the word
out.

Kindly,
Maria Fusco

*Kress Fellowship in Textile Conservation at the George Washington
University Museum and The Textile Museum, 2017-2018.*


The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum are
accepting applications for a 9 month Kress Fellowship in Textile
Conservation. The fellowship will focus on exhibition and textile
collections care. The Textile Museum’s collections include over 20,000 rare
and historic textiles spanning 5,000 years, and include representation from
Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia.  The Textile Museum’s
recent $5 million gift from the Avenir Foundation has allowed the
conservation department to equip two new lab facilities as well as increase
the conservation department’s staffing.  The fellow will be supervised by
the Chief Conservator and two Associate Conservators.


The fellow will undertake a combination of exhibition and collection care
tasks in order to advance their development in all practical areas required
for institutional staff work.  Under supervision, the fellow will take on
primary duties for a small collection rotation during their term to include
treatment and mount preparation of textiles. This project will allow for
the development of high-level skills in coordinating preparation aspects
and in project management. They will also work as a part of the larger
department to complete other exhibition tasks such as installation and
de-installation, as well as preparation of textiles for later exhibitions.
Exhibitions being prepared during the fellow’s term will include Chinese
minority group costume and jewelry, Anatolian kilims, and Byzantine and
Medieval Islamic archaeological textiles.


Collections care tasks will include re-housing of incoming textile
accessions and undertaking other collection based re-housing projects. The
fellow will also assist associate conservators in monthly environmental
monitoring and Integrated Pest Management duties.  The fellow will be
encouraged to pursue research studies as their interest and time allows.
The museum’s affiliation with the George Washington University allows for
access to the university’s chemistry and forensic science departments, and
collaborations with these and other departments will be encouraged.


Qualified candidates must have a master’s degree from a recognized
conservation program, and training should be completed prior to the
commencement of the fellowship.  Per Kress guidelines, candidates must be a
resident or citizen of the United States or Canada, or a recent graduate
from a U.S. or Canadian conservation program; the candidate must also be
authorized to work in the United States. The term of the fellowship is
anticipated to begin in October 2017 and be completed in June 2018, with
4-day weeks to facilitate visits to peer institutions.  A $30,000 stipend
will be provided for the fellow. The fellowship will also include $2,500
for travel expenses to attend conferences and/or to support travel to visit
peer institutions and establish contacts within the conservation
community.  Work will take place at both the Foggy Bottom facility in
downtown Washington, DC and at the Avenir Foundation Conservation and
Collections Resource Center in Ashburn, Virginia.


To apply, please submit a CV, three letters of professional reference and a
letter of intent outlining interest in the position.  Applications should
be submitted by email to [log in to unmask] using the subject heading:
‘Kress Fellowship in Textile Conservation’.  The deadline for applying is
May 31, 2017 though applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

-- 
Maria Fusco
*Chief Conservator*

*Margaret Wing Dodge Chair in Conservation*
Foggy Bottom: 701 21st Street, NW  • Washington, DC 20052
Avenir Center: 44930 Knoll Square • Ashburn, VA 20147
571-553-0278  • [log in to unmask] • museum.gwu.edu