Royal Academy of Music Museum Internship
Location: UK, England, London
Closing date: Friday 28th August 

Background: 
Founded in 1822, the Royal Academy of Music is the UK’s senior music 
conservatoire. It has an international reputation for excellence and teaches 
performance and composition at undergraduate and postgraduate level. 

In 2002, with a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Academy opened 
the doors to a new museum which was built to house its famous collections of 
instruments, objects and archives. As a university museum, the galleries play 
host to a number of fixed and temporary exhibitions, displays and events that 
offer students, staff and the general public both physical and virtual access to 
its collections. 

Brief description of post: 
The internship is a fixed term post for four months commencing in September 
2009. The candidate will work with key museum and collection staff in all 
areas of the museum’s operations, from visitor services, to event planning, 
documentation projects and general administrative and curatorial support.

The internship is ideal for a recent graduate looking to gain experience in 
museums, archives and the heritage sector. As you will be working alongside 
collections staff there may be the option of assisting on other collection care 
projects depending on your interests and experience.

Conditions of Internship:
• 5 days a week depending on intern availability
• Working day is 10-5pm 
• Working evenings is optional 
• Length of internship is four months, commencing in September 2009.

Please note: there will be 3 internship opportunities over the course of the 
academic year (2009 – 2010), with one placement per term for the autumn, 
spring and summer terms. Interns will be expected to work during the vacation 
periods in order to complete their 4 month placement. Closing dates for the 
spring internship will be advertised in December 2009, and April 2010 for the 
summer internship.

As this is a work experience post it is not paid, however, candidates will 
receive reasonable expenses for food and travel. There will also be 
opportunities to attend the Academy’s free public concerts and events during 
term time.
 
A full induction programme will be provided including specialist training as 
appropriate. A key member of the museum team will also act as your 
placement supervisor during the course of the internship.

Requirements: 
• A good academic record, including an undergraduate degree, preferably from 
a museum, heritage or music and history related course;

• Good basic computer skills are essential, and knowledge of museum/archive 
software programmes would be an advantage;

• Excellent communication skills and a good command of written and spoken 
English;

• Confident, friendly nature and ability to interact with a number of different 
museum visitors and users;

• Musical knowledge and an interest in music is highly desirable;

• Enthusiasm for new tasks and a willingness to work as part of a busy team is 
essential.

Application Process:
Please send a current copy of your full CV, with names and contact details of 
two referees, and a covering letter to explain why you are interested in the 
internship and what you hope to achieve if selected, by Friday 28th August 
2009 to: 

Samantha Pettit
Museum and Collections Manager
Royal Academy of Music, 
Marylebone road
London NW1 5HT 

or via email to [log in to unmask]

Successful candidates will be contacted and invited to attend an informal 
meeting. Details of the internship will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis, 
in order to create placements that best meet the needs of the candidate and 
the museum.