Archival Intern
Background
The mission of West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance (WPCA) / Paul Robeson House & Museum (PRHM) is to cultivate interest and support for the arts and humanities in West Philadelphia and beyond; to increase the visibility of Philadelphia’s rich cultural resources; and to promote positive social change in our community through the arts.
Located in the heart of West Philadelphia, the WPCA, a 501(c)3 entity established in 1984, has managed the house-museum for over 20 years. Inspired by Paul L. Robeson, who combined artistic excellence with profound political and social activism, we implement programs that blend these shared visions and increase awareness of Robeson’s trailblazing life, legacy, and philosophy. We maintain partnerships with several local nonprofit institutions, community development organizations, and local schools with whom we run joint programs. PRHM is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Archival Intern Overview
The West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance/ Paul Robeson House & Museum (WPCA/PRHM) is currently seeking a summer intern to support summer museum programs. The ideal person for this internship will be curious about museum operations, history and historical preservation, arts and culture, community engagement, archiving, engaging public programs, and gaining tour-training experience.
The intern will work in a supportive role for four key projects led by the WPCA/PRHM:
Eslanda Goode-Robeson Reading Room Archival Project
Join the archival team to organize and conserve books, and other historical documentations of the WPCA/PRHM. The intern will gain hands-on experience on the archival process of sorting and weeding.
Docent Program
Learn the history of The Robeson Family, the Paul Robeson House and the West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, lead tours and train new docents of the PRHM.
Public Programming & Events
Work with programming partners to assist in the facilitation of indoor and outdoor events within the house, on the porch, and in the surrounding community of the PRHM.
Social Media Content
Assist in marketing strategies and create content for the online social media presence of the PRHM.
Responsibilities
The Archival Intern will:
- Work with the archival team to organize and digitize the contents of the Eslanda Goode Robeson Archive.
- Support public programming in-person through social media content and related administrative duties (e.g., Monitoring sign-in tables and collecting attendee contact information).
- Lead tours for visitors of the Paul Robeson House (training will be provided).
Requirements, Skills, and Qualifications
The Paul Robeson House & Museum Archival Intern should:
- Possess good communication and problem-solving skills, as well as writing, reading, research, and analytical skills
- Be proficient with social media platforms (Facebook and Instagram) and Google Workspace
- Be able to work independently or within a team.
Compensation
$20.00 per hour
INTERNS WILL WORK 28 HOURS PER WEEK AND ATTEND A MANDATORY OFFSITE PROGRAM DAY ONE DAY PER WEEK WITH THEIR COHORT.
Internship Period: June 11 – August 13
Total Weeks: 9 weeks
Work Hours per Week: 28
Total Hours: 252
Workdays: 4 days per week onsite with flexible shift options: 9AM–5PM, 10AM–6PM, or 11AM-7PM (Note: Shifts are based needs of the organization and events/programs scheduling.)
PROGRAM DAY:
On Wednesdays, interns will attend an offsite program day with their cohort.
These hours are separate from the internship hours.
How to Apply:
This internship is through the Studio Institute Arts Intern program.
You must first apply to Arts Intern to be eligible for this internship. Once your application has been approved, we will provide you with the next steps to apply for the Archival Intern position at the Paul Robeson House and Museum.
Eligibility Criteria:
Please watch our information video below to ensure you are eligible to apply for Arts Intern.
Student Info Session- Arts Intern Summer 2025
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Arts Intern Summer 2025 - Philadelphia
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