Preservation Intern
Organization: Municipal Art Society of New York
Website: http://www.mas.org
Posted: August 21, 2024 | Closing: August 16, 2024
Job Description
Summary of Position
The MAS Preservation Internship is a grant-funded opportunity for a historic preservation graduate student interested in exploring how the field of preservation can be transformed to center equity and inclusion, support diverse layers of history and culture in our city, and be part of the solution for confronting our climate crisis and housing crisis. The intern will work with the MAS Planning and Policy team to advance the organization’s mission, particularly the preservation advocacy agenda, and support MAS’s Enduring Culture Initiative (ECI). As part of ECI, the intern will have a key research role, focusing on programs and policies across local, State, and Federal levels that have the potential to address historic inequities in the preservation field and support resilient communities.
About the Municipal Art Society
The Municipal Art Society of New York (MAS) lifts up the voices of the people in the debates that shape New York’s built environment and leads the way toward a more livable city from sidewalk to skyline. MAS envisions a future in which all New Yorkers share in the richness of city life—where growth is balanced, character endures, and a resilient future is secured. Our research focuses on the intersection of urban design, planning, and policy. Across our preservation portfolio and other initiatives, we work to leverage public partnerships, democratize data, and advocate for citywide systems change. Read more about our current preservation initiatives, including positions and testimony on our website at www.mas.org.
About the Enduring Culture Initiative
Enduring Culture aims to develop an expanded and multivocal historic preservation vision for New York City, where intangible heritage and places that contribute to a neighborhood’s history and culture are protected and celebrated. In contrast to the standard practice of historic preservation, which is focused on the protection of physical places and buildings through the lens of material and architectural integrity, the Enduring Culture initiative aims to define sense of place by involving a larger set of layered histories, narratives, cultural traditions and practices, and community anchors — from legacy businesses to public artworks, to the havens of urban gardens. These stories, practices, and sites are intimately related to social capital and community identity, yet often lack protection. How can the field of preservation be expanded to be a more multivocal, equitable, accessible, and inclusive framework for supporting diverse layers of history and culture in our city? What implications could such a shift have on our urban policy?
Find out more about Enduring Culture here.
Internship Description
The MAS Preservation Intern will support MAS staff on long- and short-term projects and day-to-day work including, but not limited to:
- researching, drafting, and presenting advocacy positions and testimony;
- contributing to studies, reports, presentations, and mapping projects; and
- developing educational resources and tools.
The intern will help with meetings and events organized by MAS and/or partner organizations during and outside regular office hours. The intern can expect to gain experience presenting to a variety of audiences at public hearings, including community board members, City agencies, and elected officials. The internship will provide opportunities for skill development and new applications for mapping, research, analysis, and advocacy.
Requirements
Applicants must be currently enrolled in a master’s degree program focusing on historic preservation or a related field.
Ideal Qualifications
- Familiarity with historic preservation policy and programs within New York City, New York State, and the United States.
- General knowledge of New York City agencies and processes related to the public realm, land-use, zoning, and historic preservation.
- Broad understanding of current issues in city planning, urban design, and historic preservation (local and national).
- Excellent research, writing, verbal communication, and presentation skills, including a working knowledge of academic research standards and ethics.
- Extremely organized, detail-oriented, accuracy-driven, and responsible.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills, including the ability to work both independently and within a collaborative team context, and experience working with diverse communities and people.
- Experience successfully managing projects to completion.
- Experience with GIS software such as ArcMap™, ArcScene™, ArcGIS Pro, and CARTO™ a plus.
Work Culture and Employment Goals
Our staff includes planners, interdisciplinary designers, historians, civic leaders, community builders and advocates who love New York City. We work collaboratively across departments and with a wide variety of partners from across the boroughs. We hope you or someone you know can join us in our work!
The Municipal Art Society of New York is an equal opportunity employer and seeks qualified applicants without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation. MAS is committed to cultivating a staff with diverse backgrounds and life experiences representing the communities in which we live and work.
MAS is currently operating on a hybrid schedule of two days in, three days out schedule, which is subject to change. Proof of COVID vaccination is required.
Time Commitment
Ideally, the intern will work for one year, starting in September of 2024 through August 2025. If you cannot make a yearlong commitment, specify which semester(s) you are applying for.
Salary
This is a part-time internship with a salary of $18.25/hour. The maximum number of hours per semester is as follows:
- Fall 2024: 12 weeks at 25 hours/week = 300 hours maximum
- Spring 2025: 12 weeks at 25 hours/week = 300 hours maximum
- Summer 2025: 12 weeks at 40 hours/week = 480 hours maximum
How to Apply
To apply, please send your resume, cover letter, and writing sample via email to interns@mas.org with “Preservation Intern Fall 2024” in the subject line of your email message. Address all correspondence to “Preservation Intern Search Committee.”
Please do not call or reach out to MAS staff directly.
The Municipal Art Society of New York is an equal opportunity employer and seeks qualified applicants without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation. MAS is committed to cultivating a staff with diverse backgrounds and life experiences that is representative of the communities in which we live and work