The Laurence Sterne Trust

The Laurence Sterne Trust

The Trust was established by formal deed on 16th March 1967. The principal objects as stated within the Trust deed are "to acquire and maintain the freehold of Shandy Hall, Coxwold. To install and maintain therein as large and comprehensive a collection as possible of the works of Laurence Sterne, together with other related documents, prints and pictures, and to permanently display those works and to keep them open to the public."

The Trust is a registered charity, number 529593.

Support us in preserving and enhancing Shandy Hall and the legacy of Laurence Sterne. 

 

Opportunities

Position: Project Intern
Organisation: Laurence Sterne Trust
Location: UK, England, York, Coxwold
Closing date: 22/4/2013 5.00pm
Job Type: Contract
Salary: £16,000

The Project Intern will work on a HLF funded project called ‘The Good Humour Club' based at Shandy Hall, Coxwold, York the former home of the 18th century writer Laurence Sterne.

The Good Humour Club project will celebrate the 300th anniversary of the birth of Laurence Sterne, author of The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman. The project is based on two recently identified manuscripts, one in the collection of the Laurence Sterne Trust and the other in York Minster Library, which hold the key to a hitherto unknown aspect of York's heritage: The Good Humour Club (1725-c.1770). There will be a series of learning activities, a physical and online exhibitions, talks, a period dramatisation, learning sessions, workshops, a website and a 21st Century Good Humour Club.

This internship is aimed to be an excellent grounding in a wide range of museum activities. Support will be provided by the Shandy Hall staff, but wherever possible the intern will be empowered to act on their own, to develop their skills and experience, and create a strong CV from which to move on to other museum work after the project ends.

This list is not exhaustive, but gives an overview of what is required:

• Support the Shandy Hall Collection & Education Officer in the conservation of the Good Humour Club minute books (mainly the work carried out at Shandy Hall by volunteers)
• Take part in the training in archival and family history research
• Undertake work to help in the understanding of the Good Humour Club
• Support the Shandy Hall staff in the development and delivery of the Good Humour Club exhibition
• Support the Shandy Hall Collection & Education Officer in the development of an associated online exhibition
• Support the Shandy Hall staff in the promotion of both exhibitions
• Help staff the exhibition and support the running of Shandy Hall during the period of the exhibition
• Support exhibitions at other venues
• Take part in the co-design of the historic content for the website
• Take part in the trialling and improvement of the website
• Support the Shandy Hall Collection & Education Officer to promote the website
• Prepare for and deliver, with the support of the Shandy Hall Collection & Education Officer, a number of primary school education sessions in local schools and at Shandy Hall based on the Good Humour Club exhibition
• Support the Shandy Hall Curator in delivering advanced learning sessions at Shandy Hall based on the Good Humour Club
• Support the Shandy Hall Collection & Education Officer in delivering general public workshops based on the Good Humour Club

Person Specification

Essential:
• Graduate in related discipline
• Experience of museum object handling, basics of conservation
• Experience of research
• Knowledge of the basics of putting together an exhibition
• Knowledge of online exhibitions
• Knowledge of how to promote exhibitions, events, websites
• Knowledge of and enthusiasm to develop and deliver learning sessions with school children
• Experience of working in a public-facing role
• Ability to work in a small team and use own initiative
• Interest in the work of the Laurence Sterne Trust and the 18th century

Desirable:
• Museum studies or related master's qualification
• Experience of working with volunteers
• Experience of history research and/or research using archives
• Experience of promoting museum related activity
• Experience of developing a learning sessions for school children
• Experience of delivering learning sessions for school children
• Experience of working in a public-facing role within a heritage environment
• Experience of using a Collection Management Database such as Modes.

The normal working hours will be 9.00am-5.00pm, for a five day week. In summer (May to September), normal working days will be Sunday to Thursday. In winter, the routine is a normal Monday to Friday. The internship will be based at Shandy Hall; however a number of tasks will involve travel to other locations. Own transport is essential.

The contract will be for a twelve month period, starting May 2013. Please note the Project Intern will be fully responsible for his/her own income tax, National Insurance, Social Security contributions, and any other liability resulting from his/her own work under this agreement.

For application details email the Collections and Education Officer, Elinor Camille-Wood shandyhallcollection@gmail.com . Closing date for application: Monday 22 April 5.00pm. Interviews will take place at Shandy Hall on Monday 29 April.