Yearlong Fellowships

Each year, thanks to the generous support of our donors and grantors, the Village welcomes early-career professionals from around the country to our yearlong fellowship program. Regardless of focus, all fellows get an in-depth opportunity to learn more about living history museums. As a living history site dedicated to the history of early 19th-century rural New England, a major component of OSV’s mission is keeping traditional skills alive. Fellows will focus on a specific area working with an expert/mentor, areas include: Trades, Crafts, Households, Agriculture, Horticulture, and Costume Study & Production.

This yearlong immersive program will allow fellows to join a dedicated, passionate team of museum professionals delivering a range of educational programming to over 250,000 visitors a year. These positions are stipend and housing is provided as a part of the compensation.

Old Sturbridge Village does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, cultural heritage, political beliefs, national origin, language spoken, marital status, sexual orientation, special needs or disability.

Please see below for current openings! Applications are due June 1, 2023.

Straker Historical Trade Fellowships:

Old Sturbridge Village (OSV) is seeking a full-time fellow to work and study under the leadership of OSV’s Historical Trades program for 12 months, starting in August 2023. As a living history site dedicated to the history of early 19^th century rural New England, a major component of OSV’s mission is its commitment to showing the full life of people. Trades and hand skills are major tools in telling that story. The fellowship will focus on the study and use of period techniques to connect and educate OSV’s visitors. Trades and hand skills demonstrations plays a key role in many special events at OSV; this fellow will also be working to plan and deliver many of the programs events. This role will contribute Old Sturbridge Village’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.

The Straker Historic Trade Fellowship will focus on the two main elements of interpretation: educating/engaging our visitor and working towards mastery of one or more hand skills. Working alongside museum professionals, this fellowship will allow for hands-on learning and mentorship in one or two of the following areas: Cabinetmaking, Pottery, and Printing/ Book Binding. Historical Interpretation is a physically demanding job, which requires the fellow to be able to stand for extended periods of time as well as being able to lift up to 50 pounds.

Old Sturbridge Village is committed to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. We are passionate about developing and maintaining an inclusive, equitable and accessible working and learning environment for all visitors, staff and OSV community members. We believe every member on our team enriches our diversity by exposing us to different ways of understanding and engaging the world around us.

Department:
Interpretation – Historical Trades

Focus Area:

Cabinetmaking, Pottery, and Printing/ Book Binding

Education & Experience

• High School degree required
• Hand skills experience preferred – comfort with hand tools required

• Willingness to learn new skills and methods
• Experience in demonstrating or leading educational programs preferred
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of audiences

• Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.
• Assisting in coordinating with other tradespeople on staff
• Ability to work cooperatively with diverse groups.
• Promotes diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.

Cabinetmaking Responsibilities:

• Learn and practice period furniture-making techniques using traditional hand tools
• Daily work in developing and presenting historical woodworking programming
• Historical cabinetmaking research and the development of either staff resource material, or a culminating project agreed upon with your manager
• Assist in educational programming for Old Sturbridge Academy and other school groups – including the Learning Through Experience (LTE) program, Learning Through Project (LTP) program, and more.
• Lead public programming and cabinetmaking demonstrations for OSV’s diverse audiences including – front gate, special events, Old Sturbridge Academy, Discovery Adventures, homeschool & scout groups
• Daily care and maintenance of hand tools
• Cleaning and organization of workshop/exhibit space

Pottery Responsibilities:

• Learn and practice period pottery techniques using traditional methods
• Daily work in developing and presenting historical pottery programming
• Historical pottery research and the development of either staff resource material, or a culminating project agreed upon with your manager.
• Crafting wheel-thrown pottery for museum program use and sale in the museum gift shop, using both modern and early 19th-century tools and methods.
• Patterning reproduction pottery based on original pieces in the museum’s collection.
• Assist in educational programming for Old Sturbridge Academy and other school groups – including the Learning Through Experience (LTE) program, Learning Through Project (LTP) program, and more.
• Lead public programing and pottery demonstrations for OSV’s diverse audiences including – front gate, special events, Old Sturbridge Academy, Discovery Adventures, homeschool & scout groups
• Cleaning and organization of production shop/exhibit space

Printing / Book Binding Responsibilities:

• Learn and practice period printing and bookbinding techniques using traditional methods
• Daily work in developing and presenting historical printing office programming
• Historical research related to the printing trade and the development of either staff resource material, or a culminating project agreed upon with your manager.
• Printing books, pamphlets, broadsides, and forms using early 19th-century tools and methods.
• Stitching and binding reproduction books and journals based on original pieces in the museum’s collection.
• Assist in educational programming for Old Sturbridge Academy and other school groups – including the Learning Through Experience (LTE) program, Learning Through Project (LTP) program, and more.
• Lead public programing and printing demonstrations for OSV’s diverse audiences including – front gate, special events, Old Sturbridge Academy, Discovery Adventures, homeschool & scout groups
• Cleaning and organization of printing office/exhibit space

Hours, Stipend & Application:

• This is a one-year (52-week) fellowship beginning in August 2023. The workday is normally from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the museum is usually open Wednesday – Sunday; winter hours may differ. Hours depend upon Museum programs, which will include evenings for our holiday programing.
• The fellow will receive a stipend of $15,500. Stipends are based on a 40-hour a week and will be prorated if shorter hours or season are agreed upon. The position includes housing available at no cost (housing deposit is required).

Old Sturbridge is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of Old Sturbridge Village to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or membership in the uniformed services.

To apply, please send Resume, Cover Letter, and Letters of Recommendation to the Coordinator of Interns and Fellows at interns@osv.org. Applications are due June 1, 2023.

Music Fellowship