Curatorial internship opportunity at the Constitutional Court Trust

Date posted: 15 October 2024

Copy of Curatorial internship

Application deadline: 10 November 2024

Duration: 6 months on a full-time basis (1 January 2025 - 30 June 2025)

Location: Constitutional Court, Johannesburg

The Constitutional Court Trust (CCT) is looking for recent graduates with a keen interest in visual art and justice in South Africa to apply for a full-time paid internship opportunity working on the Constitutional Court Art Collection (CCAC) at the CCT.

ABOUT THE CCT

Established soon after South Africa's transition to democracy, the Constitutional Court Trust (CCT) exists to promote human rights, the rule of law, constitutionalism and judicial independence in the African region - with a particular focus on the Constitutional Court of South Africa. It does so through artistic expression, legal scholarship and exchange programmes, public education and library initiatives.

To learn more about the CCT, go to https://www.concourttrust.org.za/.

CCT is the custodian of the Constitutional Court Art Collection (CCAC), a unique collection of predominantly South African artworks, many of which are internationally acclaimed, that stimulate and enrich education, critical debate and research on the transformative role of the Constitution and the Constitutional Court of South Africa, based on the values of freedom, dignity and equality.

To learn more about the CCAC, go to https://ccac.concourttrust.org.za/.

ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP

The curatorial internship at the CCT aims to develop learning opportunities within the fields of art administration, curatorship, cataloguing and research. The focus of the internship will be in the following areas, amongst others:

  • Assisting with the rotation of artworks within the public gallery and private areas of the Court;
  • Maintaining and organising records relating to artworks and contributing to quarterly reports;
  • Undertaking basic cleaning and organising of artworks on display and in storage;
  • Conducting research and drafting web stories on artists whose works are a part of the CCAC;
  • Contributing to public engagement activities, including monthly Art & Justice tours, tours with Court staff and guests, and exhibition openings;
  • Assisting with in-house conservation work and doing research and performing tasks that relate to the care of artworks.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY

To be eligible for the curatorial internship, applicants must:

  • Hold a qualification in visual arts or heritage (or a related qualification that you are able to motivate relates directly to this internship);

  • Be a South African citizen under 30 years of age, or those under 30 years of age with the right to live and work in South Africa;

  • Be able to commit to a full-time internship of a six-month duration;

  • Be recently graduated with no prior full-time work experience – preference will be given to applicants who have not previously benefited from an internship opportunity within a gallery or museum environment;

  • Have a demonstrable passion for art and justice and an interest in advancing constitutionalism through creative expression;

  • Have an understanding of the need for careful handling of museum material and artefacts;

  • Be fit and able to move and hang artworks;

  • Be able to plan, prioritise work, meet deadlines, and work independently and in a team;

  • Be systematic and thorough in approach to work, with excellent attention to detail;

  • Be competent in Microsoft Office software; InDesign competency is beneficial;

  • Be proficient in English;

  • Have considerate interpersonal and communication skills and a professional demeanour;

  • Have good writing and research skills and a willingness to learn.

HOW TO APPLY

Please prepare and submit the following by email to elizabeth@concourttrust.org.za on or before 10 November 2024:

  • A motivational letter that describes the relationship between art and justice, specifically relating to an artwork of your choosing in the Constitutional Court Art Collection (no more than 500 words) - please include a declaration that you have not used AI to formulate the letter;
  • Your CV (no longer than two pages) and the contact details for at least two referees;
  • The subject line of your email must include Curatorial Internship 2025 – [Your Full Name].

Only complete applications submitted through the above email address as directed will be considered. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Interviews will be conducted at the CCT offices in the Constitutional Court, Johannesburg, on 27 November 2024. The successful candidate must be able to start at the beginning of January 2025.

To learn more about the internship programme from previous interns, visit https://ccac.concourttrust.org.za/curatorial-internship-programme.