Great Falls local participating in Paris Gibson Square internship program

Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art

Published 11:50 a.m. MT June 24, 2021
Updated 10:17 a.m. MT June 25, 2021
Link to original article in Great Falls Tribune

Ophelia Easton is participating in Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art’s New Museum Internship Program, developed, and managed by Nicole Maria Evans, Curator of Collections and Exhibitions. The program as described by Evans, “The museum is excited to have Ophelia on board as our first intern in this Museum Internship Program. She is a talented young woman that is very much curious and interested in learning about museums. The internship program that I am developing is meant to immerse the intern in an internship that is akin to an entry level museum studies internship that prepares students for a future in museums. The program provides onsite hands-on project-based learning, with insight into roles in museum administration, exhibition organization and collections management. Sarah Justice, Executive Director, is excited and supportive of this program and when she learned of Ophelia’s interest in an internship, she knew this museum internship would be perfect for Ophelia who has previously participated in Summer Camps at the museum. This year the intern project focus is related to 24th Annual Juried Art Auction and Exhibition, slated for July 30, 2021-August 20, 2021, and Collections Management.”

In her free time, she enjoys gardening, painting, practicing the banjo, exploring the prairie landscape in search of rocks, bones, and antlers, and nurturing her ever-growing collection of indoor plants. She is excited to be involved with the Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art’s Museum Internship Program, and its surrounding community which she perceives as an integral part of the “soul” of Montana.

An important addition to this program is the participation of the Great Falls Museum community. Curator Nicole Evans, has reached out to local museums such as The Ursuline Center, C.M. Russell Museum, Children’s Museum of Montana, and The History Museum, who have graciously shown interest and support of The Square’s Museum Internship Program. The intern will  visit these important museums and learn about their roles, missions, and goals, as well as meet and have lunch with museum staff, view collections, and receive a tour with time for discussion. At the end of the internship Ophelia Easton will have an opportunity to present her internship experience to the board and staff at The Square, as well as participating staff members from the other museums.

Evans is hoping to grow this program, which is currently a three day a week schedule, and is looking forward to finding additional support funding to provide an even richer experience that can gift future interns a substantial intern stipend. Nicole Maria Evans discusses funding, “In my 20 years’ experience in museums I have interned or participated in museum fellowships, as a young professional, and received funding a few times. I was happy either way because the programs I attended were coveted and competitive, but the added support made things more manageable especially when you are not employed during an internship. The museum is aware that interns should receive support as they are usually participating in working roles during their time at the museum.” Ophelia will be receiving a stipend in addition to the hands-on project learning and museum educational experiences the internship at Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art provides.

For the upcoming future, Evans’ hope is that students in the Museum Studies, Art History or Fine Arts field will learn of this Museum Internship Program and apply in the following years, ideally earning credit towards their degrees.