The National Trust for Canada is seeking a student with interests in art, history, architecture and heritage conservation to join the National Trust team for the spring/summer 2022. The intern will assist in planning our annual national heritage conference (October 20-22, 2022, Toronto, Chelsea Hotel), helping develop the conference program including field sessions and plenaries, help us reach potential conference participants (especially emerging voices) through various communications platforms, and help build relationships with GTA stakeholders and constituencies.
About the organization
The National Trust for Canada (headquartered in Ottawa) was created in 1973 to promote the preservation and revitalization of Canada’s heritage places. Today, we continue to advance the conservation, appreciation and ongoing use of Canada’s historic places, intangible heritage, and cultural landscapes, and spotlight their essential contribution to diverse, equitable and sustainable communities.
Each year, the National Trust (in association with the Indigenous Heritage Circle and Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals) mounts Canada’s largest heritage places conference bringing together 500+ inter-disciplinary participants from across the heritage sector: professionals (emerging and established), public officials and policymakers, tradespeople, grassroots volunteers, land guardians, academics, and students. The National Trust Conference is a crucial learning, knowledge exchange, and networking event that helps sustain the heritage conservation movement, build heritage industry and public policy practice, and support the heritage places and landscapes important to all Canadians.
Description of placement
The intern will assist in planning our annual national heritage conference (October 20-22, 2022, Toronto, Chelsea Hotel), helping develop the conference program with a particular focus on Toronto-based opportunities, assist with conference communications, and work to build relationships with GTA stakeholders and constituencies.
This year’s ambitious conference theme – The Heritage Reset: Making Critical Choices – builds on an ongoing national project working to accelerate key conversations within the heritage sector about the values and the purpose of conservation work. How can heritage conservation be useful and meaningful to a broader public – including diverse communities, the next generation, and those who have experienced barriers to accessing heritage? How can we accelerate heritage movement’s impact as a positive, essential, progressive force addressing pressing issues like climate change, racism, reconciliation, affordable housing, social justice, accessibility, economic resiliency, and more?
We are constantly seeking to reach more students, diverse communities, and emerging professionals with the goal of helping them in the heritage careers and creating interest and awareness of the importance of heritage conservation. The intern will help us reach new conference participants through social media, programming, and will have latitude to create and lead their own projects based on their interests.
This is an opportunity to work at a leading national Canadian non-profit, get to know key players in the Canadian heritage conservation sector and develop personal networks, spend time researching, writing, and leading initiatives of personal interest. The intern will work directly with the National Trust Conference Manager and Conference Coordinator, and meet regularly to discuss work.
The intern should have strong writing and verbal communication skills and an interest in heritage, history, or architecture. They should be able to work independently and take initiative. We are flexible in working with the interests of the intern.
Programming:
- Assist with the planning and logistics for National Trust Conference 2022 (October 20-22, 2022 Toronto)
Outreach:
- Assist with online conference outreach and promotion via conference newsletters and social media.
Research:
- Research topics of related to heritage conservation, architecture, etc. in consultation with National Trust staff, and submit an article(s) to the National Trust magazine, Locale.
- Research key issues and opportunities for the heritage (e.g. environmental groups with built environment focus), and potential academic and professional contributors to the conference.
Miscellaneous:
- Other duties as assigned
The successful applicant will have the opportunity to collaborate with professionals from a variety of heritage fields. Additionally, the intern will receive free conference registration for the National Trust Conference 2022 and complimentary National Trust membership for 1 year.
Special requirements: Currently, the internship is expected to take place remotely, but there will be the opportunity meet NT staff when they come to Toronto for conference prep. The ideal candidate would be based in Toronto to help with on-site tasks on occasion.
Timing or hours of placement: Hours per week can be flexible up to a maximum of 120 hours for 8 weeks or this opportunity can extend to two semesters up to a maximum of 240 hours for 16 weeks. (Applicants must indicate their preference for length in the application — changes cannot be made partway through the internship.
Flexible timing throughout the week. Placement begins the week of May 9, 2022.
Credit: Half credit (0.5) or full credit (1.0). Applicants must indicate their preference in the application—changes cannot be made partway through the internship. (Half credit would run May-June, full credit would run May-August.) This internship is for course credit at the University of Toronto through the Department of Art History. This is not a paid position.
(Graduate students: Please note that the course code will be different for you than that shown in the application package. You are still eligible to apply.)
Interested students should send an application by April 25, 2022 to Dr Jessica Mace (jessica.mace@utoronto.ca). Applications should include a letter of interest (including any relevant coursework or experience), and a resume. Please indicate to which posting(s) you are applying. If you are interested in multiple postings, you only need to submit one application.
This project is supported by the Learning & Education Advancement Fund at the University of Toronto.
Canada constructed: architecture, landscape, history 