Internships & Early Career Learning
Internships and early-career roles play an important role in building skills, confidence, and professional networks within the museum and heritage sector. At RMDC, these roles are designed as learning experiences that balance practical work with mentorship, reflection, and skill development.
Interns are introduced to the realities of working in a small, community-based organization while gaining experience in areas such as research, documentation, public engagement, and organizational operations. Learning is supported through a combination of orientation, hands-on projects, and ongoing supervision.
These roles are shaped to support transferable skills that extend beyond a single position or organization, helping participants prepare for future work in museums, archives, cultural organizations, and related fields.
RMDC is committed to fostering inclusive, respectful, and accessible learning environments and to supporting emerging professionals as they build sustainable careers in the cultural sector.
Our Approach to Learning
RMDC approaches internships as structured learning opportunities rather than short-term labour. Interns are supported through:
Clear orientation and onboarding
Supervision and mentorship from staff
Opportunities to apply skills through real projects
Time and space for reflection, feedback, and professional growth
Because RMDC is a small organization, interns are often exposed to multiple areas of museum work. This provides a realistic understanding of how museums operate in rural and community contexts and helps interns develop adaptable, transferable skills.
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While responsibilities vary by role and department, interns at RMDC commonly develop experience in:
Research, documentation, and record keeping
Working with historical objects, photographs, and archival materials
Public engagement and visitor interaction
Event and program support
Communications, marketing, and digital tools
Working collaboratively in a small team environment
These learning areas reflect practices used across museums, archives, and cultural organizations, both locally and nationally.
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Interns are supported by RMDC staff through regular check-ins, guidance, and feedback. Learning goals are discussed early in the placement and revisited throughout the internship to ensure expectations remain clear and achievable.
In addition to hands-on training, interns are encouraged to ask questions, explore areas of interest, and gain insight into the realities of working in the cultural heritage sector, including funding, governance, accessibility, and community accountability.
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RMDC is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive, and accessible learning environment. Internship roles are shaped with an awareness of individual needs and barriers, and we strive to create supportive conditions that allow participants to learn and contribute meaningfully.
Our work is informed by principles of accessibility, collaboration, and care for people, collections, and community. Interns are expected to engage with these values as part of their learning experience.
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The skills developed through internships at RMDC are intended to support future work in museums, archives, cultural organizations, and related fields. Interns are encouraged to document their learning, reflect on their experiences, and translate their work into professional language for resumes, portfolios, and future opportunities.
Additional training, project-specific guidance, and orientation materials are provided to active interns through internal systems and supervision.