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About Volunteering

We are very pleased that you are interested in being a vital part of George Eastman House. Our more than 500 volunteers donate over 15,000 hours each year and contribute to every aspect of the Museum’s mission.

The success of the Museum depends on the paid and unpaid staff who offer their talents and skills. We value highly the individuals like you who will make possible the Museum’s internationally respected contributions to photography, to motion pictures, and to the legacy of George Eastman.

Privileges of Museum Volunteers

Free admission to the Museum for themselves and one guest (Enter via the Staff entrance)
Free admission for themselves only to the Curtis and Dryden theaters (Please wear your volunteer badge)
10% discount in the Museum store
Discounted admission to Museum events
The Films & Events newsletter published 6 times yearly
Social, educational, and recognition events just for volunteers

Video And Media Intern Role

The Department of Communications & Visitor Engagement at George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film is currently accepting applications for a video & media intern.

The opportunity offers students hands on experience to work with a creative team on cutting edge projects within a museum setting. This role will report to the Manager of Online Engagement. Ideal individuals should be interested in history, photography, film, museums and video production. This individual should have solid interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate with lecturers, artists, etc.

Responsibilities may include:

Assisting with and/or leading video shoots
Production assistance
Sound and Lighting (mic placement, booming, grip)
Photography
Post-production, including editing/assembling within editing software (iMovie, Final Cut Pro, etc.)
Research latest rich media trends, videos of interest
Other tasks as needed

There will be several opportunities to help plan as well as staff special events. We also appreciate and encourage input from our interns during our marketing, PR, and social media brainstorm sessions.

Please submit to the Department of Communications & Visitor Engagement. If qualified, you are invited to submit a resume or CV and a letter of interest, and reel/website/portfolio examples.

The internship advisor for this role is Lisa Kribs-LaPierre, Manager of Online Engagement. Lisa has more than seven years experience leading Digital Strategy and Social Media Communications for both, agency and client-side organizations. She is also co-contributor of ThisGoodWorld.com, a published author and social media thought-leader in the Rochester community.

To Request more general information about volunteering, please fill out the form below:

Volunteer Application PDF

Motion Picture Internship Program & Requirements

The Motion Picture Department at George Eastman House has opportunities for internships throughout the year for graduate students in the department’s Stills, Posters and Paper Collection. Internships encourage students to explore careers related to the preservation and access of archival collections and film history. Internships are offered to graduate students who have not yet completed their degrees and seek an advanced archival practicum. A background in film studies, film preservation, paper conservation, photographic conservation or archival studies is preferable. Solid research, analytical, computer, and writing skills are required.

Interns must schedule their work Monday through Friday during regular business hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Course credit can be given with the approval of the intern’s academic institution. Interns are usually required to work a minimum of 10 hours per week for 8 weeks. Stipends are not offered.

Summer internships are available July–August Applications are due by April 15. Fall and spring internships are dependant on staff availability.

Internship Projects are offered in the following areas:

Archival Arrangement, Preservation, and Description – Archival processing and preservation work, such as arranging historical papers of filmmakers, describing archival collections in online inventories and finding aids, and performing basic preservation work of document-based collections, stills, posters, celebrity portraits, lantern slides and other pre-cinema artifacts.
Cataloging and Metadata – Projects to improve and enhance catalog records in TMS (The Museum System) and in our local FileMaker Pro Stills Archive Collections Database. Work may involve data entry clean-up; assigning subject and name access points; preparing descriptive summaries; performing biographical research on art and artists’ authority files; and reviewing catalog records for accuracy.
Curatorial – Projects have included archival exhibition research, label and text preparation, and installation and research for upcoming publications.
Digital Collections – Digitization initiatives to increase access to collections through digitization and website access. Possible assignments include assisting with scanning and digital curation activities; entering data in our Digital Collections Database; preparing technical and administrative documentation; testing digitization workflows; and assisting with interface design, usability studies, and related web development activities.

How to Apply

Applicants will be required to upload the following materials:

A completed Intern Application PDF
Cover letter
Résumé detailing your experience, career interests, and internship goals
Two letters of recommendation

Send complete package to:

Intern Coordinator
Motion Picture Department
George Eastman House
900 East Ave.
Rochester, NY 14607

Or Email mpdinternships@geh.org

Applications must be received by the application deadline. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Motion Picture Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers provide valuable assistance to the staff of the Motion Picture Archive through a variety of activities, including the sorting and identification of motion picture stills, organizing and storing archival records, providing research support for curatorial staff, and assisting with special projects. Volunteers should have an interest in motion pictures, film history, photography or archival management, and should be able to spend a minimum of ten (10) hours a week on assigned tasks.

Volunteer positions are available in the Motion Picture Department from July through August. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday excluding holidays. Summer volunteer applications are due by April 15.

To Apply

Volunteer Application PDF

Please send the application, your resume and a cover letter detailing your experience, interests and volunteer goals to:

Volunteer Coordinator
Motion Picture Department
George Eastman House
900 East Ave.
Rochester, NY 14607

Or Email mpdvolunteers@geh.org

Graduate Internships - Department of Photographs

The Department of Photographs at George Eastman House is currently accepting applications for summer internships, scheduled to run between May and August. These internships are designed to give graduate students an advanced practicum in photographic collections management and contemporary museum practice. A background in the history of photography, art history, studio photography, or library and information sciences is strongly encouraged.

Course credit must be negotiated in advance of the internship and requires approval of the intern's academic institution. Interns are expected to work a minimum of 10 hours per week for 8 weeks, with select full-time internships offered to qualified graduate students. Please mention any requirements of a for-credit internship in your cover letter. There is no remuneration available.

For more information, please contact photographs@geh.org. Applications should be made by or on April 15, 2013. All applications should be mailed to:

Emily McKibbon
Department of Photographs
George Eastman House
900 East Ave
Rochester, NY 14607

or emailed to photographs@geh.org.

Application packages must include all of the following to receive consideration:

2 letters of recommendation, either sealed or separately emailed from referee
Current CV
Cover letter
Handwriting sample

Undergraduate Internship - Department of Photographs

The Department of Photographs at George Eastman House is currently accepting applications for a summer internship, scheduled to run between May and August. This internship is designed to give an undergraduate student an introductory practicum in photographic collections management and contemporary museum practice. A background in the history of photography, art history, or studio photograph is strongly encouraged.

Course credit must be negotiated in advance of the internship and requires approval of the intern's academic institution. Interns are expected to work 10 hours per week for 8 weeks. There is no remuneration available.