Internship Application

The Plumier Foundation is proud to announce its second round of internships. Through the generosity of donors, three-month internships will be granted. Each internship will come with a $2,000 stipend for living expenses and include living quarters and full access to the Plumier shop.

One of the major goals of the Plumier Foundation is to introduce complex turning to a new generation. However, our mission also extends to the broad spectrum of crafts whose skills and challenges intersect with those of complex turning. Examples of these crafts would be horological pursuits, gem cutting and jewelry making, cabinet making, artistic metalworking, etc. Learning would focus on both design and execution. The equipment in our new facility will meet the requirements of most crafts.

Plumier Foundation piloted its 3 Month Internship Program three years ago, awarding three internships which were limited to ornamental turning only. In the second iteration, we will open up this internship round for related trades, particularly if the trade in question is one whose skills and historical heritage are in danger of disappearing into the past.

The interns will work in the shop alongside the Plumier staff and keep the products of their labor. They will be expected to give about 35 hours of labor per month to help the Plumier staff. During the rest of the interns’ time, the staff will help them learn design skills and craft techniques. Staff will also provide guidance for specific projects of the interns’ choosing.

Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of the internships will be the opportunity to meet and learn from some of the finest craftspeople in the world. Our goal at Plumier is to develop a network that will include some of the world’s top artisans from a diverse array of trades. As these expert men and women pass through and teach classes at Plumier, interns will enjoy their mentorship and become their colleagues, creating friendships for a lifetime.

The Plumier internships will have multiple goals:

Introduce new generations to crafts in danger of becoming lost in the past
Create a deep understanding of design and technique to ensure the interns’ continued success in their subsequent craft activities
Allow interns to learn from and become colleagues with highly skilled artisans from multiple crafts.
Provide guidance in purchasing and restoring equipment
Enhance inter-generational dialog in the crafts
Generate excitement about ornamental turning and its allied crafts to encourage continuing support for them in our modern environment

Details:

The applicants awarded the internships will be granted a stipend of $2,000. This stipend is to cover meals, transportation, and other expenses including cost of materials for projects chosen by the intern.
The three months of the internship are to be completed within 18 months of the award date; however, the 3 months can be broken up into intervals no shorter than four weeks at a time.
The recipient of an internship will be 21 to 45 years old and must be currently engaged in some type of craft or trade work on either a professional or serious hobby level.
The recipients will be chosen by a committee appointed by The Plumier Foundation board. That committee will have discretion, under special circumstances, to accept applicants that may not fully meet the preceding eligibility requirements.
Internships will include housing and access to Plumier’s broad selection of machinery, including engine turning equipment, complex turning equipment, casting equipment, cabinet shop, machine shop, and jewelry making equipment.
United States residents only, unless the applicant has a Social Security number and card.

Application

Name

Age

Phone

Current Craft, Trade or Serious Hobby

Pictures of Projects Completed from any trade, craft, or hobby

How did you learn about Plumier

Have you ever operated a rose engine or ornamental turning lathe?

Yes No

Does complex turning interest you? If so, why

What craft or trade would you primarily focus on during your internship

Would you be able to fulfill the three months of internship at The Plumier Foundation within 12-18 months? Would you be able to fulfill the 3 months concurrently? Please explain how your internship would need to be scheduled

You will be required to answer questions from visitors and do frequent social media posts and occasional blog posts during your stay at Plumier. Are you familiar with the workings of social media?

Please give links to your social media accounts

Additional Comments

Process of Selection

The Plumier Foundation will post an application on its website with a clear deadline for acceptance and a date for the announcement of final selection(s). Applicants will be notified by email of their successful submission.
Applications will be accepted up to the deadline. After the deadline, a selection committee chosen by the board of The Plumier Foundation will choose finalists from the applicants and arrange for their interview by select members of the committee. This interview may take place either by phone or through an internet medium such as Go to Meeting or Zoom.
After the finalists are interviewed, recipient(s) of the internship(s) will be selected by the committee and notified of their selection.
The timing and execution of the internship will be coordinated with The Plumier Foundation Staff and other recipients. When multiple internships are rewarded concurrent execution of them is encouraged whenever possible.
Under certain special circumstances the board, staff, and selection committee have the option to amend the rules.

Note: All tax liabilities incurred by the recipient from the internship stipend are the recipient’s responsibility. Recipients are encouraged to consult an accountant regarding how best to handle the tax implications of the stipend for their individual tax situations.