Friends of Global South Asia Summer Internship

WHO WE ARE

Opened in 1914 and welcoming over 1.3 million visitors annually, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is Canada's most‑visited museum, ranking among the top 10 cultural institutions in North America. At ROM, we are dedicated to building and sharing global collections, sharing knowledge, inspiring learning, and fostering community engagement. As a globally recognized field research institute, ROM houses an impressive collection of over 18 million artworks, cultural objects, and natural history specimens, showcased in over 40 galleries and exhibition spaces.

We are committed to creating a space where art, culture, and nature intersect, connecting people and communities to the past, present and shared future.

As the Friends of Global South Asia Intern, you will support the Department of Art & Culture on research and collections initiatives related to South Asian material culture and exhibition development. Working under the guidance of the Dan Mishra Curator of Global South Asia and the Senior Curator of Textiles and Fashion, you will contribute to projects that advance knowledge of South Asian collections and support the development of an upcoming exhibition and publication on the Indian Ocean.

This summer internship offers hands‑on experience in collections research, inventory work, and exhibition support. You will assist with research on a collection of numismatic materials, including stamps as cultural artifacts, while contributing to research and administrative tasks that support exhibition development. The role provides valuable exposure to curatorial and collections workflows within a collaborative museum environment.

• Assist with inventorying, organizing, and researching a collection of stamps and numismatic materials related to South Asian history and material culture.
• Support research initiatives examining stamps as cultural artifacts and their historical context.
• Assist with research and administrative tasks supporting the development of an upcoming exhibition on the Indian Ocean.
• Contribute to updating collection records, digital photography, and database work within The Museum System (TMS).
• Participate in meetings and collaborate with staff across the museum to support collections and exhibition initiatives.
• Collaborate with curatorial and collections staff on additional projects and priority tasks as required.

• Minimum of a Master’s degree in Art History, Anthropology, Museum Studies, or a related field.
• Knowledge of South Asian and/or Indian Ocean histories supported by academic coursework or research experience.
• Proficiency in one or more South Asian languages is required.
• Strong research, analytical, and organizational skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Experience working with museum databases, particularly The Museum System (TMS), is an asset.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team environment.

• START DATE:
  
  as early as May 19, 2026
• END DATE: as late as August 14, 2026
• OPEN DATE:
  March 6, 2026
• CLOSE DATE:
  April 3, 2026
• STATUS:
  Full‑time Contract
• EMPLOYEE GROUP:
  Non‑Union
• EXPECTED COMPENSATION: $20/hour (BA) | $22/hour (MA) | $24/hour (PhD)
• SCHEDULE:
  
  Up to 35 hours weekly
• PROBATIONARY PERIOD:
  The internship period will serve as the evaluation period for this role.
• LOCATION (onsite):
  Toronto, ON

The above‑listed process may change or vary based on the nature and scope of the position.

All virtual conversations and interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams and may be recorded.

• Cultural engagement: Daily interactions with Toronto's diverse culture and international visitors offer…