/ The Lobkowicz Collections Internship Subscribe

I obtained perspectives from a diverse array of individuals and accomplished projects I never imagined tackling. Through a rotational internship structure, I gained hands-on experience in the Marketing, Funding, Visitor Services, Curating, and Events Management departments.

Prior to starting my internship, I hoped that working with the House of Lobkowicz would help me clarify my career goals and determine whether the museum industry was the right fit for me. Not only did I become more passionate about museum work, but I also gained far more insight than I had anticipated. In the Marketing department, I brainstormed merchandise ideas for the gift shop, created social media content, and reworked the House of Lobkowicz Wikipedia page. This work gave me my first real understanding of marketing, as I considered the message the House of Lobkowicz wants to convey and its reputation as a cultural organization. My interest in the fundraising aspect of museums also deepened. Working with the small Funding team, I learned how to search for grants and brainstormed ways to attract the younger generation to House of Lobkowicz memberships. I quickly realized how time-consuming and challenging grants can be, with each one requiring specific criteria. Even though thousands of grants exist, only a handful of them applied to art restoration and education in the Czech Republic. For a small organization like the House of Lobkowicz, having just one person work on these lengthy grant applications adds to the complexity. Therefore, it was incredibly satisfying to know that my efforts as an intern contribute meaningfully to the organization. In Visitor Services and Event Management, I assisted with inventory, customer service, and online communication. This type of work was relaxing and a good change of pace, though at times my supervisors struggled to find tasks for me to complete. In the Curating department, I helped clean, preserve, and reorganize historical items for exhibitions.

The internship itself was very flexible. My fellow intern, Riley, and I often received the week’s schedule on Sunday and adjusted it according to the organization’s needs. Early on, I discovered that the work was dynamic and could change based on daily events. Nevertheless, like many other European countries, House of Lobkowicz employees maintain a great work-life balance and ensured that Riley and I did the same. Typically, we worked from 10 AM to 4 PM, leaving us the evenings free to explore the city.

During my two months in Prague, there were several standout moments. For the past five years, the House of Lobkowicz has been steadily working to open the Antonín Dvořák Birth House, finally succeeding this summer. I feel fortunate to have had an opportunity that previous interns did not. I recorded clips of the opening press conference for Czech TV, visited flea markets to find exhibition pieces, and guided visitors through the birth house during its soft opening. I also had the chance to meet the president of the Czech Republic while working the Moonshot Young Leaders Camp. The focus of our internship this year was “mystery shopping,” so Riley and I spent a week traveling to various castles and museums around the country, observing their operations and offering recommendations for how the House of Lobkowicz could excel among its competitors. While the tight schedule was stressful and we were unable to explore every site thoroughly, it was an incredible experience to see what else the country had to offer.

Interning with the House of Lobkowicz and meeting the kind, supportive people who work there broadened my horizons beyond the cutthroat finance industry in the US. Each day, my coworkers educated me about the rich cultural landscape of Prague and the inner workings of the museum industry. Through this experience, I gained a deep appreciation for the amount of work and thought that goes into each project, as well as how the departments collaborate to keep the House of Lobkowicz running smoothly. I am now much more interested in museums and the art industry as a whole. This semester, I plan to focus on integrating my interests in economics and art.

I am deeply grateful to have had this opportunity this summer and would highly recommend the internship to anyone looking to step outside their comfort zone for an immersive experience.