This summer, Bailey Saslow completed her internship at the DANK Haus German American Cultural Center in Chicago, a vibrant institution dedicated to preserving and promoting German culture, heritage, and language. Bailey embarked on a project that not only challenged her understanding of museum operations but also fueled her passion for museum law.
Can you tell us a little bit about your internship experience at DANK Haus?
My interest in museum law and governance drew me to this opportunity. The DANK Haus's mission is to preserve and promote German culture through its museum, art gallery, library, and language school aligned with my interests. Their dedication to engaging with the community through hospitality, engagement, and authenticity resonated with me.
What did you hope to experience in your internship?
My primary responsibility was rewriting the DANK Haus's collections policy. This involved combining information from two existing, outdated policies and incorporating new procedures they wished to implement in the future. My main goals were to learn more about museum governance and policy, gain experience in drafting a policy, and explore whether museum law is a field I want to pursue.
"My interest in museum law and governance drew me to this opportunity. The DANK Haus's mission is to preserve and promote German culture through its museum, art gallery, library, and language school aligned with my interests.”
So, how did you go about researching and drafting the collections policy?
My main project was to recreate the DANK Haus’s Collections Policy. Collections policies are core documents that support the Collections Stewardship Core Standards, crucial for any museum's governance. I researched policies from other museums and consulted resources like "Things Great and Small: Collection Management Policies" and CMPToolkit, a resource tailored for smaller museums. These tools helped me draft a comprehensive policy that includes existing information and future procedures.
What did you learn from your internship experience?
I learned how to draft a legal policy from scratch, which was a complex and valuable experience. I gained a deeper understanding of the importance of collections policies and their role in museum governance. Additionally, I learned about intellectual property and its application in the museum field, which deepened my understanding of collections policies and their significance.
What’s next for you?
After graduating from undergrad, I plan to attend law school, focusing on intellectual property and trusts and estates. I am interested in pursuing a legal career in the museum field but am also open to exploring opportunities outside the museum sphere. My internship at the DANK Haus has solidified my interest in museum law, and I look forward to seeing where this path takes me.Bailey Saslow's internship at the DANK Haus German American Cultural Center provided her with valuable experience and insights into museum governance and policy. Her journey reflects her passion for preserving culture and her ambition to explore museum law, leaving a lasting impact on the community and her future career.
Learn more about the Chicago Center’s summer internship program at https://www.chicagocenter.org/internship.
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