The Virgin Islands Architecture Center for Built Heritage and Crafts (VIAC) announces the launch of their seven-week paid Historic Preservation Internship beginning Monday, Nov 4. This initiative invites college students and recent college graduates to apply for entry to the program before Oct. 28.
VIAC, a nonprofit organization tasked with the revitalization of the Old Barracks property on Hospital Street in Christiansted, St. Croix, has expanded its efforts toward historic preservation with the implementation of its new internship program. This program, which includes mentorship, opportunities for hands-on experience, and network building, seeks to expose young Virgin Islanders to the rich history centered around Virgin Islands architecture.
Amanda Sackey, VIAC’s operations manager, believes that the study and preservation of our historical buildings hold key answers to how Virgin Islanders can fortify their communities in the face of climate instability and global warming. “This is a field that is for everyone. The youth have an essential role in taking our cultural and historical preservation by the reigns. I feel especially passionate about this work and the need to include younger generations in these conversations because I believe that one of the keys to proaction with our impending climate crisis is connected to learning about the architectural traditions and wisdom of our ancestors. These buildings have survived hundreds of years of erosion and natural disasters, they are resilient and they have withstood the test of time,” said Sackey.
“Studying architecture as a mechanism for understanding climate change, architectural design, placekeeping, archiving, and the forensics of buildings are key steps in making connections with the very fabric of what shapes us as Virgin Islanders. Our proclivity to enjoy certain aesthetics has a direct correlation to the local towns that have imprints on what we deem as beautiful and our expectations of depth, dynamic, intention, and natural resource conservation,” Sackey continued.
One of the main driving forces behind the Historic Preservation Internship opportunity is to invite young Virgin Islanders to consider pursuing careers that support historic preservation in the community. Interns can expect to develop hard and soft career skills from both in-office and on-the-field activities, as well as develop relationships with key community stakeholders.
“We are aiming for interns to work for about 10 hours a week and we are building out the program to be flexible with college and work schedules. This internship opportunity is open to the entire territory and we plan to have several rounds of this internship program over the next two years,” Sackey said.
For more information and interest in applying to the internship program, visit www.viacstx.com and for questions, email Sackey at amanda@viacstx.com.
