Name: Sarah Elizabeth Fernandez
Class Year: 2026
Major: Political Science
Minor: History of Art
 
Internship Organization:  Centro de Documentación (CEDOC) Angélica Pérez Germain, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (MNBA)
Internship Title:   Archive Intern
Location:  Santiago, Chile
 
What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!  

For the last few months, I have been doing work in the archives at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (MNBA). The tasks I completed for the Centro de Documentación (CEDOC) Angélica Pérez Germain varied but all the work had a focus on preserving and promoting Chile’s contributions to the art world. Within the work one transferable skill I learned were the procedures to follow when handling documents and photos.

Why did you apply for this internship?  

I discovered my internship opportunity through the partnership Bryn Mawr has with IES abroad. I was thrilled once I received my placement in Santiago because I had studied abroad the previous fall in Latin America through the study abroad office. I felt this was the right choice for me since I could continue to build upon skills and IES matches students to internships that aligns with their career interests which was an important deciding factor for my junior summer.
 
What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn’t expect? 

One of my main projects while working in the archives was assisting in the translation of documents from English to Spanish. This work was valuable because it allows for more researchers to access the history and for the archive to be more complete overall. I was able to step into the role of a translator and learn more about my capabilities as an individual. Since I had been abroad in Argentina the previous year, I had some experience using my Spanish in professional settings. However, the practice of translating documents such as those outlining art purchases and internal communications allowed me to see I have a stronger set of comprehension skills than I had expected of myself.  

What is most rewarding about your internship?

The most rewarding part of my summer internship was contributing to the archive. Due to the fact that the museum is the oldest in the Americas, the archive is vast and is in need of constant organizing. Throughout the summer the archive received various donations from Chilean artists who left their documents and personal archives to the museum. It was exciting and impactful to uncover history through the stories of artists, collectors, and institutions in connection to the museum. The team I worked with including students from local universities and departments in conjunction with the archive helped me understand the importance of Chilean history. One experience that was particularly valuable was the opening of the Sala Chile (Gallery) focused on the life and art of Chilean artist, Roberto Matta. The archive helped organize the exhibition and provided historic context to establish the permanent exhibition titled Historias de una Colección. I was able to attend the opening and hear from the various groups who collaborated on this project including the ministry of culture.