Study Abroad in Prague: Volunteer Opportunities

AIFS students are encouraged to engage with the local community through volunteering at a local high school and teaching English conversation. This is scheduled upon arrival in Prague.

Lobkowicz Palace and Nelahozeves Castle

AIFS students have the unique opportunity to apply for positions
as volunteers at the Lobkowicz Palace within the precinct of Prague Castle and at Nelahozeves Castle, 15km from Prague.

When the Czech Government passed the Restitution Laws in the early 1990s, the Lobkowicz family was able to regain their former properties, including Lobkowicz Palace and Nelahozeves Castle. William Lobkowicz and his wife returned from Boston to Prague nearly 20 years ago. They have reassembled most of the extensive family collection, which includes the oldest, largest, and most intact private collections in the Czech Republic. The collections feature world-famous paintings, ceramics, and arms and armor and include the finest private library in Central Europe, totalling over 65,000 volumes.

AIFS students have the unique opportunity to apply for one of two possible volunteer projects either at the Lobkowicz Palace or at Nelahozeves Castle. The work involves research, information preparation, translation, assisting with visitors and archiving. Students must make a formal application and must be interviewed for the positions available. Successful applicants must agree to work on a weekly basis throughout the semester for a minimum of 3 hours per week.

I. Volunteers at Nelahozeves Castle – Scanning Project

Summary

  • Scan important Lobkowicz family photo albums from the 19th and early 20th centuries to create a database of pictures for archival and research purposes under the informal supervision of the Director of the Lobkowicz Collections.

Requirements

  • Initiative without supervision.
  • Language skills useful but not required.
  • Some knowledge of Czech or other languages may be useful to decipher descriptions and album labels.
  • Organized approach to keep track of scanning work completed and to cross-reference computer archive files by subject matter.
  • Understanding of scanning techniques and elementary photography handling and archiving.
  • Ideal for an enthusiastic student of photography.
  • Volunteers must work a minimum of three hours per week throughout the semester.

Practicalities

  • Space and equipment provided at Nelahozeves Castle outside Prague where the archives are based.
  • Short train ride from Prague to Nelahozeves train station, adjacent to the Castle.

Opportunities

  • Work with original photographic material and create the first-ever archive of this material for an extensive European collection.
  • Develop experience in handling archive photographs and photographic scanning processes.
  • Learn how to develop an archival research library of images under curational supervision for a major European collection.
  • Gain insight into historical documentation of period culture, life-style, fashion, and familial relationships.

Follow-up

  • Depending on the number of albums to be archived, this project could be continued by consecutive volunteers on the expectation that the quality of work, procedures and continuity of the project would be maintained from volunteer to volunteer.

II. Volunteers at Lobkowicz Palace & Nelahozeves Castle – Photography Project

Summary

Photograph important Lobkowicz art collections, paintings and other pieces from the 15th till 20th century to create a database of pictures for archival and research purposes under the informal supervision of the Director of the Lobkowicz Collections.

Requirements

Initiative with constant supervision and cooperation. Language skills not necessarily required. An organized approach to project management to keep track of photographic work completed. Understanding of elementary photography handling. Ideal for an enthusiastic student of photography.

Practicalities

Space and equipment provided at Nelahozeves Castle location outside Prague or at Lobkowicz Palace in Prague, where the collections are physically based. Working on the Nelahozeves project would require the volunteer to get out to Nelahozeves Castle on a regular schedule (train access is the most readibly available - the Nelahozeves train station is adjacent to the Castle).

Opportunity for the Volunteer

Opportunity to work with original collections items and create the topical digital documentation of these objects for an extensive European collection. Experience at handling old art and handicraft pieces and photographic process. Discover how to prepare an archive/research library of images under curatorial supervision for a major European collection. Insight into historical documentation of European art, history, period culture, life-style, fashion, and familial relationships.

Follow-Up

Depending on the number of pieces to be documented , and time limits of the volunteer, this project might perhaps be spread among several consecutive volunteers provided the quality of work, procedures and continuity of the project as a whole are maintained from volunteer to volunteer.

III. Volunteers at Lobkowicz Palace – Library Catalog Project

Summary

The books in the library need to be entered into an electronic catalog.

Requirements

  • Basic computer skills: proficiency in using an Excel spreadsheet; discipline to save work regularly throughout the day; back-up at the end of each day
  • Attention to very small details, as while the work is not difficult, it must be done accurately, with each entry double-checked / proof-read as it is made
  • Ability to work alone on a relatively mechanical task and remain interested and motivated
  • The majority of the books are in English, so language skills are not required (though German and Czech language skills could be put to good use)
  • When in doubt, asking questions or setting the book aside, when something is not clear rather than just working through it on a guess (which might result in inaccuracies or need to re-do the work)

Practicalities

The library is located at Lobkowicz Palace at Prague Castle. Work is at a computer (provided) on a desk in the library, which is located in the basement. Books are on shelves, so they will need to be removed individually, cataloged, and then returned to their place on the shelf. For some volumes that need it, dusting the individual books would be most helpful and suitable materials / supplies will be provided for this. The Volunteer would need to schedule his/her work hours (between 9 am and 5 pm) ahead of time so that arrangements can be made for access to the library. Care needs to be taken to keep the library locked when the volunteer is at lunch or takes any other break.

Opportunities

The books are on subjects of art, history and travel, so the volumes in many cases are quite interesting, and it is expected that a few minutes at the end of the day, or during breaks, or while dusting them, would be spent looking at them. The volunteers would need to resist the temptation to become too distracted, however.

Follow-up

Depending on the amount of time that can be spent each day, this project could be continued by consecutive volunteers with the expectation that the quality of work, procedures and continuity of the project would be maintained from volunteer to volunteer. This would require that the books cataloged be clearly identified. Someone from the LP staff would help with this system and its communication to new volunteers.

 

Application for Volunteer Positions

Interested students should send an email to Marketa Lepicovsky, the AIFS Resident Director in Prague, to apply for either one of the volunteer projects. Students will be interviewed after arrival in Prague.

 

Student Feedback

My supervisor and co-workers were all friendly, and I especially appreciated the opportunity to interact with Czechs, which I had not had the chance to do previously since I was enrolled in classes with mostly Americans. Plus, in the process of conducting the Lobkowicz annual survey, I was fortunate enough to meet people from all over the world who were visiting Prague and the Palace. – Berit Fitzsimmons

After application and an interview at Lobkowicz palace, Rachael and I began our work at Nelahozeves. The first time we visited the castle we were taken for a tour, and I was quite impressed with the collection. The following visit Andrea, our boss, taught us how to use the scanner and fill out the spreadsheet which held the photodatabase information...As far as transportation, Rachael and I would take the train to Nelahozeves – a very pretty 40 minute ride along the river, and then either would return on the train, or Andrea, our boss, would drive us back. Overall, I enjoyed this internship and would certainly recommend it to future AIFS students. – Elena Carey

I am glad I had the opportunity of this internship. It was fun to work in a castle and work with “royal photos” that are over 100 year olds while being able to see their everyday life through amateur and candid shots. I especially enjoyed the train rides along the river. – Rachael Dayton