Exploring Internship Opportunities at the Denver Art Museum

The Denver Art Museum (DAM), founded in 1893 as the Denver Artists' Club, stands as one of the largest art museums between Chicago and the West Coast. Home to over 80,000 works of art in 13 diverse collections, the DAM offers a wide range of internship and volunteer opportunities. These opportunities allow individuals to contribute to a world-class institution while gaining valuable experience in various aspects of museum operations. The Denver Art Museum is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce. The museum serves as a platform for creative expression and community well-being by collecting and presenting work by artists from diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, including those communities that have been historically underrepresented in museums. We believe that art and creativity have the power to promote mutual understanding and highlight our shared humanity-connecting, inspiring, and empowering people and communities.

Values and Philosophy of the Denver Art Museum

At the Denver Art Museum, art is seen as a powerful force for forging connections, bridging differences, and transforming lives. This philosophy permeates all aspects of the museum's operations, including its approach to internships and volunteer engagement. The DAM is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment, ensuring that all employees and volunteers feel valued, regardless of age, race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, or disability.

Employment Opportunities at the DAM

The Denver Art Museum employs a multi-faceted, talented, and integrated team to run a world-class art museum. The DAM hires team members in a variety of areas and expertise including Accounting, Administration, Communications and Public Affairs, Conservation, Curatorial, Development, Exhibitions and Collections, Facilities, Human Resources, Learning and Engagement, Marketing, Operations and Visitor Services, Sales and Services, Events, Publications, and Security.

Interested individuals can search and apply for available full-time, part-time, and internship positions through the museum's online Career Center. The museum responds directly to applicants that best match the qualifications for the open positions.

Internship Opportunities: The Museum Pathways Exploration Internship (PEI) Program

The Denver Art Museum hosts interns through the Museum Pathways Exploration Internship (PEI) program, designed for current college students and early-career professionals. This paid program provides exploratory opportunities for individuals historically underrepresented in arts and cultural fields. However, the Denver Art Museum welcomes applications from all eligible candidates, regardless of background. Through this program, a cohort of interns will come together with the opportunity for career exploration, personal development, and an opportunity to learn new skills.

The Pathways Exploration Internship Program (PEI) in Detail

The Pathways Exploration Internship Program (PEI) is an 11-week career training program that takes place from May 20th - August 7th, 2026. This program is available for current college students and early career professionals (max. 2-years post-grad) and provides paid exploratory opportunities for candidates whose identities may be considered underrepresented in arts and cultural fields.

Family Programs Internship: A Closer Look

One example of an internship within the PEI program is the Family Programs Intern position. This position contributes to the programs and initiatives of the Learning and Engagement Department. The Family Programs Intern will gain hands-on experience working with youth and families from diverse backgrounds. Responsibilities include supporting summer camp operations, assisting with program facilitation, and ensuring smooth day-to-day activities. The intern will help maintain engaging and interactive family spaces within the museum galleries and will learn about the planning and coordination of in-gallery activities. The pay range for this position is $19.29 per hour, and course credit may be available through your academic program.

Gaining Valuable Skills and Experience

Interns at the Denver Art Museum gain a variety of valuable skills and experiences. Laura Levy, a former intern, noted that she liked the idea of working more directly with the public, so she decided to apply for an internship with family and community programs. Over the summer she primarily assisted with summer camps and Create-n-Takes. In the fall she developed a project for Create Playdate based on shapes found in pre-Columbian pottery.

Levy also emphasized the importance of creative problem-solving, stating, "There are a lot of things that must be taken into consideration when planning an in-gallery activity, such as the types of materials the activity requires, how difficult the activity is to do, and how well it relates to an object in the museum’s collection." She also learned how great brainstorming with others can be. Often when she’s felt stuck, talking out the problem with other people has led to some really great ideas. It’s nice to get outsider perspective on something you’ve been so focused on that you can’t step back and see it from different angles. Creative problem solving is something she’s learned from her time at the DAM.

She also highlighted the importance of working with people, stating, "Working the Create-n-Takes has also given me a lot of experience working with people. I feel much more comfortable now engaging with visitors and talking about art. Obviously, this is important for any job that requires you to work directly with the public."

Adaptability and Accommodation

The DAM prioritizes adaptability and a human-centered work environment and are happy to consider accommodations. The museum is deeply committed to standing against discrimination, violence, and hate in all forms against any individual or group.

Volunteer Opportunities at the DAM

The Denver Art Museum also offers a wide range of volunteer opportunities. The contributions of a variety of skills, time, enthusiasm, and kindness of our volunteers directly impact the quality of the experiences our visitors have at the museum. The museum’s volunteers support the work of a variety of different departments at the museum including: Communications; Conservation; Curatorial; Development; Facilities; Learning and Engagement; The Shop; Visitor Services; Volunteer Services; and more.

The Denver Art Museum recruits for volunteer roles periodically based on need. Some roles open for applications annually, while others are less frequent. If you would like to be notified when applications for a specific role open, please complete an interest form. If you are a current volunteer, Volgistics is the volunteer management system.

Volunteer Engagement and Vision 2021

Guided by its Vision 2021 and the impending opening of the Martin Building, museum leadership recognized that they could not achieve the DAM’s bold goals without further engaging the talents and skills of those who share a passion for art. In 2020, volunteers and staff together made more than 60 recommendations that addressed the goals of the plan. In July 2023, the recommendations will be implemented into our work and an assessment of the process and success will be conducted.

A Driving Force: Internships as Career Launchpads

Nicole Laurin, the special project assistant for the Native Arts Artist-in-Residence program in the learning and engagement department at the Denver Art Museum, exemplifies how internships can be a driving force in career opportunities. Laurin has been at the DAM since 2014.

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Laurin's experience highlights the transformative power of internships. "When I first became an intern with family and community programs in May 2014, I was interested in working in museum education and in improving my skills by developing dynamic programming for families," Laurin explains. "I had completed a BA in art history and a master’s in museum studies and this was the opportunity that pushed my career in the right direction."

By the spring of 2015, Laurin became a special projects assistant for the Native Arts Artist-in-Residence program, where she interacts with incoming artists and builds programming around their residency. She has since gained responsibility for scheduling program facilitators and in helping family and community programs with various projects, like birthday parties.

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