Navigating Museum Internships: A Comprehensive Guide

Museum internships offer invaluable opportunities to gain hands-on experience and develop essential skills within the museum field. These programs provide students and recent graduates with exposure to various aspects of museum operations, from curation and collections management to education and marketing. This article provides a comprehensive overview of museum internship requirements, covering various aspects of the application process, eligibility criteria, and program benefits.

The Value of Museum Internships

Museum internships serve as a crucial bridge between academic learning and professional practice. They allow interns to:

Gain Practical Experience: Interns actively participate in museum projects, gaining hands-on experience in their areas of interest.
Develop Essential Skills: Internships foster the development of crucial skills such as research, communication, organization, and teamwork.
Network with Professionals: Interns have the opportunity to connect with museum professionals, building valuable relationships that can aid in future career prospects.
Explore Career Paths: Internships provide a glimpse into different museum departments and roles, helping interns identify their career interests and strengths.
Contribute to the Community: Interns contribute to the museum's mission, assisting with projects that connect the museum with the community.
Enhance Academic Learning: Internships complement academic studies by providing real-world applications of theoretical knowledge.

Types of Museum Internships

Museum internships can vary in focus, duration, and structure. Some common types include:

Curatorial Internships: These internships focus on the collection, preservation, and exhibition of museum artifacts. Interns may assist with research, cataloging, and exhibition development.
Education Internships: These internships involve developing and delivering educational programs for visitors of all ages. Interns may assist with creating lesson plans, leading tours, and facilitating workshops.
Collections Management Internships: These internships focus on the care and management of museum collections. Interns may assist with cataloging, inventorying, and preserving artifacts.
Marketing and Communications Internships: These internships involve promoting the museum and its programs to the public. Interns may assist with social media, website content creation, and event planning.
Research Internships: These internships focus on conducting research related to the museum's collections or exhibitions. Interns may assist with literature reviews, data analysis, and report writing.

Eligibility Requirements

While specific requirements may vary between institutions, some general eligibility criteria apply to most museum internship programs:

Academic Standing: Many internships require applicants to be currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate students. Some programs may also accept recent graduates or career changers. Undergraduate applicants may need to have completed at least their first year of college before beginning an internship.
GPA: A minimum GPA is often required, typically around 2.8 or higher on a 4.0 scale for undergraduates and 3.0 or higher for graduate students.
Field of Study: While not always mandatory, preference may be given to applicants studying relevant fields such as art history, museum studies, history, archaeology, or education. Art History majors may apply one 3-hour museum internship (ARH 4941) toward the upper-level requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Art History. Museum Studies minors must complete 3 hours of museum internship in any museum, preferably but not necessarily an art museum.
Skills and Experience: Some internships may require specific skills or experience, such as historical research, archival experience, or proficiency in computer programs. The curation intern, for example, must: Have excellent written and oral communication skills, organizational skills, and attention to detail; Be proficient in historical research, including navigating primary and secondary sources; Have demonstrated experience with navigating institutional archives; Have experience or familiarity with public history, museum studies, archaeology, or a related field; Be interested in learning about museum curation and exhibition development; Be able to work well independently and collaborate as part of a team; Be proficient in computer programs like Microsoft Word and Excel.
Commitment: Internships typically require a specific time commitment, ranging from a few hours per week to full-time positions. Summer internships may require a commitment of at least four days per week.

The Application Process

The application process for museum internships generally involves the following steps:

Identify Opportunities: Research museums that offer internships in your field of interest. Check museum websites, job boards, and university career services for available positions. Applications are now open for summer 2026 internship positions! Internships are posted regularly for the fall and spring semesters, as well as each summer.
Review Requirements: Carefully review the eligibility requirements, application instructions, and deadlines for each internship.
Prepare Application Materials: Gather the necessary documents, which may include a resume, cover letter, transcript, writing samples, and letters of recommendation. Applicants will need to submit a complete application through the Smithsonian online application system known as SOLAA. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Tailor your cover letter to each specific internship, highlighting your relevant skills, experience, and interest in the museum and the position.
Submit Application: Submit your application materials by the specified deadline, following the instructions provided by the museum. We are accepting applications now through April 24, 2026, for internships during the 2026-27 academic year.
Interview: If selected for an interview, prepare to discuss your qualifications, interests, and career goals.

Internship Program Structure

The structure of a museum internship program can vary depending on the institution and the specific internship. However, most programs include the following elements:

Orientation: An initial orientation period to introduce interns to the museum, its staff, and its policies. The curation intern position, for example, will be a hybrid, primarily off-site position, after a period of in-person orientation at the museum’s temporary office location in Raleigh.
Supervision: Interns work under the guidance of a museum professional who provides mentorship, feedback, and support.
Project Work: Interns contribute to specific museum projects, gaining hands-on experience in their area of interest.
Training and Development: Some programs may offer training sessions, workshops, or seminars to enhance interns' skills and knowledge. The Summer Internship Program provides participants with in-depth exposure to the workings of MoMA’s individual departments, as well as practical and theoretical training in museum practices, and acquaints them with the role of museums in contemporary society. The 12-Month Internship Program provides training in specific museum fields through close work with professional staff members, familiarity with modern and contemporary art through seminars and discussions, and an educational program that exposes interns to the workings of the Museum as a whole, while considering the role of museums in the broader cultural context.
Evaluation: Interns receive feedback on their performance and may be asked to complete a final project or presentation. At the end of the internship, the student asks the the museum supervisor to fill out an Internship Evaluation Form.

Benefits of Participating in a Museum Internship

Participating in a museum internship offers numerous benefits, including:

Career Advancement: Internships provide a competitive edge in the job market, demonstrating practical experience and a commitment to the museum field.
Skill Development: Interns develop valuable skills that are transferable to other professions.
Networking Opportunities: Internships provide the opportunity to build relationships with museum professionals, which can lead to future job opportunities.
Personal Growth: Internships foster personal growth by challenging interns to step outside their comfort zones and develop new skills.
Contribution to the Museum: Interns contribute to the museum's mission, helping to preserve and share cultural heritage with the community.
Potential for academic credit: Internships for course credit in fulfillment of curricular requirements are available in coordination with many academic departments. Art History majors may apply one 3-hour museum internship (ARH 4941) toward the upper-level requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Art History. Museum Studies minors must complete 3 hours of museum internship in any museum, preferably but not necessarily an art museum.

Financial Considerations

Museum internships may be paid or unpaid. Paid internships offer a stipend or hourly wage, while unpaid internships may provide academic credit or other benefits. Wichita State University students are invited to apply for paid internships, which offer valuable experience in the everyday workings of a university art museum. We can work with students who wish to use their work study funds or internship stipends from their school. The number of hours the intern is expected to work vary depending on the project and the requirements of the student's academic program. Intern benefits include free parking in the Museum garage and proximity to the MBTA's Green Line. Interns receive free admission to the Exhibit Halls, IMAX® films, Planetarium shows, 4-D shows, and Duck Tours, as well as discounts in the Museum store and café.

Finding Internship Opportunities

Several resources can help you find museum internship opportunities:

Museum Websites: Check the websites of museums you are interested in for internship postings.
Job Boards: Use online job boards such as Indeed, LinkedIn, and Handshake to search for museum internships.
University Career Services: Contact your university's career services office for assistance with finding internships. FSU Art History students hold internship positions in museums across the country. You can find current opportunities on the Opportunity Blog, contact an institution directly to inquire, or contact the Art History Program Specialist or Professor of Record for guidance.
Professional Organizations: Join professional organizations such as the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) or the Association of Art Museum Curators (AAMC) to network and learn about internship opportunities.

Internships for High School Students

Museums also offer internship and volunteer opportunities for high school students. Youth Internships include Academic Year Youth Internships and Summer Youth Internship Programs for actively enrolled high school students, 14-19 years old, or equivalent program. As a result of taking part in the Summer Youth Internship Program, interns will gain authentic work experience and develop transferable skills while contributing to the museum’s mission to inspire a lifelong love of science in everyone. Interns will develop their social and vocational competencies and an understanding of their application to future professional/academic environments and will be able to communicate clearly and professionally with supervisors, colleagues and Museum visitors. Are you a teen who loves Carnegie Museums? Are you looking for a fun and exciting way to spend your summer and gain valuable experience? Apply to become a teen volunteer assistant with our museum summer camps! As a summer camps teen volunteer, you will help museum staff and camp educators with a variety of educational activities to ensure campers have a fun, safe, engaging experience. Carnegie Museum of Natural History also has a Teen Advisory Board for teens interested in helping to shape teen programming.

Read also: Internship at The Studio Museum

Specific Internship Examples

Several museums offer structured internship programs with varying focuses:

National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC): Internships at the National Museum of African American History and Culture offer undergraduate and graduate students, recent graduates and career changers opportunities to work closely with professionals and scholars in the museum field. The museum provides a dynamic learning environment and access to supportive mentors that help interns reach their educational and professional goals. Internships are available as full-time (30-40 hours per week) or part-time (20 hours or less) positions from 10 to 13 weeks throughout the year with the possibility for an extension.
Ulrich Museum of Art: Wichita State University students are invited to apply for paid internships, which offer valuable experience in the everyday workings of a university art museum. Tasks may include assisting with research for exhibitions, cataloging works of art, helping with publicity, participating in exhibition installations, working on programs, and giving exhibition tours.
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA): The Summer Internship Program provides participants with in-depth exposure to the workings of MoMA’s individual departments, as well as practical and theoretical training in museum practices, and acquaints them with the role of museums in contemporary society. The 12-Month Internship Program provides training in specific museum fields through close work with professional staff members, familiarity with modern and contemporary art through seminars and discussions, and an educational program that exposes interns to the workings of the Museum as a whole, while considering the role of museums in the broader cultural context.
Carnegie Museums: Limited internships and other experiential learning opportunities are available at all four museums. Some intern positions may require at least one year of college or university to be completed and a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher. Internships are posted throughout the year as opportunities become available.

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