Internships

The Museum’s Internship Program offers college undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduates' valuable insights into the operations of a professional museum environment.

About Application Information Available Internships FAQs

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About

The Museum’s Internship Program provides college undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduates with meaningful opportunities to gain hands-on experience in a professional museum setting. Interns work closely with staff on substantial projects and participate in a series of workshops and discussions centered on contemporary museology.

Interns are placed in departments across the Museum where they work with professional staff, assist on internal and external projects, and learn about the Museum's permanent collection and Artist-in-Residence program. Interns gain valuable work experience as well as the opportunity to develop connections with other museum professionals.

Application Information

Applications for the Fall 2025 cohort are now open.

The Fall 2025 season will feature six internship positions: Communications, Collections, Curatorial, Director’s Office, Development, Education and Visitor Experience.

Applicants are encouraged to designate both a first and second choice for the positions they wish to be considered for. Due to the anticipated high volume of applications, only candidates chosen for interviews will receive direct communication regarding the status of their application.

Fall 2025 Dates: September 15—December 19, 2025 (14 weeks)

Requirements: 21 hours per week, Monday through Friday. Interns are required to be on-site at least three days per week, including mandatory attendance on Tuesdays

Stipend: $5,292

Application Deadline: 11:59 PM ET on July 20, 2025

Applicants will be notified about interviews by August 8, 2025

If you have not received communication by this date, we regret that you have not been selected as a finalist for the Fall 2025 cohort.

All accepted interns must attend an in-person orientation on the morning of Monday, September 15, 2025, to begin the program.

Metrocards are provided to cover transportation to and from our offices in Harlem.

Applicants are required to submit the following for consideration:

Resume
Cover Letter
If you are applying for an internship in the Communications or Curatorial Department, a writing sample of no more than 5 pages is required
Optional: A video, up to 2 minutes (max), discussing your interest in the Studio Museum, the specific position you have applied for, and how an internship would impact your career. This is entirely optional and intended to accommodate those with accessibility needs. Videos can be sent to [email protected]

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Available Internships

Communications Department (1 Position)	The Communications Intern will work with the Communications Department to perform functions critical to communicating the Studio Museum’s mission and offerings to Museum stakeholders, the press, and our diverse audiences. The Communications Intern will learn about institutional voice, communications strategy, and media relations best practices, and will assist with creating various forms of content for the institution’s administrative, programming, and exhibition needs. The Communications Intern will also perform administrative tasks to support the maintenance of the Communication Department’s records. The Communications Internships are designed for mature undergraduate students, graduate students, or recent graduates interested in careers in arts communications, media studies, social marketing, design, or related fields.
Collections Department (1 Position)	The Collections Intern will be involved in a range of collection and exhibition management projects with special attention to collection stewardship. The internship will engage interested candidates in museum registration tasks focused on collection administration. Potential projects may also include supporting the Registrar, the Collections Database Manager, and the Archivist with research, administrative projects, and collection file reviews. The Collections Internship position is designed for undergraduate and graduate students who are majoring/minoring in museum studies, or a related field.
Curatorial Department (1 Position)	The Curatorial Intern will work under the direction of the Curatorial Assistants. Interns will be involved in a range of curatorial research projects. A key component of this internship will be conducting research and writing for objects and artists represented in the permanent collection, as well as administrative tasks to support the department’s curatorial library. Projects will also include deep research on mission specific-related exhibitions happening globally. The intern may also be completing administrative tasks for exhibition-related projects. The Curatorial Internship position is designed for undergraduate and graduate students who are majoring or minoring in Art History, Visual Culture, or a related field.
Development Department (1 Position)	The Development Intern will work closely with members of the Development team to help with the Museum’s fundraising efforts. Primary responsibilities include assisting with correspondence and research related to individual giving, conducting research on corporations and foundations, drafting select grant reports and proposals, writing profiles and programmatic summaries, updating and maintaining records in the Museum's database, Tessitura, and organizing mailings of information to donors and prospects. Previous fundraising, marketing, or public relations experience is helpful but not required. The Development Internship is designed for undergraduate and graduate students and recent college graduates interested in careers in Arts Administration, Marketing, or related fields.
Director’s Office Department (1 Position)	The Director’s Office Intern will help develop and execute a diverse range of strategic initiatives. Responsibilities include assisting with projects that support the Ford Foundation Director and Chief Curator and the Chief of Staff. Specific projects include institutional history and artist related research; drafting internal correspondence; creating presentations on behalf of the Director’s Office, administrative support; updating documents; logistical support; and other research as assigned. This position is suited for a candidate eager to gain familiarity with the administrative responsibilities and strategic planning required for a career in nonprofit organizational management and external affairs. Candidates should note that this is not a curatorial position; individuals considering careers in the arts administration sector are encouraged to apply. Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite is required. Excellent research, writing and communication skills, as well as meticulous attention to detail, are essential. The Director’s Office internship is designed for college sophomores, juniors, seniors, recent graduates, and graduate students.
Learning & Engagement Department (1 Position)	The Education Intern will work within the Learning & Engagement Department's Education team, providing interns with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of museum education and the impact of arts and cultural programming on society. The Education Intern will work closely with department staff on a series of projects that contribute to the development of digital programs and online education content, enhancing opportunities for learning, connection, and leadership across communities. The Education Intern will perform research informed by their own areas of interest and designed to support the department’s goals to develop tools and methods that serve our constituents’ short- and long-term needs through accessible, impactful programs and resources, in preparation for the new building opening. There will be several opportunities for hands-on community programming during the Fall. The Education Internship is designed for third- and fourth-year undergraduates, recent graduates, and master’s candidates who are preparing for careers in Art Education, Museum Education, Arts Administration, Fine Arts, Art History, Creative Arts Therapy or related field.
Visitor Experience Department (1 Position)	The Visitor Experience Intern will work closely with the Director of Visitor Experience and the Associate Director of Product Development to help with the Studio Museum’s direct relationship to Black owned businesses and makers. Primary responsibilities include assisting with correspondence and research related to local Black owned businesses; in-person, email, and phone outreach to said businesses; and creating and maintaining a database of businesses. The database will be used to strengthen the Museum store's relationship to merchandising partners, develop a possible wholesale program with other storefronts, and become a reference point for the Visitor Experience Department's recommendations for local Black owned stores and restaurants. Previous visitor experience, customer service, public or business outreach experience is helpful but not required. The Visitor Experience internship is designed for college students and recent graduates.

FAQs

Internship cycles are in line with the academic year, and are offered in the fall, spring, and summer semesters. The fall internship application is posted in late July, the application for spring opens in September, and the summer application opens in February.

We understand that people come to this work through a variety of interest areas and backgrounds. Competitive applications clearly identify why candidates are interested in the specific internship position to which they are applying, articulate how their experience connects with their area of interest in museums, and make a compelling case for what they might gain and contribute if selected for the internship program.

Yes, all internship positions are paid. Only individuals authorized to work for the Museum in the United States will be accepted into the internship program. The Museum will consider expressions of interest in providing volunteer services to the Museum from non–work authorized individuals.

Please reach out to your school's career services department if you have questions about your authorization to work in the United States or your eligibility to receive academic credit for this internship.

Interns are paid a stipend based on the hours required for the program. Any additional time spent working beyond the required hours is considered voluntary. Intern supervisors take the interns’ time and commitment seriously, and design projects based on how much time interns can reasonably dedicate to working on them.

You may receive credit for participating in the internship, however it is the intern’s responsibility to initiate the process with their academic advisor or professor, and shepherd any required administrative materials between the university and Museum. Please be sure to communicate your interest in receiving internship credits to your supervisor immediately upon acceptance to the program, since many academic programs require supervisor information, evaluations, and/or other materials to award credit.

Only candidates who have been selected for interviews will be contacted directly regarding their application status by the posted notification date, due to the volume of applications we receive each season. If you have not heard back before that date, you have not been considered for a position and we encourage you to consider re-applying in the future.

No, the internship program requires a full commitment, and does not make allowances for vacation. Interns are expected to be present for the duration of the program to work meaningfully toward project goals, and to avoid missing out on a the variety of programs and workshops throughout the course of the program that are designed to enhance interns’ professional development. Submitting an application affirms your availability for the duration of the program as listed.

For any questions not addressed, please contact [email protected]