The Studio Museum in Harlem's internship program provides college undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduates with a wide range of experiences designed to provide insight into the workings of a professional museum environment. In addition to working on projects with Museum staff, interns engage in a series of meetings and workshops around contemporary museology.
Only individuals authorized to work 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.
The Studio Museum offers paid internship opportunities in conjunction with the academic calendar year. We have closed our applications for our general Summer 2023 season so the next round of internship opportunities will be the Fall 2023.
Fall 2023 Season:
The next round of applications will be for the Fall 2023 season. The application form and a full description of each available internship position will be posted on this page by July 1, 2023.
Our Fall 2023 season will include opportunities in the following departments: Communications, Curatorial, Director’s Office, Development, Education, and Public Programs. Please note that we allow applicants to select a first and second choice for positions they would like to be considered for. Internships will continue to be remote and require a minimum commitment of 15-hours a week. Below are descriptions of positions that will be open in the Fall 2023 season.
Applicants should select a first and second choice for positions they would like to be considered for. Due to a high volume of applications, only candidates who have been selected for interviews will be contacted regarding their application status.
Applicants are required to submit the following for consideration:
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, media relations best practices, and assist with pulling Studio Museum press mentions and interacting with press requests weekly. The Communications Intern will work on drafting copy for the institution’s administrative, programming, and exhibition needs as well as contributing to the Museum's magazine, Studio.
Applicants must possess excellent writing and communication skills, superb attention to detail, be highly organized, and be able to work independently. Must demonstrate familiarity with social media and online email marketing tools (Mailchimp) and must be adept at using Adobe Creative Suite (specifically InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop). The Media and 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. If available, please provide a link to your design portfolio in the application.
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 in the permanent collection, as well as conducting research for exhibition thematics that will be on the website or for future exhibitions. Potential projects may also include maintaining digital archives or completing administrative tasks for exhibition-related projects. Interns will work directly with curators and assistants. Access to research resources is strongly preferred.
The Curatorial Internship position is designed for undergraduate and graduate students who are majoring/minoring in art history, visual culture, or a related field. Applicants should be interested in curating, have excellent writing and research skills and knowledge of the contemporary art world. Applicants must be able to handle multiple projects at once and work independently.
Development Intern will work closely with members of the Development team to help with the Studio 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, updating and maintaining records in Raiser’s Edge database and organizing mailings of information to donors and prospects. Previous development, marketing or public relations experience is helpful but not required. Development interns must be interested in learning more about non-for-profit administration and how organizations develop relationships to fund their programs and operations.
The Development Internship is designed for undergraduate and graduate students and recent graduates interested in careers in Arts Administration, Marketing, or related fields.
The Director’s Office Intern will assist in the development and execution of a diverse range of strategic initiatives. Responsibilities include assisting with projects that support the Director and Chief Curator and the Chief of Staff. Specific projects might include institutional history research, archival development, and logistical support. This position is best suited for a candidate eager to gain familiarity with the administrative responsibilities and strategic planning required for a career in nonprofit organizational management. Candidates should note this is not a curatorial position; however, those 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, and recent graduates.
The Education Intern position is an opportunity for an educator 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.
Ongoing projects and tasks will include assisting with and participate in online Education programs, creating and editing permanent collection-based lesson plans and other online resources, attending Education and cross-department meetings, and monthly supervision with the Manager of Education Programs.
The ideal candidate will possess excellent organizational skills, creativity, and a passion for research. 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, or related fields.
The Public Programs Intern will support the Public Programs team. The Public Programs team curates accessible, art-inspired experiences, offering a broad range of opportunities that inspire creativity, incite dialogue and bring the Museum’s mission to life. From artist talks to hands-on workshops, screenings and performances, Public Programs unites the Museum’s diverse, adult audiences. The team’s goal is to break the barriers and expand the points of entry for publics to connect with art and artists. We do this by approaching programming from a multi-faceted and multi-genre approach. As a result of COVID-19 health and safety precautions, in person public programs have paused in favor of digital programming. Public Programs is now focusing on building out online resources for adult audiences. Our intern will pursue independent research to develop thematic learning guides and DIY art activities inspired by the Museum’s Permanent Collection, archives as well as Harlem history. Additionally, as time and projects allow, they will gain hands-on experience in arts administration, cultural partnership cultivation, coordinating program operations, and interfacing with a variety of stakeholders. As
Public Programs regularly interfaces with other Museum Departments, the internship provides a unique opportunity to observe the many moving pieces involved in adult, museum education. The intern must possess excellent interpersonal skills, be proficient in research and writing, and be able to multitask whilst working independently.
The Public Programs Internship is designed for undergraduate and graduate students interested in careers in Arts Administration, Museum Programming, Arts Education, or related fields.
The People Operations department seeks to employ an enthusiastic and driven intern to assist with administrative and People Operations-related tasks. The People Operations intern will work under the Director of People Operations and will be involved in research projects for recruitment and employee engagement. A key component of this internship will be conducting research for candidates for the Museum, helping plan volunteer events and bimonthly employee engagement events, and scheduling interviews, onboarding processes, posting jobs, and new hire announcements. The People Operations internship position is designed for undergraduate and graduate students majoring in human resources, business management, or a related fields. Applicants must have excellent written, oral, and organizational skills and a high attention to detail.