Studio Museum Institute

Internships

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

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About

The Studio Museum's internship program offers college undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduate Interns the opportunity to collaborate on meaningful and engaging projects with Museum staff and participate in a series of meetings and workshops focused 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

The Spring 2025 season will feature five internship positions: Communications, Collections, Curatorial, Director’s Office, and Education.


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.

Spring 2025 Dates: January 13, 2025 – April 14, 2025 (14-weeks) 

Requirements:15 hours/week, during the workweek (M-F). Interns must work in-person two days of the week, with Tuesdays mandatory for interns. 

Stipend: $3,360  

Application Deadline: 11:59 PM on November 4, 2024 

Applicants will be notified about interviews by December 1, 2024.  

If you have not heard back before the set date, you have not been considered as a finalist for the Spring 2025 cohort. 

All interns must attend an in-person orientation day the morning of January 13, 2025, to commence their program.

Applicants are required to submit the following for consideration:


  • Resume
  • Cover Letter
  • Writing Sample (no more than 5 pages)
  • 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, 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.
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 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 maintaining digital exhibition archives or completing administrative tasks for exhibition-related projects.
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 Director and Chief Curator and the Chief of Staff. Specific projects include institutional history research; drafting internal and external correspondence; administrative support; updating documents; logistical support; and another 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; 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.
Education Department (1 Position)
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.

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.

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 feel free to contact [email protected]