12 Art History Internships for High School Students
High school internships are a great way to get experience in your chosen field before you start college. Internships can also help shape your future career goals and better your university applications. Doing an internship during high school shows that you’re motivated, dedicated, and that you take initiative when it comes to learning something new or further exploring a field you’re interested in. It’s important for colleges and employers alike.
For high school students considering a career or further education in art history, internships can provide a valuable opportunity to explore the industry firsthand. You will get an in-depth understanding of what a role in art history entails, whether it’s working in a museum, teaching via assisting professors, or coming up with your own interpretations.
If you wish to know more about internship opportunities in the field, we have got you covered with a list of 12 Art History internships for high school students!
1. The Met Internship Program for High School Students
Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, NY.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors based in and around New York City.
Dates: School-year internships run from January to June, while summer internships run from June to August.
Application Deadline:
- Summer Internship: Applications typically close around March.
- School-year Internship: No specific dates have been released yet but applications will close around October 2024 tentatively.
Stipend: $1,100 provided as stipend.
The Met, or the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is the largest museum in the U.S. and is well-known across the world. They offer high school students an opportunity to interact with the arts and creative fields. The Met offers two kinds of internships: a school-year internship that lasts six months alongside students’ school schedules and another that runs only in the summer. The program will introduce you to concepts in art and art history while helping you develop professional skills, network, and gain work experience.
As an intern, you will get to regularly interact with top creative professionals working in the museum. You’ll observe and receive mentorship throughout the program. You’ll also get to participate in Career Labs, a 2-hour in-depth session where you can interact with designers, curators, and other experts who will discuss their professional journeys and deliver guest lectures during the session, making this a holistic and valuable opportunity.
2. Museum of Arts and Design Internship: RECESS
Location: Museum of Arts and Design (MAD), New York, NY.
Eligibility: All high school students aged 13–18 in NYC can apply.
Dates: Based on previous years, these are the tentative dates: February 2025 (RECESS I) | April 2025 (RECESS II)
Application deadline: January 2025 (tentatively).
Stipend: $200 stipend and weekly unlimited MetroCard.
RECESS is an intensive week-long program designed to help students deepen their understanding of art and art history, and how museums work. As an intern, you will get to go behind the scenes and develop your tour of the Museum of Arts and Design exhibition. You will be trained on how to design a youth-friendly tour making it accessible for other students your age to engage and understand art and its history.
You will also be responsible for heading these tours. You will get to interact with staff at the museum to learn about the inner workings of the institution giving you an insight into museum-related careers. It is important to note that RECESS I and II are scheduled during winter and spring breaks of NYC public schools, respectively.
3. Smithsonian’s Benjamin Lawless Internship
Location: Washington, D.C.
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors are eligible to apply.
Application deadline: Applications will tentatively open in January and close in March 2025 (based on previous years).
Dates: The program runs for 8 weeks in the summer months. The schedule is flexible according to the student and mentor assigned.
Stipend: $3,200.
This internship is named in honor of world-renowned exhibition planner and designer, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, and published author, Benjamin Lawless. This internship enables students to explore a variety of fields of art and creative professions. As an intern, you will receive experiential training in art history, audience engagement, exhibition design, cataloging, and collections management, among many other areas.
During the program, you will need to work 36 hours every week (Monday – Friday) and practice your creativity and innovative thinking. You will have to search and come up with new approaches to telling engrossing stories reflecting on the Smithsonian's rich holdings and scholarship. The experience will help you prepare for future career pursuits in the art, art history, or museum profession.
4. Teen Council at the Art Institute of Chicago
Location: Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
Eligibility: Chicago high school students under the age of 18 can apply.
Dates: September 14, 2024–June 14, 2025.
Application deadline: Applications for the 2024-2025 Teen Council session typically close in August. The application deadline for this year’s cohort is August 9, 2024. You can apply using this link.
Stipend: $16.20 per hour.
The Art Institute of Chicago Teen Council is a program specifically created for high school students with a curiosity and passion for art. Working within the collections, exhibitions, and educational efforts of the museum, Teen Council is a platform for young artists, enthusiasts, and leaders to collaborate on creativity,
As a part of the council, you will be immersed in an environment in which artistic growth, critical thinking, and cultural exploration are supported through regular meetings, workshops, and special events. You will take an active role in the teen-focused programs, exhibitions, and workshops that you will have a hand in developing and executing. This experience will expose you to art history, museum curation, and community outreach.
5. Holocaust Museum LA Summer Internship
Location: Los Angeles, CA (Hybrid).
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9-12 can apply.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Dates: Three weeks, typically across June and July.
Stipend: Unpaid.
This internship program is designed for students interested in pursuing careers in museums, archives, non-profits, or education. As an intern, you will have the opportunity to learn from industry experts, collaborate closely with mentors, and gain a thorough understanding of museum operations. Your internship experience may involve assisting with archival tasks, participating in educational programs, and interacting with museum visitors.
The Holocaust Museum LA High School Internship Program provides a unique blend of historical education and professional development. You will engage with history and the arts through the museum's perspective. As you contribute to various projects, you will gain valuable insights into the functioning of a non-profit educational institution, enhancing your professional and leadership abilities.
6. Brooklyn Museum’s Creative Practice
Location: Brooklyn Museum, New York, NY.
Eligibility: This program is open to all NYC teens ages 15–19 who are enrolled in high school as a sophomore, juniors, or seniors.
Dates: September 2024 - May 2025.
Application deadline: Applications typically close in July.
Stipend: $16 per hour. MetroCards will be provided for working weekends.
The Creative Practice program by the Brooklyn Museum offers an opportunity for students to explore art and art history alongside museum careers while assisting teaching artists while they conduct classes for students of all ages. The teaching assistance work will include preparing studios and materials, learning techniques for lesson planning, and practicing classroom management. As interns, you will participate in discussions on the intersection of art, fashion, design, history, and culture.
You will also get the chance to interact with artists, educators, and museum staff. The internship involves up to 120 hours of work spread across the school year. You will get to create art to express your interpretation of topics while strengthening skills like communication, time management, and collaboration. It is important to note that the internship is intensive and requires a significant time commitment.
7. Art Speak Internship at Asian Art Museum
Note: The program is currently on hold, but should restart soon.
Location: Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10, 11, and 12 are eligible to apply.
Dates: August to May with virtual and on-site sessions.
Application Deadline: Since the program is on hold, there are no dates available.
Stipend: A stipend will be provided.
The Asian Art Museum's Art Speak internship is a great opportunity if you are curious about Asian art and heritage. As an intern, you'll learn directly from local artists and arts organizations, gaining valuable insights into various artistic processes and cultural and historical contexts related to Asian art. The program offers a chance for you to engage in social justice and youth activism, allowing you to engage in societal and historical issues through art.
This is more than an internship, as it provides you with comprehensive career guidance by focusing on professional skill development and career exploration. You will get to conduct interviews and network with staff at the museum, getting an insight into the careers and workings of a museum. You will also be creating and facilitating art projects that will enhance your creativity and help you build your skills in the field.
8. Teen Programs by Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Boston
Location: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA.
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are Boston residents or study in a public school in the Boston area are eligible to apply.
Dates: Year-long!
Application deadline: Applications for 2024-25 are open on a rolling basis. You can apply using this link.
Stipend: $15 per hour.
Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Boston offers two internships that involve art history: Curatorial Study Hall, and Teen Arts Council (TAC).
The Curatorial Study Hall is a project-based internship focused on exhibition creation, interpretation, and design, making it a solid choice for students interested in the inner workings of a museum. Through this program, you will learn about marginalized artists in the museum's collection and gain hands-on experience in close-looking, research methods, proposal development, interpretation, design, promotion, and installation.
The Teen Arts Council (TAC) is a leadership development program that allows students to advise the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) on engagement strategies for local teens. As part of TAC, you will have the opportunity to organize programs and events for your peers and the general public, while also gaining insight into Boston's arts and cultural sector by interacting with local programs and institutions. TAC also hosts Teen Night, an event where you can participate in art-making exercises and other social activities at the MFA.
Both these programs will enable you to learn about the cultural and historical context of art and design and give you insight into museum-related careers.
9. Design Hive at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
Location: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, NY.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in NYC are eligible to apply.
Dates: The internship typically runs from November to May.
Application deadline: Yet to be announced!
Stipend: A sum of $2,000 paid in two installments.
This Design Hive program invites high school students who are interested in the fields of design, curation, art, and more. During the program, you will collaborate with your peers and designers to learn design processes — how an initial idea becomes the final design — and develop collaborative projects. You will also receive mentorship and guidance from working designers.
The program includes access to the museum, which means you can engage with the historical context of the design and art project you work on. You will also get to be a part of exhibitions. This can prove to be a valuable resource in your design journey. The program is scheduled with 2-hour sessions every Tuesday. Keep an eye on the official Design Hive page for application announcements. You can also check out previous years’ work here.
10. Museum of the Moving Image Teen Council
Location: Queens, NY.
Eligibility: Open to high school enrolled in grades 10, 11, or 12. They should be at least 15 years old at the start of the program.
Application Deadline: The applications typically close in October.
Program Dates: The program typically runs from November to May.
Cost/Stipend: A stipend will be provided but exact details are unavailable.
The Museum of the Moving Image Teen Council offers paid internships to NYC teens as part of the Museum's growing program offerings for young adults, including taking a leadership role with the annual Teen Film Festival, hosted at the Museum.
During the program, you'll learn more about working in an arts and cultural organization, meet museum professionals, and gain real-world experience in the hybrid craft of organizing and project management while exploring the history and technology of the moving image. Teen Council is a job development program and provides a stipend upon completion.
11. Art History and Curatorial Studies Early College Program at Spelman College
Location: Spelman College, GA.
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors can apply to the program.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in April.
Dates: 4 weeks between June and July.
Cost: No stipend or cost. Room and board, books, activity fees, and field trip transportation costs will be covered.
While not a traditional internship, the Art History and Curatorial Studies Early College Program at Spelman College offers students valuable practical insight into the fields of history, visual culture, museums, and curating. The program will help you gain a comprehensive understanding of art and get exposure to its public response through engaging lectures, workshops, stimulating discussions, and site visits in and around Atlanta. Throughout the program, you will engage in projects that will be challenging, providing hands-on experience in curatorial practices.
As a student in this program, you will journey through "Ways of Seeing: Art History, Curating, and Museums", earning you three college credits. It covers the rich history of African American and Western art, which allows you to carry out extensive studies in museums, archives, and libraries. This will make you ready to consider and explore important aspects of curation, audience engagement, and diversity within the art world. Additionally, on completion, you will receive a transcript from Spelman College, marking your achievements and your earned credits.
12. Youth Insights Leaders at the Whitney Museum of American Art
Location: Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY.
Eligibility: Varies on the program, but must be residents of New York.
Dates: This program runs year-round, with sessions held in the summer and after school.
Application deadline: Information on this is not available at the moment.
Stipend: Students will be paid, but information on the exact amount is not available.
Youth Insights is a program designed to connect high school students to local artists, giving interns a chance to learn about art and collaborate with mentors.
Youth Insights offers after-school and summer programs for high school students in New York City. Three of its programs, YI Artists (one school semester), YI Arts Careers (summer), and YI Introductions, are free learning opportunities. Once you’ve completed the YI Artists and YI Art Careers programs, you’re eligible for the year-long paid internship program, Youth Insights Leaders. Interns in this program will work on organizing public events for other teens, developing and leading interactive tours of museum exhibitions, and assisting educators at the museum. As a YI Leader intern, you must be prepared to work 3–10 hours every week.
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Stephen is one of the founders of Ladder Internships and a Harvard College graduate.