12 Art Internships You Should Check Out as a High Schooler
Internships are a great way to explore your areas of interest in a real-world setting, before committing to a college major or specific career. If you’re thinking about pursuing art or design in college and further, an art internship program would be the perfect stepping stone. Well-established institutions, such as museums and nonprofits, offer a range of volunteering and internship opportunities. While some of these programs run during the summer, a few run year-long, or even across multiple years.
These experiences will give you a firsthand idea of the possible careers you can pursue in your chosen field, while you get a feel of the subjects as they play out in the real world. Not only that, these opportunities will help you build your portfolio, which is a key component of college applications in this field. The fact that you’ve gone the extra mile to explore your creativity has a positive impact on your applications too.
However, it’s not always easy to find the right internship for you. Which is why, in this blog, we’ve curated a list of 12 of the best art internships available for high school students.
1. The Met Summer High School Internships
Location: The Met Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are eligible to apply.
Program dates: July 8, 2024 - August 9, 2024. Note, students will be expected to attend a few training and orientation sessions towards the end of June as well.
Application deadline: March 8, 2024
Stipend: $1,100
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the most well-known art museums in the world. Every year, they offer paid summer internship opportunities to high school students to work with the museum and engage with their collections, artists, and various departments. The Met invites applications from students passionate about art, design, architecture, and creative expression for their fully-funded internships each year. However, you do not need to have experience or a background in art to participate! Through this internship in addition to deepening your knowledge and expertise in art, you will also develop your network, develop professionally, and gain work experience!
Student interns can expect to work on developing professional skills, while they network and gain hands-on experience in this vibrant world. As a MET intern, you regularly interact with museum professionals, as well as experts in marketing, scientific research, social media, law, and educational programming. You also participate in Career Labs - sessions where you interact and learn from professionals about their work, and experiences, and receive advice.
The Met also runs a school-year internship program that runs from January to June, which you can consider!
2. Teen Programs by Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Boston
Location: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors in the Boston area can apply.
Dates: The internship is typically a year long.
Application deadline: Dates for the 2024-25 session will be announced in March.
Stipend: $15 per hour
Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Boston offers three internship programs: STEAM Team, Curatorial Study Hall, and Teen Arts Council (TAC).
The STEAM team is designed for teens interested in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics to explore these options through the MFA. In this program, interns will have the chance to experience behind-the-scenes museum duties in each of the five fields, while being guided by MFA staff mentors. Students will also get to visit local businesses, organizations, and artists.
The Curatorial Study Hall is a project-based internship with a focus on exhibition creation, interpretation, and design. This is an ideal choice for students who are curious about how a museum works. This program will teach students about marginalized artists in the museum’s collection via workshops on close-looking, research methods, proposal developments, interpretation, design, promotion, and installation.
The Teen Arts Council is a leadership development program, which allows students to advise MFA on engagement strategies for local teens, conduct programs and events for peers and the general public, and learn about Boston’s arts and cultural sector by engaging with local programs and institutions. TAC also hosts an event called Teen Night, where teens will engage in art-making exercises and other social activities at the MFA.
You can visit the MFA website in March 2024 for application details.
3. Opportunities for Teens at the Art Institute of Chicago
Location: Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Eligibility: Chicago high school students who are 16 and older can apply.
Dates: There are 2 programs offered. The Teen Council program typically runs from September to June. The Summer Internship typically runs from June to August.
Application deadline: Applications for the 2024-2025 Teen Council session typically close in August. Applications for the summer internship typically open in the spring.
Stipend: Students will receive a stipend, but information on the exact amount is not available.
The Art Institute of Chicago offers two teen programs: Teen Council and Summer Internship.
The Teen Council program encourages students to collaborate with museum staff in developing programs and resources, to make the museum more accessible and relevant. Interns will participate in both virtual and onsite meetings held on Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons. Summer Internships give students the chance to work with the museum to organize festivals, gallery tours, and workshops serving local and international visitors. The internship will involve interacting with museum professionals and local artists, behind-the-scenes work, learning about the museum collection, and planning and hosting creative programs. Both these programs offer a solid opportunity to learn about art, exhibitions and museums both practically and academically.
4. Bloomberg Arts Internship program
Location: Five locations – Baltimore, MD | Boston, MA | New York City, NY | Philadelphia, PA | Washington, D.C.
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors residing in participating cities
Dates: This is a 7-week program held June-end to mid-August, exact dates depend on the location of the program. If you live in Philadelphia, you also have the option of applying for a year-long internship program called Bloomberg Arts Internship - School Year (BAISY).
Application deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Stipend: This is a paid opportunity, but information on the exact amount is not available. You can expect around 19$ per hour.
Bloomberg Philanthropies offers high school students an opportunity to intern with local arts and culture organizations in 5 cities. The program aims to develop students’ work readiness while also offering college prep training. Students can expect to participate in hands-on projects and receive mentorship, get insight into various aspects of arts administration, exhibition planning, marketing, and event coordination. The program also includes other activities, such as helping teens explore careers in the creative sector. The program terms can vary slightly depending on the location, however, students should be ready to devote 30-37 hours per week to the internship. The application process has different timelines at different locations.
5. Brooklyn Museum’s Creative Practice
Location: Brooklyn Museum, New York City, NY
Eligibility: This program is open to all NYC teens ages 15–19 who are enrolled in high school as a sophomore, junior, or senior as of fall 2024.
Dates: The internship typically runs from September to May
Application deadline: Check the official page in June 2024 for application-related details.
Stipend: $15/hour. MetroCards will be provided for working weekends.
This program offers an opportunity for students to explore art, education, and 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 of lesson planning, and practicing classroom management. As interns, students will participate in discussions on the intersection of art, fashion, design, and society, and interact with artists, educators, and museum staff. The internship involves work of up to 120 hours spread across the school year, which will be broken into weekly 2-hour meetings on Thursdays, occasional field visits and events on Fridays, and assisting in weekend art classes 3 hours per semester (October-December and March-May).
Note: This program involves a significant time commitment and might not be ideal for students engaging in multiple extracurriculars and after-school obligations.
6. 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 offered by the Whitney Museum of American Art to bring high school students and local artists together, where interns can learn about art and collaborate with mentors. Youth Insights is a program that consists of after-school and summer opportunities for New York City high schoolers. Three of its programs, YI Artists (one school semester), YI Arts Careers (summer), and YI Introductions, are free learning opportunities. Students who have completed the YI Artists and YI Art Careers programs are 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.
7. Museum of Arts and Design Teen Programs
Location: Museum of Arts and Design (MAD), New York, NY
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores and juniors in NYC can apply to Artslife. All students aged 13–18 in NYC can apply to RECESS.
Duration/Dates: July 9, 2024–August 16, 2024 (Artslife) | February 20–23, 2024 (RECESS I) | April 23–26, 2024 (RECESS II)
Application deadline: April 7, 2024 (Artslife) | January 7, 2024 (RECESS)
Stipend: $16 an hour and an unlimited MetroCard for the duration of the internship (Artslife). $200 stipend and weekly unlimited MetroCard (RECESS).
MAD offers two paid art internships to high schoolers in New York City: Artslife and RECESS.
The 6-week Artslife program offers a combination of art and design through leadership training, museum studies, and community engagement. Students will explore all kinds of careers in museum departments—Curatorial, Education, Development, Communications and Marketing, Visitor Services, Security, and Registrar. The first week of Artslife will be primarily focused on team bonding and an introduction to the museum. The next five weeks focus on collaborative projects (which could involve the creation of artwork and visits to other cultural institutions) with mentors, which include museum staff, local designers, and arts professionals.
RECESS is an intensive 4-day program that is designed to help students deepen their understanding of art and art history, and how museums work. RECESS I and II are scheduled during winter and spring breaks of NYC public schools, respectively. Both, Artslife and RECESS, involve developing and leading peer-to-peer tours of the museum. The programs also offer a chance to develop a podcast series! You can check out podcasts developed by MAD interns here.
8. Design Hive at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
Location: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, New York, NY
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in NYC are eligible to apply.
Dates: The internship typically runs from November to May.
Application deadline: There is no information available on this at the moment.
Stipend: $2,000 paid in two $1,000 installments during the program.
This Design Hive program invites high school students who are interested in the field of design. During the program, students will collaborate with each other and work with professional designers to learn how an initial idea becomes the final design and develop collaborative projects. The program includes Access to the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum – which means you can engage with the exhibitions, objects, and people. 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!
9. Museum of Contemporary Art’s Teen Creative Agency
Location: Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, IL
Eligibility: Students aged 15–19 in Chicago can apply.
Dates: The program will run from September to June.
Application deadline: Applications will open in April. There is no information on the deadline at the moment.
Stipend: Up to $1,600 a year
The Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, offers teens in the city this cultural leadership program—Teen Creative Agency. TCA interns will get to engage with contemporary art and artists in the field. Interns are expected to come to the museum once a week, along with visits to other cultural institutions, while they interact with peers and professionals in the field of arts. The program’s aim is to make room for the youth’s perspective and their ideas in the museum. The program’s lead artists guide teens to hone their collaboration skills and improve their knowledge of public engagement and creative processes, while making good use of the museum’s resources.
10. Smithsonian’s Benjamin Lawless Internship
Location: Washington, D.C.
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors can apply.
Dates: The program runs 8 weeks in the summer. Students can plan the exact dates via discussions with their mentors.
Application deadline: March (tentatively, based on previous years)
Stipend: $3,200 ($400/week)
This internship program pays tribute to Benjamin Lawless and his lasting impact as a globally recognized exhibition planner, designer, Emmy award-winning filmmaker, and writer. The Benjamin Lawless Internship offers students an opportunity to explore the fields of audience engagement, exhibition design, art history, cataloging, collections management and more. During the program, interns will also research stories associated with museum objects. The program requires 36 hours per week (Monday to Friday). The program is designed to help interns develop creativity, as they find new ways to tell stories inspired by the Smithsonian’s collections and research at the end of the internship.
11. Milwaukee Art Museum Internships
Location: Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI
Eligibility: Milwaukee-based high school juniors and seniors can apply.
Dates: March 7, 2024–May 16, 2024 (Satellite Teens) | July 11–August 4, 2024 (ArtXpress). These are tentative dates, based on previous years.
Application deadline: January 31, 2024 (Satellite Teens) | June (ArtXpress)
Stipend: Students will be paid, but the exact amount information is unavailable.
These two paid internship opportunities at Milwaukee Art Museum are worth exploring if you’re keen on learning about how art galleries work and networking with artists involved with the institution.
Satellite Teens is a 10-week, 10-session program where interns learn about the Museum’s inner workings. You will work alongside local practicing artists, visit offsite studios and galleries, and explore and understand several art programs from different institutions. At the end of the program, you will work on an innovative collaborative project using the skills you will learn throughout the internship!
ArtXpress is a 4-week program that gives interns the opportunity to create a mural that addresses an issue in the city of Milwaukee. You will do this inspired by pieces from the Milwaukee Art Museum under the guidance of local artists and teens from Milwaukee. At the end of the program, the mural will be displayed on a county bus!
12. Chicago Architecture Center Summer Fellows
Location: Chicago Architecture Center, Chicago, IL.
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors enrolled in Chicago high schools can apply.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Program Dates: Summer 2023 - Spring 2024 (3 semesters)
Stipend: A stipend is provided.
While not a traditional internship, the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC)’s Teen Fellows program provides opportunities for the youth of Chicago to build foundational architecture skills. The program is held over 3-semesters. It encourages students to explore architecture and design careers, earn college credit and work alongside industry professionals. During the program, students will
Develop design projects focused on local challenges and begin building personal portfolios.
Develop digital designs using software such as Sketch-up, AutoCAD, and more.
Work with physical models using various materials.
Have the opportunity to participate in a paid summer internship at a local architecture or design firm.
Note. This is not an exhaustive list, and you can find the complete list here!
This program is an opportunity to address real-life challenges and build your architecture portfolio. Additionally, it will connect you to a local architecture firm for an internship!
Looking for an immersive internship experience?
Check out Ladder Internships!
Ladder Internships is a selective, virtual internship program where students work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries, with a large number of them in tech. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship. Apply now!
Stephen is one of the founders of Ladder Internships and a Harvard College graduate.