20 Art Internships for High Schoolers in 2023
What’s Covered:
Passionate about art and wondering where it might take you? Art internships provide an opportunity to gain firsthand experience and receive mentorship from professionals in the field. Internships also allow you to explore a variety of careers in the art world and develop your own skills in art-making, curation, leadership, and collaboration.
20 Art Internships for High School Students
1. Metropolitan Museum of Art High School Internships
Application Deadline:
- Summer: March 31
- All year: October 28
Duration:
- Summer: July through August (10 to 20 hours a week for no less than 40 total hours)
- All year: February through June (2 to 4 hours a week for 40 total hours)
The Met offers school-year and summer internships to sophomores and juniors in New York, along with expanded eligibility for summer internships to students in New Jersey and Connecticut. Interns are placed in one of 17 departments and work 40 hours total, earning a stipend at the conclusion of their internship. With activities ranging from event planning to career workshops, this program provides an insider’s guide to arts administration. Application deadlines generally fall in October for school-year internships and April for summer internships.
2. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston | Teen Programs
Application Deadline: Rolling
Duration: 12 months
The MFA offers paid 12-month internships for rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors in the Boston area. Students may apply to the STEAM Team, the Curatorial Study Hall, or the Teen Arts Council depending on their specific interests. Select Boston Public School (BPS) students are also eligible to work as Student Docents. All programs include hands-on projects, networking opportunities, and a behind-the-scenes experience at one of the most comprehensive art collections in the world. Interns are paid $14.25 per hour.
3. Art Institute of Chicago | Opportunities for Teens
Application Deadline: Rolling
Duration: 2 to 12 months
Paid internships are available throughout the year to Chicagoland teens at one of the oldest and most beloved art museums in the country. Whether it’s planning events, making art, or engaging with visiting artists, all four programs at the Art Institute offer plentiful opportunities to explore, learn, and collaborate with other interns.
4. Getty Museum Student Gallery Guides
Application Deadline: January 31
Duration: 8 weeks
Los Angeles teens aged 16-18 may apply to be summer gallery guides for ~7 weeks at the Getty, one of the most visited museums in the world. The program pays for transportation to and from the Getty, along with a stipend upon completion. Interns learn about museum collections and work primarily with visitors of all ages, developing public speaking and facilitation skills. Students in the Boyle Heights community are also eligible for Getty Teen Lab, an eight-week STEAM-focused summer internship that offers a stipend and covers transportation costs. Check for application deadlines in the spring!
5. Dallas Museum of Art | Teen Programs
Application Deadline:
- Teen Advisory Council: September 10
- Teen Ambassador Program: April 30
Duration:
- Teen Advisory Council: Throughout the school year
- Teen Ambassador Program: June through August
Anyone between the ages of 14 and 19 in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex may apply to join the Teen Advisory Council and/or Teen Ambassador Program at the DMA, one of the largest art museums in the country. The Teen Advisory Council plans for youth events and programs yearlong, while Teen Ambassadors lead gallery teaching and art activities for elementary and middle school students for 20-40 hours over the summer. Teen advisory council members receive a small stipend as well as free parking, free admission to special exhibits, and discounts in the store and cafe.
6. Brooklyn Museum | Teen Programs
Application Deadline:
- Museum Apprentice Program: N/A
- InterseXtions: N/A
- Teen Night Planning Committee: N/A
Duration: Eight weeks
- Museum Apprentice Program: December through August
- InterseXtions: November through June
- Teen Night Planning Committee: November through May
The largest museum in New York City after the Met, Brooklyn Museum offers three paid internship programs to local teens ages 14-19: the Museum Apprentice Program, InterseXtions: Gender & Sexuality, and Teen Night Planning Committee. All programs offer skills training, meetings with artists and museum staff, and opportunities to work on projects engaging museum visitors and the local community. First-year interns are paid $15 an hour, second-year interns receive $16 an hour, and all interns receive Metrocards to support their work.
7. Arts for Learning ArtWorks Summer Internship
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: 6 weeks (June and July)
Florida high school students may apply for the paid summer ArtWorks Internship offered by Arts for Learning, a Miami nonprofit organization. The internship requires no previous arts experience and runs for six weeks, during which students work 180 hours alongside a mentor in their specialty of choice: visual arts, dance, creative writing, theatre, music production, or animation. Florida residents are paid $10 an hour while nonresidents of Florida may accrue community service hours in lieu of payment.
8. Brooklyn Interns for Arts & Culture
Application Deadline: June 3
Duration: 12 months (July through June)
One of the country’s oldest performing arts venues, Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) offers a paid year-long program for rising high school seniors in New York. Between artistic training, college preparation, and professional development, students attend weekly workshops in July before starting internships with BAM’s Education Department that run from October through June. Interns network with professionals, plan for training after high school, and receive fee waivers for college applications.
9. Asian Art Museum Art Speak Internship
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: 10 months (August through May)
Located in the heart of San Francisco, the Asian Art Museum is home to one of the most comprehensive collections of Asian art in the world. Bay Area sophomores, juniors, and seniors may apply to the museum’s Art Speak internship, a paid 10-month experience that runs for 6-8 hours weekly throughout the school year. Interns engage with Asian art and activism, develop and teach activities for arts education, and attend local artist workshops.
10. Bronx Museum of the Arts | Teen Programs
Application Deadline:
- Teen Summer: N/A
- Teen Council: N/A
Duration:
- Teen Summer: 4 months
- Teen Council: 4 months
Established in 1971, the Bronx Museum offers two paid internships to New York high school students. Teen Summer runs for four weeks and emphasizes the collaborative exploration of local communities and cultural highlights in New York, culminating in media and art productions. Teen Council runs for eight months during the school year and allows students to curate an exhibition, interview artists, and collaborate on video projects.
11. Museum of Contemporary Art Teen Creative Agency
Application Deadline: April 15
Duration: 12 months
One of the largest institutions in the world devoted entirely to contemporary art, the MCA offers a yearlong cultural leadership program to Chicagoland teens ages 14-19. Beginning with a two-week summer intensive, members then meet weekly during the school year for collaborative projects, event planning, workshops with artists and museum staff, and visits to cultural sites around Chicago.
12. Seattle Art Museum | Teen Programs
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: 8 months (October through May)
As the major art museum in the Pacific Northwest, SAM offers a Teen Arts Group that runs during the school year for local teens interested in event planning. Participants select artists, organize gallery talks, and work with museum staff to coordinate community programs, receiving community service credit or a stipend for their work. SAM also offers programs like Teen Art Intensive and Design Your [Neighbor]hood, multi-session workshops focused on art-making techniques and public design.
13. New-York Historical Society Museum & Library | Student Historian Internship Program
Application Deadline: September 25
Duration: 8 months (October through June)
New York’s very first museum offers a Student Historian Internship to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors in the New York City metropolitan area. The organization selects 25 students annually to participate in this 6-week summer program, conducting research around the city to create digital projects. Interns eligible for free/reduced lunch or attending a Title I school will receive a stipend, and all others qualify for community service or school credit.
14. The One Club For Creativity | Saturday Workshops
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: N/A
While not a traditional internship, Saturday Workshops are provided by a collaboration between The One Club For Creativity and the New York City Department of Education and offer many of the same benefits, such as meeting working professionals, learning about potential careers, and building portfolios. These workshops are free to high school sophomores and juniors and are an excellent opportunity for students with an interest in the visual arts.
15. Inner-City Arts | Work of Art
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: N/A
Work of Art is a college and career exploration program for Los Angeles high school sophomores and juniors. Participants will gain the skills, training, and experience needed for life beyond high school while learning about careers in the arts and creative economy through a variety of college readiness and career-focused events and activities.
16. National Museum of Asian Art | Richard Louie Memorial Internship
Application Deadline:
- Spring: October 15
- Summer: March 15
- Fall: August 15
Duration: 12 months
The goal of this internship is to introduce high school students to Asian art museums as places that offer unexpected rewards and chances for self-discovery. Interns are provided the opportunity to tackle an independent project within a departmental area of interest under the supervision of a staff mentor. Participants must complete a minimum of 200 internship hours within a year, at the conclusion of which they’re awarded a $1,500 stipend. Preference is given to students who are fluent in an Asian language or who’ve demonstrated a serious interest in Asian arts and culture.
17. Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance | Bloomberg Arts Internship Programs
Application Deadline:
- Summer: N/A
- Fall: N/A
Duration:
- Summer: 8 weeks (June through August)
- School year: 8 months (October through May)
The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance offers two internships to area high school seniors thanks to a significant grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies. The Bloomberg Arts Internship (BAI) is an eight-week intensive paid internship with local arts and culture organizations. The Bloomberg Arts Internship-School Year program (BAISY) not only connects students with paid positions through which they’ll work up to eight hours a week, but also works to develop their post-secondary readiness, self-advocacy, self-actualization, and public speaking.
18. Whitney Museum of American Art | Youth Insights Artists
Application Deadline: January 20
Duration: Four months (February through May)
This opportunity for New York City high school students pairs them with contemporary artists to work collaboratively, discuss art critically, and think creatively. Participants meet weekly and are given a Metrocard to cover their transportation to and from the program. The program, along with all materials and art supplies, is free.
19. New Bedford Art Museum /ArtWorks | Teen Artist Internship Program (TAIP)
Application Deadline: December 31
Duration: Nine weeks (January through March)
TAIP pairs Massachusetts’ South Coast-area high school juniors and seniors interested in visual arts with local professional artists. Artist mentors introduce students to the art community, host them in their studio space, and guide them in the technical and professional aspects of creating and exhibiting art. The program culminates with an exhibition showing work by the students and their mentors. The program is free and acceptance to the program is competitive.
20. The Montclair Art Museum | High School Internship
Application Deadline: September 20
Duration: Academic year
The Montclair Art Museum’s high school internship program allows New Jersey students to explore the various career paths associated with art and museum work. Participants will gain firsthand experience from artists and art professionals in everything from content creation to event planning to lesson planning. Interns are paid $13 an hour while gaining real-world insight into the day-to-day operation of a museum.
How Much Do Internships Impact Your College Chances?
Internships are an excellent way to explore potential career paths and demonstrate commitment to specific interests. While a one-time program may not have many advantages over other activities listed on your applications, a 6-week summer internship can still double as work experience, community service, and extracurricular engagement all in one! Keep in mind the four tiers of extracurriculars when considering opportunities. The more selective a program, the stronger your profile will be.
As with most activities on your resume, it’s also best to showcase commitment over a number of years. This demonstrates genuine passion and allows you to make valuable professional connections, which might just result in a special letter of recommendation. CollegeVine’s free chancing engine is a useful tool for assessing how extracurriculars (along with GPA, test scores, and other factors) impact your chances of admission.
