Internships
The Whitney's intern program offers training and direct experience working in one of New York City’s most exciting museums. If you are a college student interested in learning more about how museums work or are considering a museum career, we encourage you to apply. The Whitney’s internship program seeks talented people of all backgrounds—we value diversity of cultures, races and ethnicities, gender expressions, and abilities.
Interns are placed in departments across the Museum where they assist professional staff, interact with the public, conduct research, provide administrative support, and learn about modern and contemporary American art. Interns also gain valuable training, skills, and work experience as well as an opportunity to build a network of professional contacts.
These opportunities are made possible by a generous grant from the William Randolph Hearst Foundation for summer internships and a generous endowment from Julie and Doug Ostrover for academic year internships.
Summer Internship
Hearst Summer Interns
The Whitney’s summer internship is a full-time, paid, nine-week session primarily for undergraduate students. The program includes training, direct work experience, professional development, and a weekly speaker series.
The 2024 internship will be hybrid, meaning interns will work onsite at least three days per week. The program will begin on Monday, June 10, and end on Friday, August 9. Participants must be available Monday through Friday for nine consecutive weeks, five days per week.
The application window for our 2024 Hearst Summer Internship has closed.
Generous support for Hearst Summer Interns is provided by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation.
- $6,500 stipend for full participation
- Interns are assigned to a specific museum department for the duration of the internship
- Weekly speaker series featuring curators and other museum professionals
- Interns are partnered with a mentor
- Free admission to most New York City museums, regular employee discounts at the Museum restaurants and retail store, and invitations to exhibition openings
- Priority consideration is given to rising juniors and seniors in accredited undergraduate programs.
- Students must have completed two years of academic coursework by the time the internship program begins. Rising juniors, seniors, and graduating seniors will be considered.
- Certain positions may require graduate-level training and/or professional experience, as noted in the department descriptions
- Resume
- Essay
- Cover letter
- Required only for candidates applying to Research Resources internship opportunities.
- One recommendation letter
- Educational or professional reference only.
- Applicants applying to Research Resources do not need to submit a recommendation letter.
- Portfolio
- Candidates applying for Exhibition Design and Graphic Design internships must submit a link to their portfolio. Graphic Design applicants must also be enrolled in a graphic design program.
Academic Year Internship
Ostrover Family Academic Year Interns
The Whitney’s Academic Year Internship program offers a semester-long paid internship for undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in an accredited academic program. The internship is hybrid, with some onsite work. For spring 2024, interns commit between 16–21 hours per week over 10–12 weeks for a total of 200 hours. Interns are assigned to a specific department at the Museum for the duration of the internship.
The application window for the 2024 Spring Academic Year Internship has closed. Applications for the 2024 Fall Academic Year Internship will open in May.
Generous support for Ostrover Family Academic Year Interns is provided by Julie and Doug Ostrover.
- $3,000 stipend (200-hour requirement for the semester)
- Monthly speaker series featuring museum professionals from across the Whitney
- Eligibility for course credit
- Undergraduates and graduates currently enrolled in accredited academic programs are eligible.
- Applicants must have completed a minimum of one year’s worth of academic coursework. Undergraduate first-year students are not eligible.
- Certain positions may require graduate-level training and/or professional experience, as noted in the department descriptions.
- While a demonstrated interest in art and art history is preferred, students in all majors are encouraged to apply.
- Previous museum experience is not required.
- Resume
- Essay
- Portfolio
- Candidates applying for Exhibition Design and Graphic Design internships must submit a link to their portfolio. Graphic Design applicants must also be enrolled in a graphic design program.
Internships Available
The application window for the 2024 Spring Academic Year Internship has closed. Applications for the 2024 Fall Academic Year Internship will open in May.
FAQ
Yes, both the academic year and summer programs offer a stipend. The fall and spring semester internships provide a $3,000 stipend for completing 200 hours over the semester. For the summer internship, the Museum offers a $6,500 stipend for full-time participation over nine weeks.
No. We welcome candidates with a strong academic background and a variety of professional experience. Candidates should be interested in learning the inner workings of a mid-sized nonprofit arts organization and curious about museum work. An internship at the Whitney will prepare you for a wide range of careers related or unrelated to museums and the arts.
Interns work side-by-side with experts in their field at the Museum and are often invited to observe activities outside of their daily duties for educational purposes. Both the academic year and summer programs include a speaker series with presentations by Museum professionals.
Yes, applicants must be enrolled in accredited academic programs for both the summer and academic year programs.
No. Students must have completed two years of academic coursework by the time the fall and summer internship programs begin.
The academic year program welcomes undergraduate and graduate students for departments throughout the Museum. The summer program is geared towards undergraduates. Research Resources (Library and Archives) accept graduate student applicants.
No. For the academic year internships, students must currently be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program. For the summer program, graduating seniors are eligible.
Yes, but you must have valid legal status under applicable U.S. visa regulations. The Museum cannot be a host organization for international students.
Yes, but you can only participate in either the academic year or the summer program.
Both Exhibition Design and Graphic Design applicants must include links to their portfolios in order to be considered.
Letters should be addressed to the Office of People and Culture. If you cannot attach references to your application, please send to Internships@whitney.org.
Yes, but in some cases, interns are permitted to start slightly later due to school schedules. They are required to commit to a total of nine weeks.
Not at this time. All interns must provide for their own housing and transportation.
A staff member will be in touch via email if you are selected for an interview. Due to the high volume of applications received, we are unable to contact each candidate individually regarding the status of their application.
You would have received an email from a no-reply address confirming receipt of your application. If not, you are welcome to resubmit your materials. We highly recommend submitting your application well before the deadline to avoid technical difficulties.
Yes. Interns in either program will have the opportunity to earn course credit for their academic institutions.
The Whitney follows a hybrid model, constituting in-person and remote work.
The Whitney Museum of American Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum welcomes applicants of any age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, partnership status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, and does not discriminate based on any other factor prohibited by law. The Museum is dedicated to provide a fair and inclusive workplace and encourages all qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions at all levels. This description shall not be construed as a contract of any sort for a specific period of employment.