Peabody Essex Museum Internships and Fellowships (Massachusetts)

The Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts is a one-of-a-kind medium-sized institution dedicated to interpreting American, Native American, Maritime, and Asian art, architecture, and textiles. The collection began with the souvenirs of New England sea captains and has expanded into an impressive array of art and photography in a state-of-the-art exhibit space. Public programming abounds, including an Art and Nature Center designed to be family-friendly. An extensive internship program is offered for students hoping to enter the museum field and seeking to get concrete project-based experience. Fellowship opportunities for professionals and graduate students of Native American, Alaskan, and Hawaiian background are also offered.

Internship Information:

• Project-based experience
• Professional development opportunities
• Volunteer
• Flexible hours
• Open to undergrad and grad students
• Departments:
• Art & Nature Center (education, exhibits, programming)
• Connected Learning (Education - art focus) - grad student preferrence
• Creative Engagement (events, programming)
• Curatorial/Exhibitions and Research
• Curatorial: Photography Collection - graduate student
• Design Intern/Creative Series (graphic design)
• Development
• Development: Events
• Executive Office (administrative)
• Exhibition Research and Publishing Rights (including experience developing books)
• Exhibition Research and Publishing Editorial Intern (writing, communications)
• Marketing
• Merchandising/Museum Shop
• Fall semester applications are due August 1
• Check the website for due dates for other semesters
• Application, cover letter, resume submitted via email or by mail
• More info here

Fellowship Information:

A Native American Fellowship is offered to graduate students and cultural professionals of Native American, Alaskan, and Hawaiian background. It is a paid, 10-week, full-time opportunity, with application information posted in January. A stipend, lodging, workshops, and travel expense coverage are offered and school credit can be arranged. More info here.

The Mint Art Museum Internships (North Carolina)

The Mint Museum in Charlotte, NC has two locations in the city displaying their multi-faceted collection of all different mediums and manifestations of art and design from a variety of cultures and times. From shoes to paintings to photographs to quilts to ceramics, the collection features fine art, decorative arts, fashion, crafts, and sculpture. It also has a noteworthy collection of Native American artwork and crafts. The exciting museum also offers a vibrant internship program for college students interested in visual art and museum work.

Internship Opportunities:

• Summer (fall and spring also available)
• Positions available at both museum locations (both are in Charlotte)
• Must have a 3.0 minimum major GPA
• Undergrad and grad students
• Interns who will work directly with kids must get a background check
• Unpaid
• 10-25 hours/week
• Major in an arts-related field is preferred
• Departments available to intern with:
• Accounting and Finance
• Affiliate/Advancement
• Archives
• Collections and Exhibitions
• Digital Media and Web Management
• Facilities
• Graphic Design
• Information Technology
• Learning and Engagement
• Library
• Mass Communication
• Photo/Video (Communications)
• PR
• Registration
• More info here

Application information:

• Online application
• Resume, cover letter, letter of recommendation 
• Due dates:
• Summer: mid-March
• Fall: late June 
• Spring: early November

Learn more about volunteer and docent opportunities here.

Buffalo Bill Center of the West Internships and Fellowships (WY)

The Buffalo Bill Center of the West, located in Cody, Wyoming not far from Yellowstone National Park, is a much-praised museum dedicated to preserving various aspects of the history of the American West. It features several museums, dedicated to the history of the Plains Indians, firearms, natural history, Western art, and, of course, Buffalo Bill. The museum offers an extensive internship program in a variety of fields as well as conservation internships and a fellowship and research stipend program.

Internship Opportunity:

• Summer
• Upper level undergrads and grad students
• 10 weeks, 40 hours/week
• $10/hour for some internships
• Housing not provided but suggestions can be given
• Departments:
• Archives/Collections
• Firearms Museum intern
• Collections Management
• Conservation
• Raptor Experience intern
• East Yellowstone Raptor Initiative internship
• Education Tour Guide and Programming
• Firearms Records
• Graphics 
• Library Collection Management
• Photographic Objects Archival internship
• Plains Indian Museum intern
• Public Relations/Digital Media
• Records Management
• Registration
• Whitney Art Museum Curatorial
• Cover letter, Resume, Transcripts, 3 letters of recommendations, application
• More info here
• Additional info about conservation internships available here

Information about fellowships and research stipends can be found here. Fellowships regarding western art, Plains Indians, Yellowstone ecology, conservation and wildlife management, William Cody, firearms, Western culture and history can be proposed to the museum. Fellows must stay at least two weeks, make a presentation to the pubic on their research, and write a summary of their research. Housing and food is not provided. Deadline for submission is in late April (applying for the next year which extends from one summer to the next). 

Information about volunteering can be found here.

Baltimore Museum of Art, MD Internships

The Baltimore Museum of Art is located in downtown Baltimore and features works of art from a variety of times and global cultures. They offer internships in different areas of museum work. Employees are required to pass a security clearance and drug test.

Internship opportunities: 

• Open to undergrads and grad students as well as recent graduates
• Learn about museum work and be guided by a mentor
• Department/Fields of Work:
• Visitor Services
• Graphic Design
• Contemporary Curatorial
• Archival and Special Projects Grants
• Exhibition Graphics
• Grant Statistics
• Marketing and Communications
• Textiles Curatorial
• Internship listings are posted seasonally on website
• Can apply for up to two positions
• Typically unpaid

Application information:

• Summer due date: Late April
• Cover letter
• Resume
• Unofficial transcript
• Reference Letter

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Volunteer opportunities in a variety of departments, including education, textiles, and visitor services, (all very involved and hands-on) are listed here: https://artbma.org/about/volunteer.html 

Smithsonian Internships

The Smithsonian, America's national museum institution, offers a dizzying array of internship opportunities, most centered in Washington, DC. You can apply to individual museums as well as to the general Smithsonian applicant pool (it's probably wisest to apply to both!) Most opportunities are unpaid but there are a few ones featuring stipends as well as some scholarships that can be applied to internships (select the stipend program tag to see these scholarships). This post details the various institution-wide programs there are; click the Smithsonian tag to see posts on internships and fellowships at specific Smithsonian museums and affiliates.

Smithsonian positions are prestigious but extremely competitive because the institution is so well known, so be sure to apply to other places as well. Also, you may be more likely to get busywork or be confined to work in one small area of the overall work of a museum just because of the nature of how large the museums are. The other downside is that they don't offer housing or stipends, which can make it difficult for out-of-the-area students to work because DC housing is extremely expensive, even in the suburbs. However, if it's your passion, go for it! Your school or outside organizations might have scholarship programs for interns you can apply to. Summer is an especially competitive time, so another tip is to apply to fall or spring internships if you can.

Internship opportunities:

• General Smithsonian Intern Pool: Smithsonian staff who need an intern can pull from this pool (pun intended)
• Fall Semester due date: August 1 
• Spring Semester due date: November 1
• Summer Semester due date: March 15
• Online application 
• You can also apply to specific museums' programs
• James E Webb Internship: for minorities interested in business and administration
• Must be a minority (and US citizen or resident) and enrolled in undergrad or grad program in business or public administration
• 10 weeks, full time
• $600/week stipend 
• Summer and Fall Deadline: February 1
• Spring Deadline: October 1 
• Online application
• Essay of interest, resume, unofficial transcripts, references
• Placed in an administration office in one of the museums or affiliates
• Katzenberger Foundation Art History Scholarship
• 6 offered each summer 
• need-based
• college junior or senior
• Art history major or related focus
• 3.0 GPA
• US Citizen or permanent resident
• Need-based
• February 1 due date
• $6,000 stipend
• Essay of interest, transcripts, resume, references
• Minority Awards Program
• Minority and a US citizen or permanent resident 
• Enrolled in undergrad or grad program with 3.0
• Summer and Fall Deadline: February 1
• Spring Deadline: October 1
• $600/week stipend
• 40 hours/week for 10 weeks
• Native American Awards
• Informally or formally relate to a Native American community
• Enrolled in undergrad or grad program
• Summer and Fall Deadline: February 1
• Spring Deadline: October 1
• $600/week stipend
• 40 hours/week for 10 weeks