Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art Internships (Massachusetts)

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts is dedicated to the art of children's book illustration, including permanent galleries and temporary exhibitions. Basically, it sounds incredible. The museum holds over 13,000 works of art and runs educational programming, professional training for educators, and graduate programs in library science and children's literature in conjunction with Simmons College. The site also features an art studio, theater, picture book library, and research library. The Carle offers summer, fall, spring, and J-term internships to undergraduate and grad students in a variety of areas of focus, including some paid opportunities.

Internship Information:

• Open to undergrad and grad students
• Flexible work hours; some weekend and holiday work may be required for events
• Spring and Fall internships: 120 hour minimum, 8 hours/week minimum
• Unpaid Summer internships: 175 hours, 20-25 hours/week
• J-term: 20 hours/week, 1-2 weekend days
• Academic credit can be arranged with your college
• Housing, meal, travel expenses not provided for though local public transportation is sometimes available
• Internships available:
• Art Studio Internship (Fall, J-Term, Spring, Summer) - art education, working with kids, open to undergrads, unpaid
• Collections and Exhibitions (Summer) - collections care and management, art and database work, unpaid
• Development and Marketing (Fall, J-Term, Spring, Summer) - fund-raising, office works, promotional work, unpaid
• Trinkett Clark Internship (Paid Summer) - college juniors, seniors, and grad students pursuing museum or art careers; 8 weeks; collections and education/outreach
• Alix Zecharias Internship (Paid Summer) - college juniors, seniors, graduates, and grad students; 8 weeks; mentored by executive director, work in marketing and education

Application Information:

• Typical Due Dates (always check the organization website for the most up-to-date information):
• Paid Summer Internships: February 15
• Unpaid Summer Internships: April 1
• Fall: August 1
• J-Term: November 10
• Spring: November 10
• Application materials (again, always check the organization website):
• Application
• Cover Letter
• Resume or CV
• Letters of Recommendation (two if applying to a paid opportunity)
• Official Transcript (paid opportunities)
• Mail or e-mail

For more information about the internships, click here.

James Madison's Montpelier House Museum Archaeology Internships (Virginia)

Montpelier was the stately neoclassical home and gardens of James Madison. Located in Orange, Virginia, the home was restored not too long ago and has an active archaeology program, running on-site excavations and an object assessment lab where visitors can learn about the process of excavating and identifying artifacts. The house museum offers archaeology internships as well as field schools for non-students.

Internship Opportunities:

• College students and recent graduates
• Must attend one of their 4-5 week archaeological field schools (accredited through JMU and SUNY Plattsburg) 
• Summer and year-long opportunities available
• Field and lab internships
• Some paid positions, some unpaid
• Housing is provided
• Cover letter and CV required for field school application
• More info here

Learn about other archaeology programs (including a teacher program).

Learn about available jobs and volunteer work here.

High Museum of Art Internships and Undergraduate Fellowship (Atlanta, GA)

The High Museum of Art is dedicated to the display of contemporary art and architecture and is a renowned museum in the southeast, located in Atlanta, Georgia. The museum offers summer internships for junior and senior undergrads and recent graduates. There is also an undergraduate curatorial fellowship and a weeklong curatorial summer academy offered each year.

Internship Opportunities:

• Unpaid; no housing; discounted parking
• Free admission to museum events
• Discount at museum shop and cafe
• Summer, 8 weeks (first week of June to end of July)
• Departments/opportunities available
• Education intern: Museum interpretation
• Education intern: School and Teacher Services
• Education intern: Public Youth and Community Services
• Education intern: Family Programs
• Marketing & Communications intern: Marketing and PR
• Marketing & Communications intern: Membership and Guest Relations 
• Registrar Intern: Rights and Reproduction
• Due Date: early March
• More information here

Fellowship Opportunities:

• Mellow Undergraduate Curatorial Fellowship
• 2-year full-time summer fellowship
• Less intensive engagement during academic year
• 2 students chosen each year
• Program also available at Art Institute Chicago, LA County Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Kansas)
• Work with staff on exhibitions, travel to partner museums
• Stipend
• Mentoring
• Open to freshman and sophomore students from diverse backgrounds
• Application due late February
• Weeklong Summer Curatorial Academy
• Open to 15 students
• Rising sophomores and juniors
• Learn about the museum and curatorial work through presentations from curators, field trips, and projects
• One week in mid-May
• Per diem for daily expenses
• Modest travel and housing stipend possible if live far away
• Application:
• Resume
• Transcripts
• Personal Statement
• Letter of recommendation
• Application
• Submit via email
• More information about both opportunities here

More information about being a volunteer is available 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.

Old Sturbridge Village Living History Museum Internships (MA)

Old Sturbridge Village is a vibrant living history museum in Massachusetts, interpreting 1830's American history, with an emphasis on the Industrial Revolution and agricultural history. They have a collection of historic buildings, heritage livestock, and fantastic historic interpreters to bring this era to life for visitors. They also have an extensive internship program for those interested in museum work and offer stipends for many internships.

Internship Information:

• Open to undergrads and grad students who have completed at least 1 year of college
• Stipends of $1,500 are available for many internships
• Housing available at a fee 
• 3 scholarship opportunities are available
• Spring, fall, and summer semester internships available
• Summer internship is 12 weeks (start of June to third week of August)
• Internships available:
• Technology/Education
• Garden
• Curatorial
• Interpretation
• Museum Education
• Sustainable Agriculture
• Development (unpaid)
• Graphic Design (unpaid)
• Marketing (unpaid)
• Special Events (unpaid)
• To apply, fill out and submit an application form and materials
• Application due dates:
• Summer: early March
• Fall: mid-July
• Spring: mid-November
• Read more info on the website

An interpretation internship program is available for 14 to 17 year-olds. Applications are due in December. Learn more here.

Volunteers are welcomed, if over 18, and work in gardens, visitor services, office work, etc. Learn more here.

Museum of the Moving Image Internships (NYC)

The Museum of the Moving Image is an intriguing museum dedicated to the history of film and media. They offer paid summer internships for senior students, graduates, and grad students.

Internship Opportunities:

• Full-time
• Paid
• Summer
• International students are welcome
• Open to rising undergraduate seniors, graduates, and grad students
• Possible positions:
• Film and digital media
• Institutional Archive
• Membership/PR

Application Information:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Letter of recommendation
• Due in late March

Information about volunteer opportunities are also available here.

American Museum of Natural History Internships (NYC)

The American Museum of Natural History is located in New York City and has a variety of exhibits featuring artifacts surrounding science-related subjects, including interactive and kid-friendly exhibits. The museum offers many interesting educational and professional opportunities, including an MA in Teaching and PhD program as well as internships for high school and college students.

Internship Opportunities:

1. High School internship
1. free transportation
2. Stipend
3. College and career prep
4. Summer and school year weekends
5. must attend high school in NYC and be 16-18 years old
6. Focus is on helping visitors learn about science 
7. Deadline: early April
8. Online application, essay, recommendation letter
2. Museum Education and Employment Program
1. Summer
2. Must be 18-21 years old and an NYC resident
3. An interest in science and ability to work with public and children
4. 4 weeks training, 6 weeks employment
5. Create and lead tours; interact with visitors
6. Application, personal statement, resume
7. Mid-march due date
3. Public Program / Margaret Mead Film Festival Program
1. Current college and grad students
2. Administrative, design, marketing, public programming, and education tasks
3. 2 whole days per week and 4 weekend or evening programs per month
4. Unpaid but can arrange credit
5. Rolling admission
4. Graduate student internships also available; info available upon request to the organization

More information on graduate and undergrad courses offered by the museum is available here: http://www.amnh.org/learn-teach/post-secondary/graduate-and-undergraduate-courses

Fallingwater Internships (PA)

Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright's Western Pennsylvania home, offers paid summer internships with housing. Sounds like a sweet deal!

Internship information:

• Open to undergraduates and graduate students (completed or close to completion)
• 10 weeks, 40 hours/week
• Paid
• Housing on site
• Summer
• Possible majors of interest: Museum studies, Library/Information Science, Landscape architecture, horticulture, historic preservation, architecture, arts education, art history, etc
• Offered through the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, who runs the home
• Information and yearly listing located here: http://waterlandlife.org/412/internships

The Western PA Conservancy also offers a Watershed Conservation Intern as well as other short- and long-term hands-on internships and part-time unpaid fall and spring semester internships, I'm guessing in landscaping and nature conservancy-related fields. Learn more here.

Longwood Gardens, PA Internships

Longwood Gardens, a large garden and nature center in eastern Pennsylvania (near DE), has a large variety of student internships in garden and landscape fields as well as management, education, visitor services, and library work. These seem like incredible programs, featuring stipends and housing. There is also an international student intern program and a UK student program. Due dates are in February for the summer and May for the fall.

Internship Information:

• 3-12 months (some specific opportunities are mandatory 12 months)
• All current college students or graduated within a year
• Must be legally able to work in America
• Must hold valid US driver's license
• Internship departments:
• Arboriculture
• Conservatory Management
• Display Design (12 month)
• Education
• Greenhouse Production
• Guest Engagement & Visitor Programs
• Horticulture Research
• Integrated Pest Management (12 month)
• Library (12 month, grad student or recent graduate of MLS program)
• Marketing & PR (12 months)
• Natural Lands Management (6 to 12 month)
• Nursery Management
• Outdoor Display
• Performing Arts (12 month)
• Plants Record Management (12 month)
• Turf Management 
• Rotational Summer Public Horticulture
• Housing provided (in historic houses!)
• $9.50/hour stipend (40 hour/week requirement)
• Student gardens, furnishings and utilities in houses, and other benefits
• Medical insurance available

Application Information:

• Summer due date: February 1
• Fall due date: May 1
• Application, resume, official transcripts, statement of intents, reference letter
• 2.5 GPA minimum

International Internship Program:

• Open to students enrolled in a college outside the US or recently gradauted
• One year of work in related field
• Areas of work:
• Ornamental Horticulture
• Education
• Library Science
• Marketing & PR
• Program for UK horticulture students and graduates with a possible scholarship (due date June 15)
• Housing available

Online Learning Opportunities in gardening, landscapes, horticulture.

The Society of the Cincinnati, DC Anderson House Museum Grad Internships and Fellowships

The Society of the Cincinnati's Anderson House Museum and society headquarters, located in northwest DC on embassy row in Dupont Circle, offers two internships in museum work for graduate students featuring stipends as well as library research fellowships. The Society is a hereditary group comprised of male descendants of Revolutionary War officers. The Anderson House is an early twentieth century mansion filled with intriguing decorative arts amassed by Society member and American ambassador Larz Anderson in his travels through the world, including choir stalls from a European church and other large, incredible stuff that rich, well-traveled people are able to obtain. It's a breath-taking place and also home to the Society's Revolutionary War and George Washington-related memorabilia, maps, documents, books, and objects.

Note: There is a special 2017 library fellowship relating to colonial American history open for application until November 11, 2016. Read more here.

Housing is not offered but the house is a short walk from the Dupont Circle metro station (and close to a multitude of Starbuckses).

Internship Opportunities:

• Collections Management:
• American Revolution and/or Gilded Age emphasis
• $1,500 stipend
• Grad student studying art history, material culture, museums, etc. interested in a museum career
• Care, preservation, and documentation of museum collections
• Daily work of the museum and/or independent project
• Curatorial Work and Interpretation:
• Exhibitions, curatorial research, and education emphasis
• $2,000 stipend
• Strong research and writing skills
• History and material culture of early 19th century America and/or Gilded Age DC interest 

Detailed listings posted on the website when available. Find out more here: http://www.societyofthecincinnati.org/scholarship/fellow_intern/museum_internships

Volunteer opportunities are also available for interested parties over age eighteen, including public programming and docent work. Learn more here.

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Library fellowships are also offered - three per year:

• $1,500 stipend for travel, housing, expenses
• Graduate students and other scholars wishing to use library resources 
• 2017 Fellowship: The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Maryland Fellowship for any scholar interested in an American colonial period subject (November 11, 2016 due date)
• One year from date of the award given to complete research using library
• Library requests a copy of publication resulting from research
• A 3 to 5 page report on findings must also be written

Application Requirements:

• CV
• 2 page or less research proposal
• (If grad student) 2 sealed letters of professorial recommendation
• Cite specific library holdings that will aid research

Additionally, an annual lecture is given on a subject related to the Revolutionary War. Read more here. 

Smithsonian Cooper Hewitt Design Museum, NYC Summer Internships

The Smithsonian's Cooper Hewitt Design Museum in New York City offers a summer internship program for college students interested in learning about museum practice.

Internship details:

• 10 weeks/ 40 hours per week
• Summer (second week of June to mid-August)
• field trips, lectures, and public programs
• Cross-disciplinary (open to a variety of majors)
• $2,500 stipend
• Undergrads and those who will graduate right before that summer
• Departments:
• Communications and Marketing
• Cross-Platform Publications
• Development and membership
• Curatorial: Drawing, Prints, and Graphic Design
• Digital and Emerging Media
• Curatorial: Product Design
• Education
• Library
• Curatorial: Textiles
• Curatorial: Socially Responsible Design

Application details:

• Late February due date
• Resume, cover letter, short essay, two references, transcript
• Apply online

View more details here: http://www.cooperhewitt.org/careers/

The building looks incredible! Sounds like a hip and intriguing set of opportunities for more progressive and artistic students interested in museums.

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

Northwest DC House Museum Internships

Dumbarton House, the headquarters of the National Society of the Colonial Dames, offers internships for graduate students or recent grads of master's programs in the spring, summer, and fall. The positions have specific projects in mind and typically offer a stipend and are listed on their website as they become available. The current summer internship has an application deadline of early April, for reference. The other seasons tend to be open until filled, but be cautioned that they tend to leave listings up even after the deadline is passed or the position is filled, so check with the contact person to see if the position is still open before going through the effort of applying. They don't offer housing and applicants should be forewarned that there is plenty of competition, especially for education internships, from GWU museum education grad students. But it is a lovely federal-style house in beautiful historic Georgetown.

• Stipends for most internships
• Summer, fall, spring internships
• Specific projects
• Internships in Education, Marketing, etc. 
• Graduate students preferred (although the author got an interview as an undergraduate)
• Historic home focusing in 18th and early 19th century American history
• Parking (though a difficult area to drive in) or a mile+ walk from Dupont Circle Metro 
• Typical application requirements: Cover letter and resume (email or mail)
• Typical due date: Beginning of April.

Individual listings include more specific details.

Open Positions Listings link: http://dumbartonhouse.org/archives/2769 

• Interested parties can also volunteer as docents, researchers, public programming assistants, gardeners, and marketing and office workers. The docent training is held at certain times, the last listed one being in February 2016. Get more information here: http://dumbartonhouse.org/volunteer-information

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Tudor Place is another historic home in Georgetown, a beautiful neighborhood in northwest DC with many hidden historic treasures! The house is beautiful and has an incredible array of public programming as well as a must-see garden. They offer a variety of education and visitor programming internships as well as some marketing and development, gardening, and even design internships. Specific programs are posted each season on their web site, offering special projects to work on. 

• Typically 15-25 hours per week or 2-3 days per week
• Specific projects and positions
• Academic credit available
• Graduate preference but consideration given to strong undergrads (the author got an interview as an undergrad)
• Internships in Education, Visitor Services, Public Programming, Marketing, Gardening, etc., varying from season to season
• Historic house museum focusing on American history
• Parking and public transportation (bus and/or long walk from Dupont Circle or Tenleytown metro)
• Typical due date: Beginning of April
• Typical application process: email cover letter and resume

Individual listings include more specific details.

Visit the museum's web page for current internship listings: https://www.tudorplace.org/get-involved/employment/

Interested parties can also volunteer as house or garden tour docents as well as special event and public programming assistants, gardeners, and office work assistants. More information here: https://www.tudorplace.org/get-involved/volunteer/

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Historic Lewes, DE Summer Internship Program

Lewes, Delaware's incredible historical society offers a few internship programs each summer for students interested in a career in the public history field, including stipend-backed opportunities! The application process is rigorous, so if you're interested in one of these excellent internships, be sure to get started early!

Link to informational page: https://www.historiclewes.org/

Internship Opportunities:

• Typically 10 weeks
• Some summers a $1,500 stipend is offered
• Public History: allows students interested in a public history career in a small museum setting to get a sense of the different types of work within the fields
• Living space provided if needed
• Cycle through education, development, collections, marketing, and administrative work in approximately two-week periods to get a feel for the variety of disciplines
• Complete small-scale projects 
• Write and present paper documenting experience
• Collections and Research: 
• 10 week program in 2 sections: cataloging and care (#1) and fieldwork and research (#2)
• Write and present paper on experience
• Education and Visitor Services:
• experience with programming, volunteer training, tour development, etc.
• present a paper documenting experiences 

Application Process:

• By mail only with all documents together
• Application
• Two letters of reference
• Sealed official transcript (unofficial okay for non-stipend)
• Resume or CV
• One-page statement of interest

Typically due in early March.

Information last updated 5/18/17. Always check the organization's website for the most recent information.

Smithsonian Internship Programs for People with Disabilities

Here are two very exciting opportunities the Smithsonian has developed in recent years to aid those with disabilities in their professional development. I would like to personally commend the SI for implementing these excellent programs as disability advocacy is a much-overlooked field that is very close to my heart! 

• Accessibility Program for those with disabilities who are US citizens or permanent residents, high school students, college or grad students in a major related to program, or professionals who can benefit from the program (this is a stipend applied to whichever Smithsonian internship you obtain)
• $4,000 stipend for college and grad students for completion of 640 hours
• $1,500 for high school students
• Rolling admission
• Application requirements:
• Application
• Resume
• 2 page essay of intent
• Academic transcripts
• 2 letters of recommendation (can be from a variety of sources)
• Project SEARCH: an unpaid internship program for young adults with developmental disabilities to gain valuable work skills to aid future employment
• unpaid
• 10-month school-to-work transition program
• Rotate through three 10-week unpaid internship programs