Academic Year Internship (2026-2027)

Projects and learning

Academic year interns work closely with their assigned departments on defined long-term projects. With opportunities spanning curatorial, digital interpretation, archives, education, and more, you’ll build meaningful skills over an extended placement and deepen your understanding of museum practice.

Mentorship and supervision

Academic year interns receive two layers of support:

• A department supervisor, who provides day-to-day guidance, assigns projects, and offers regular feedback. You’ll work alongside staff on active projects and see how teams plan, collaborate, and make decisions over a full academic cycle.
• A separate mentor outside your department, who serves as a neutral thought partner for questions about careers, workplace culture, and next steps in and beyond museums.

Each intern is paired with professionals who are invested in their growth. Together, this structure is designed to help you feel supported in your work and in your longer-term goals.

Intern cohort and community

Interns participate together in weekly sessions that include special tours, conversations with staff at all levels, and behind-the-scenes learning experiences. By the end of the program, you’ll have developed a strong network of peers and professional contacts in the museum field.

Paid and accessible

We’re committed to making our internships accessible. Academic year interns receive:

• $25.26/hour for 34 weeks (total stipend amount is $34,353.60)
• A $6,868 cost-of-living stipend to assist with travel, relocation, or housing costs. This additional stipend is disbursed throughout the academic year.
• Eligibility for Federal Employees Health Benefits and Federal Employees Group Life Insurance
• A transportation subsidy for authorized public transit in Washington, D.C.

We structure pay and stipends to make the program more accessible for a wide range of students and emerging professionals. These supports are designed to reduce financial barriers and help you fully participate in the internship.

Special focus: John Wilmerding Fund for Education in American Art and the Joseph F. McCrindle Foundation Curatorial Internship in European Art

In addition to our general academic year internships, we offer specialized nine-month placements supported by the John Wilmerding Fund for Education in American Art and the Joseph F. McCrindle Foundation.

John Wilmerding internships focus on American art or digital interpretation and offer an in-depth opportunity to contribute to these areas. The Joseph F. McCrindle Foundation Curatorial Internship in European Art provides focused experience in European art, with opportunities to support curatorial research, exhibitions, and related projects.

If your interests align with American art, digital interpretation, or European art, you can note this in your application responses. There is no separate application for these placements; selected interns whose backgrounds and projects align with these areas may be designated for these special-focus internships.