Unveiling Opportunities: Internships at the Archives of American Art

The Smithsonian Institution offers a multitude of internship programs across its various museums and research centers, providing invaluable experiences for students and recent graduates. Among these, the Archives of American Art (AAA) internships stand out as a unique gateway into the world of art history and archival science. These internships offer a chance to delve into the primary sources that document the history of visual arts in America, providing hands-on experience in archival practices and contributing to the preservation of cultural heritage.

A Deep Dive into the Archives of American Art

The Archives of American Art (AAA) holds a prominent position as a research center dedicated to collecting, preserving, and providing access to primary source materials related to the history of visual arts in America. The Archives offer internships during the spring, summer, and fall terms to students who have not yet completed their degrees, or those who have graduated within the past six months. These internships offer a focused experience in archival work, structured around the processing and preservation of archival collections.

Summer Internship Program: A Closer Look

The AAA Summer Internship Program offers a $7,000 stipend for a full-time, ten-week schedule. Summer internships are exclusively available in the Archives' Washington, DC office. This program provides a professional and focused experience in archival work, specifically in the processing and preservation of archival collections, as well as cataloging and archival descriptive practices and standards, including EAD (Encoded Archival Description).

Graduate Internships

Graduate interns have the opportunity to work under the supervision and guidance of senior archivists in Collections Processing, gaining practical experience in the field.

Internship Opportunities at the Archives of American Art

The Archives of American Art offers a variety of internship opportunities, catering to different interests and skill sets:

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Collections Processing Internship

This internship provides a professional and focused experience in collection management and processing tasks associated with archival sound and moving image materials found throughout the Archives’ collections. Tasks may include digital reference copy production, surveying audiovisual media in new accessions, improving housing and storage, metadata maintenance and improvement, and arrangement and description of AV-rich archival collections. Interns may be trained in media inspection, handling, using obsolete playback equipment, and archival arrangement and description, and software systems such as ArchivesSpace, audio and video digitization software, collection information systems used at AAA and SI, and standalone media survey and assessment tools. Applicants with a demonstrated interest in working with archival audiovisual media are given preference.

Curatorial Internship

This internship supports the work of the curatorial department.

Oral History Management Internship

In this internship, interns are immersed in the management of a longstanding and ongoing oral history program. This internship is offered in the Archives’ Washington, DC office and could be offered remotely.

Application Details and Requirements

Applicants interested in the Archives of American Art internships should submit a two-page, double-spaced statement of interest addressing the following points:

) Describe what you hope to learn through an internship at the Smithsonian and how this experience would impact your academic and career interests.

The National Deadline for applications is February 25 and June 25.

Beyond the Archives: Other Smithsonian Opportunities

While the Archives of American Art offers unique archival experiences, the Smithsonian Institution encompasses a vast network of museums and research centers, each with its own internship programs. These opportunities cater to a wide range of interests, from art and history to science and technology.

National Air and Space Museum Internship

The National Air and Space Museum’s structured summer internship program provides firsthand experience working in a museum. This program offers an introduction to museum work or an opportunity to expand on previous experience. Lasting from early-June through early-August, the 10-week summer program provides professional development opportunities and enrichment activities.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Internship

Internships at the National Museum of African American History and Culture offer undergraduate and graduate students, and recent graduates opportunities to work closely with professionals and scholars in the museum field. The museum provides a learning environment and access to mentors that help interns reach their academic and professional goals. Interns receive a stipend while they gain practical museum skills and program development experience.

National Museum of Asian Art Internship

The National Museum of Asian Art invites applications for its eight-week, paid Summer Undergraduate Internship Program.

National Museum of Natural History Internship

The National Museum of Natural History hosts the Natural History Research Experiences (NHRE), a 10-week summer internship program. The NMNH Summer High School Internship Program supports current high school attendees, ages 15 to 18 (grades 9 - 12), who are interested in learning about what it is like to work at a museum. Interns work with various departments throughout NMNH and explore both science and non-science museum work. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History also seeks a science writing intern interested in developing science communication skills in an active communications and public affairs office.

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National Museum of the American Indian Internship

The National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) offers internships during the Fall, Winter/Spring, and Summer terms at the museum in Washington, D.C.; at the Cultural Resources Center in Suitland, MD; and at the museum (George Gustav Heye Center) in New York City.

National Portrait Gallery Internship

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery offers formal internships to qualified applicants.

Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Internship

The Peter A. Krueger Summer Internship Program offers undergraduate students the unique opportunity to develop professional skills and learn about museum practices at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.

Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center Internship

The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center (APAC) believes that a great 21st-century museum is more than a building and engages communities in surprising and innovative ways.

Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage Internship

Every year, the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage involves over a hundred interns in our various activities.

Smithsonian Institution Office of Planning, Design, and Construction (OPDC) Internship

The primary purpose of the Office of Planning, Design, and Construction (OPDC), Architectural History and Historic Preservation (AHHP) internship is to provide a practical learning experience in the stewardship of historic cultural facilities. Applicants should have undergraduate and/or graduate level courses related to architecture, architectural history, materials conservation, historic preservation, and historic building trades.

Smithsonian Office of Educational Technology Internship

An internship at the Smithsonian Office of Educational Technology is an opportunity to be part of a department working to make digital education resources more accessible and useful to teachers, students, parents, and anyone looking to discover and explore museum content.

Smithsonian Institution’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) Internship

Legal interns in the Smithsonian Institution’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) work closely with attorneys whose work covers diverse topics such as tax, employment discrimination, ethics, imports/exports, federal appropriations, intellectual property, and environmental law.

Smithsonian Associates Internship

Interns with Smithsonian Associates are offered opportunities to learn about all aspects of educational programming for both adults and children, while contributing extensively to one of the world's great cultural institutions.

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) Summer Intern Program

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) Summer Intern Program is a 10-week Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) internship where students take on an astrophysics research project with an SAO or Harvard scientist. Students are expected to work at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics for the full duration of the program.

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) Internship

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) provides science-based knowledge to meet the environmental challenges of the 21st century.

Smithsonian Gardens Internship

Smithsonian Gardens provides an array of public garden learning experiences through its internship program thanks to the wide diversity of services and programs it offers at the Smithsonian Institution.

Smithsonian Science Education Center Internship

Interns will work with Smithsonian Science Education Center curriculum developers to assist in the development of nonfiction stories that will be included in Smithsonian Science for the Classroom units.

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) General Internship Program

The purpose of the STRI General Internship Program is to provide a place for internship applicants who are generally interested in STRI’s science to pursue a research experience with one of our scientific mentors based on their interests.

Women's History Internship Program

The Women's History Internship program offers paid eight-week paid internships that amplify women’s stories to tell a more complete American history, reach a diverse audience, and empower and inspire people from all walks of life.

Claudine K. Brown Internship in Education

The Claudine K. Brown Internship in Education is funded through an endowed fund in memory of Claudine K. Brown, an educator and influential leader of the Smithsonian. Awardees of the Brown Internship are appointed based on a demonstrated interest in the field of education and museum leadership.

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