Navigating Internship Opportunities at the de Young Museum and Beyond

The de Young Museum, part of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF), along with other institutions like the Smithsonian, offers various internship programs for emerging professionals interested in art and museum careers. These internships provide invaluable experience, mentorship, and networking opportunities. This article explores the requirements and opportunities available through these programs, drawing upon examples from the de Young, the Getty, and the Smithsonian, to provide a comprehensive guide for prospective interns.

Internship Programs Overview

Museums and cultural institutions recognize the importance of fostering the next generation of museum professionals. Internship programs serve as a bridge, connecting students, recent graduates, and those making career pivots with the practical experience needed to succeed in the field. These programs are designed to provide interns with meaningful professional learning experiences, allowing them to contribute to departmental goals and work on individual projects that support their personal and professional development.

FAMSF’s Summer Internship program, for instance, is a paid opportunity in one of the largest public arts institutions in San Francisco. This program provides professional experience for students, those just entering the workforce, and other emerging professionals who are interested in art and museum careers.

Eligibility and Target Audience

Internship programs typically target emerging professionals, which includes anyone with 0-3 years of experience in the museum field. This encompasses youths (18-24 years old), current college students, recent college graduates, and those making a career pivot. Some programs, like the AAMD pilot internship program, specifically target undergraduate students in their sophomore, junior, or senior years.

Application Requirements and Process

Applying for museum internships generally involves submitting a comprehensive application package. Key components often include:

Read also: Independent Study Courses

Resume or CV: A detailed summary of your education, work, and volunteer experience, as well as links to a portfolio, as applicable.
Cover Letter: An opportunity to expand on your interests and qualifications for the specific position.
Personal Statement: Some programs, like the Getty Marrow Undergraduate Internship at the Getty, require a personal statement of no more than 500 words. This statement should explain why you are interested in the internship.
Transcript(s): An up-to-date copy of your transcript(s) is typically required. Transcript(s) must record at least one semester or two quarters of college after high school. If you have transferred in the past year, you must also include a transcript from your previous college or university.
Letters of Recommendation: Many internships require two confidential letters of recommendation submitted directly by the recommenders. The most appropriate recommenders are usually university faculty members who can address your academic performance. Other recommenders may include past or current employers of relevant work who are familiar with your skills and abilities.
Supplemental Questions: Be prepared to answer supplemental questions clearly, concisely, and truthfully.

Note that letters of recommendation, transcripts, and diploma copies may not be required for all programs, so carefully review the application instructions. The only way to be considered for these internships is usually through the online application.

Types of Internships Available

Museums offer a wide range of internship opportunities across various departments. Some examples include:

Curatorial: Assisting with research, documentation, and other activities related to the acquisition, exhibition, and interpretation of works of art. The Joseph F. McCrindle Curatorial Internship at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco is an annual paid internship with the European Paintings curatorial department.
Conservation: Assisting with scientific research, hands-on treatments, preventative conservation, and field projects related to the conservation of works of art and cultural heritage.
Education: Assisting with education programs designed for school, community, teen, and adult groups.
Exhibitions/Collections Management: Assisting with planning, budgeting, research, or other projects related to the museum's collections and exhibition program.
Digital Projects: Assisting in the development of databases and electronic resources, digitization of collections, or other digital projects.
Library Collections/Photo Cataloguing: Assisting with archival processing, cataloguing, imaging and digitization, research, or other projects related to the Getty's research library and special collections.
Communications: Assisting with media relations, marketing, public analytics, digital engagement, and social media strategies for content development and public outreach.
Philanthropy: Assisting with research, database and content management, and other administrative activities related to grantmaking in the arts.
Public Programs: Assisting with the planning and execution of programming and special events for all audiences.
Publications: Assisting with museum, academic, and digital publishing, and other activities related to a publication's lifecycle such as permissions, editing, design, production, and book marketing.
Office of Planning, Design, and Construction (OPDC), Architectural History and Historic Preservation (AHHP): providing a practical learning experience in the stewardship of historic cultural facilities.

Compensation and Duration

Internship compensation varies depending on the institution and program. Some internships are paid, while others may be unpaid. Paid internships can offer hourly rates or stipends. For example, the Joseph F. McCrindle Curatorial Internship offers a compensation of $20 hourly rate of pay. The Getty internships provide stipends of $5,700 for ten-week summer internships. AAMD internships offer a stipend of $6,300 for each 12 week internship.

The duration of internships also varies. Some are short-term, lasting a few weeks, while others can extend for several months. FAMSF’s summer internship is a full-time eight-week program. The Getty internships are full time beginning June 17, 2019, and ending August 23, 2019.

Benefits of Internships

Museum internships offer numerous benefits for emerging professionals:

Read also: Unveiling the Scholarship

Hands-on Experience: Interns gain practical experience working directly with museum staff and contributing to real projects.
Mentorship: Many programs pair interns with mentors who provide guidance and support.
Networking: Internships provide opportunities to network with museum professionals and build connections in the field.
Professional Development: Interns participate in training sessions, professional development workshops, and talks from leaders in the field.
Skill Development: Interns develop valuable skills in research, communication, project management, and other areas.
Career Exploration: Internships allow individuals to explore different career paths within the museum field and determine their interests and strengths.

Additional Opportunities at FAMSF

Besides internships, FAMSF offers other opportunities for those interested in museum work:

Part-time/On-call Positions: FAMSF hires part-time/on-call positions with the retail and visitor experience departments throughout the year. These positions offer a unique perspective on how guests are motivated to visit and interact with the collections.
Interpretation and outreach associates (IOAs): IOAs are individuals with intersecting experience and interests in art history, art practice, community organizing, education, museum studies, and more. As key museum collaborators, the associates participate in a rigorous training program.
Docent-led Tours: Instructors from any accredited college may arrange docent-led tours of select special exhibitions for their classes.
Self-Guided Tours: Educators are also welcome to lead their classes on self-guided tours through either the de Young or the Legion of Honor.
Object Viewing: Appointments to view objects from the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts collection can be requested for classes of up to 12 students.

Smithsonian Internships

The Smithsonian Institution offers a wide variety of internships across its many museums and research centers. These internships provide opportunities to work closely with professionals and scholars in various fields, including history, science, art, and culture.

Examples of Smithsonian internships include:

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.
National Air and Space Museum Summer Internship Program: Provides firsthand experience working in a museum.
National Museum of African American History and Culture Internships: Offer opportunities to work closely with professionals and scholars in the museum field.
Summer Institute in Museum Anthropology (SIMA): Provides graduate students with an immersive training program and research experience at the Smithsonian Institution.
National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) Internships: Offer opportunities 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 Internships: Offer formal internships to qualified applicants.
Office of Advancement Internships: Offer internship opportunities for candidates interested in fundraising and development-oriented careers.
Office of Educational Technology Internship: Offers a unique opportunity to be part of a department working to make digital education resources more accessible and useful.
Legal Internships in the Smithsonian Institution’s Office of General Counsel (OGC): work closely with attorneys whose work covers diverse topics.
The Claudine K. Brown Internship in Education: Awarded based on a demonstrated interest in the field of education and museum leadership.
Women’s History Internship Program: Amplifies women’s stories to tell a more complete American history.
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) Summer Intern Program: A 10-week Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) internship.
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) Internships: Provides science-based knowledge to meet the environmental challenges of the 21st century.
Smithsonian Gardens Internships: Provides an array of public garden learning experiences.
STRI General Internship Program: Provides a place for internship applicants who are generally interested in STRI’s science to pursue a research experience.
Natural History Research Experiences (NHRE): A 10-week summer internship program hosted at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C.
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.

Key Considerations for Applicants

Deadlines: Pay close attention to application deadlines. For example, applications for Summer 2026 at the National Museum of Asian Art are due by February 13, 2026 (11:59 PM ET).
Browser Compatibility: For the best user experience when applying online, use the Google Chrome browser. You may also use Firefox or Safari.
Vaccination Requirements: Be aware that some institutions, like COFAM, require all new employees and interns to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.
Program Hiatuses: Note that some programs may be temporarily on hiatus. FAMSF’s Summer Internship program, for example, is on hiatus for 2026.
Equity and Inclusion: Many museums, including FAMSF and NMAI, are committed to equity and social justice. Consider how your application can demonstrate your commitment to these values.

Read also: Service-Driven Education at BYU

tags: #de #young #museum #internships #requirements