MFA Boston Internships: Pathways to a Museum Career

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), stands as a world-renowned art museum, boasting a collection that spans nearly all cultures and time periods. From ancient Egyptian art to French Impressionism and Contemporary works, the MFA offers a diverse and engaging experience for visitors from all walks of life. With a mission to preserve and share its treasures, the MFA provides enriching experiences for the Boston community and beyond. The museum's culture thrives on scholarship, collaboration, trust, and mutual respect, making it a vibrant and ever-changing institution.

MFA Pathways Internship Program

The MFA Pathways internship program offers paid opportunities for college and university students to participate in the life of the Museum. This program provides undergraduate- and graduate-level internships across various departments, offering hands-on training in specific museum roles. Interns participate in professional development activities to learn about a range of museum careers and practices, and they build professional networks to advance their career aspirations. Mentoring from staff in their assigned departments and engagement with professionals throughout the Museum are integral parts of the program.

Commitment to Inclusivity

The MFA actively encourages students from all backgrounds to apply, amplifying its efforts toward becoming a truly inclusive institution and fostering the next generation of museum staff. With a paid program in place, the MFA no longer offers unpaid internships or student volunteer opportunities, ensuring equitable access to these valuable experiences.

Experiential Learning for High School Students

For high school students, the MFA provides paid experiential learning opportunities through Teen Programs, offering a pathway for younger individuals to engage with the museum environment.

Application Information

Application Periods

The MFA Pathways internship program offers internships during the spring and summer semesters:

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Spring 2026 Internships
- Program Dates: January 30-April 24, 2026
- Descriptions posted: October 23, 2025
- Application period: October 23-December 3, 2025
Summer 2026 Internships
- Program Dates: June 15-August 21, 2026
- Descriptions posted: February 12, 2026
- Application period: February 12-March 15, 2026

Early submissions are strongly encouraged, as applications are reviewed, and interviews are scheduled throughout the application period on a rolling basis. Positions are removed once they are filled, so promptness is key.

Eligibility and Requirements

Required hours and specific eligibility qualifications are detailed in each individual description. It is crucial to read each description carefully to ensure that you meet the criteria.

Pay Rates

Undergraduate interns are paid \$16.80 per hour.
Graduate interns are paid \$19.95 per hour.

Application Procedures

To ensure full consideration, applications must explicitly follow the published application instructions. Candidates can view all open internships on the MFA’s hiring portal and may apply to no more than two internships per semester, submitting a separate application for each position. Avoid submitting any materials not specifically requested within the description, such as transcripts or portfolios.

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How to Apply

Combine your cover letter and resume into a single document (PDF or Microsoft Word only). Applications that do not follow published instructions will not be considered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are internships at the MFA paid?

Yes, all internships at the MFA are paid.

Who may apply for an internship?

MFA Pathways internships are available for either undergraduate or graduate students who have completed their first year of college (including community college) and will be enrolled in a corresponding degree program/process during the internship period. Candidates who have completed a bachelor’s degree are not eligible to apply for an undergraduate internship. In clearly specified situations, internships are available to recent graduates. Each internship carries additional, department-specific qualifying criteria, so it is essential to read each description carefully. The opportunities offered each semester are determined by the expected workflow of the various departments and vary from term to term.

Do you accept international students?

Yes, international students who are eligible/approved for CPT/OPT work for pay in the United States are eligible for the MFA Pathways internships. Applicants must submit a copy of the published description to their visa administrators for approval before applying. During the interview, international students must indicate that they will be applying to receive CPT/OPT credit. Once offered an internship, candidates must immediately provide the MFA with any agreement documentation required by the CPT/OPT sponsor. All CPT/OPT approvals must be completed before orientation, as candidates must present proof of work eligibility, as directed by Human Resources, at the time of orientation. (Note: the MFA does not sponsor visas for internships.)

May I do an internship for course credit?

Yes. Before applying, you must:

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Provide a copy of the internship description to your advisor for approval.
Make all appropriate arrangements with your school to receive credit.

During your interview, you must indicate that you will be applying to receive credit from your institution. Once offered the internship, you must immediately provide any agreement documentation required by the school to the MFA for appropriate approval and signatures.

How long do internships last?

Undergraduate-level internships run for one semester unless published as a two-semester position. Graduate-level internships may last one or two semesters. Each description has detailed information on length.

Is there a deadline for internship applications?

Applications are reviewed-and hiring decisions are made-on a rolling basis each period, so apply early. Improperly formatted materials cannot be corrected or re-submitted. Therefore, apply as early as possible for full consideration, as interviews may begin as soon as applications are received.

How many hours per week do I need to commit to an internship?

Fall and spring internships require between 10 and 20 hours per week; summer internships may require between 12 to 35 hours. Review each description carefully to determine the time commitment that the specific internship requires. These required hours include two hours per week for the Museum Pathways and Practices professional development course, which meets on Thursdays during the summer and on Fridays during the fall and spring, from 12:30-2:30 pm.

Is there a professional development component to internships at the MFA?

The MFA Pathways internship program requires each undergraduate intern to participate in the Museum Pathways and Practices course. This series of 8-11 two-hour-long seminar sessions is held on Fridays during the fall and spring and on Thursdays during the summer. Each session is comprised of (a) informal networking and cohort building among interns, and (b) a presentation/conversation led by Museum professionals from across the MFA. At the end of the semester, all interns are also required to prepare a short presentation highlighting their internship experience.

Graduate interns are expected to participate in the Museums in Context course, which comprises 3-5 sessions over the semester. They are also required to attend two undergraduate sessions: “Meet the Leadership Team” and “Final Presentations.” Dates for all sessions are announced at the orientation.

Are interns required to attend an orientation?

All selected interns must attend an orientation session before beginning their internship. Orientation dates and times are included in each description. During your interview, you must confirm your availability to attend the orientation.

When do internships start?

Internship periods are listed in Program Dates. Individual schedules must be confirmed with mentors when accepting the internship offer. Applicants should note in their cover letter and during their interviews any special circumstances that could affect their start or end dates, as well as participation in the Museum Pathways and Practices course.

Does the MFA provide housing for interns?

At this time, the MFA is able to offer summer interns a modest housing subsidy of \$1,500. (This subsidy is subject to taxes.)

Does the MFA provide transportation for interns?

The MFA provides interns a monthly transportation subsidy equal to the cost of a monthly public transit MBTA LinkPass.

The Importance of Paid Internships in Museums

Museums are increasingly recognizing their role as pillars of community infrastructure, supporting education, livable communities, mental health, and sustainability. To truly serve as foundational institutions, museums must reflect and represent their communities across all dimensions of practice. Paid internships not only lead to greater cultural representation among museum staff but can also help advance this work on multiple levels, from staffing and governance to collections, exhibitions, and programming.

Addressing Diversity and Equity

Understanding the role that pre-professional training can have on museum diversity requires establishing a contextual foundation on the problem and preliminary mitigating efforts. The United States will no longer be a white majority country, yet mapping that movement against museum staff demographics reveals glaring disparities, particularly among historically underrepresented populations. While this issue is not unique to the museum sector, it has gained greater traction in recent years through the critical work of advocacy groups such as #MuseumWorkersSpeak.

AAM Resolution and Pilot Programs

A 2019 AAM resolution calling on art museums to provide paid internships marked an important step toward identifying the need for greater equity across institutions. Over the last decade, multi-institutional initiatives, including museum pilot programs and research studies, have further demonstrated the urgency to address equity and diversity in the context of paid internships. The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has supported several pilot programs aimed at addressing these issues.

Art Museum Staff Demographic Survey

The resulting three-phase study, known as the Art Museum Staff Demographic Survey, not only helped uncover the extent of the issue but tracked demographics that provide crucial benchmarks to assess progress. The Mellon Foundation has also supported initiatives aimed at diversifying museum staff, such as fellowships at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; the creation of paid internships at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in six cities; and bolstering Spellman College’s curatorial studies program.

Shifts in Museum Practices

Movements following the murder of George Floyd in the summer of 2020 led to massive shifts in museums both internally and externally, with a renewed focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, efforts that continue to be refined and evaluated. Over 40 percent of younger staff and newer hires are People of Color (POC). The demographic changes in museum staff are primarily due to increases in staff from Hispanic, Asian, and those who are Two or More Races backgrounds.

MFA Pathways: A Model for Change

The MFA Pathways program fosters a culture of reciprocal learning through professional development, mentor support, and student networking. For decades, undergraduate and graduate students have participated in the life of the MFA, but internships were often unpaid, inconsistent, insulated within departments, and limited in access. The MFA Pathways program addressed these issues by creating standardized position descriptions, a museum-wide application review, and interview protocols that helped create greater consistency and institutional expectations.

Program Launch and Growth

Framed by three central goals, the MFA Pathways formally launched in January 2022 with a cohort of eight interns; the program has grown to host around 65 interns annually. It focuses on mitigating barriers through compensation, intentional recruitment with a range of career offices, and ensuring student preparedness.

Program Goals

The MFA Pathways program is designed to be informative for current interns as well as for prospective applicants and those interested in learning more about the program generally. It has found that compensation as a means of mitigating barriers remains insufficient, particularly for students from historically marginalized backgrounds.

Curriculum and Dialogue

As institutions with long histories of exclusion, museums must ensure that future museum workers are prepared through active museum-based training and informed dialogue. The Museum Pathways and Practices course runs alongside interns' work in their department, where the students gain an understanding for the history, challenges, shifting role, and interconnected functions of museums. They gain exposure to multiple museum professions. Within this cohort, students discuss current issues in museum practice and dialogue with museum professionals.

Reciprocity and Mentorship

MFA Pathways is grounded in an environment of reciprocity where learning and growth are not limited to the experiences of the interns. Key to advancing participation among historically underrepresented communities and building a program that shifts internal culture is the role of mentorship. Support for a truly reciprocal learning environment involves supporting mentors in their work and advocating for this as not something added to staff's list of responsibilities but integral to their professional development.

Generating Dialogue

The program aims to generate dialogue on a local and national level about pre-professional training, particularly focused on advancing participation among historically underrepresented backgrounds. The MFA engages with institutions in the region and nationally, as well as with academic departments and career offices, to expand awareness of a range of museum professions, from marketing and communications to curatorial, education, and conservation.

Program Evaluation and Findings

Through work with an external evaluation team that administers surveys to interns before and after they complete their internships and now to mentors as well, the MFA continues to refine the program.

Intern Perspectives

Before they begin the program, interns are asked to identify what they see as the most urgent challenges facing museums today. Common responses include “lack of diversity,” “need to be more accessible to diverse and low-income communities,” and “addressing systemic issues.” Interns are actively engaging in the complex challenges that museums face and will continue to confront in the future.

Mentor Development

Similarly, survey results demonstrate that mentors develop both personally and professionally through participation in the program. Mentors emphasize the importance of explaining workplace culture to interns, particularly those from community college backgrounds, and recognize the value of having staff who are reflective of the communities they seek to serve.

Additional Internship Opportunities in the Boston Area

While the MFA Pathways program is a significant opportunity, several other institutions in the Boston area offer internships:

American Textile History Museum: Offers unpaid internships in Museum Education.
Boston Athenæum: A membership library with a rich history, offering various activities and resources.
The Bostonian Society: Dedicated to studying and preserving Boston’s history, operating the Old State House Museum.
Cultural Resources Diversity Internship Program: Provides career exploration opportunities for diverse students in historic preservation.
Eagle Intern Fellowship: Provides financial support to Boston College undergraduates for unpaid internships.
Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site: The home and office of the landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted.
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History: Offers internships in various departments, including curatorial and marketing.
Historic Deerfield: Hosts summer fellowships for students to study early New England material life.
Historic New England: Offers internships to students pursuing degrees in American studies, history, and museum studies.
Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum: A museum with a unique collection of paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts.
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum: Awards summer archival internships in textual, audiovisual, and museum collections.
Lexington Historical Society: Offers paid internships at revolutionary-era historical sites.
Library of Congress: Offers the Junior Fellows Program, focusing on increasing access to collections.
Martha's Vineyard Museum: Features exhibits and collections relating to the history of Martha's Vineyard.
Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center: A tribally owned museum on Native histories and cultures.
Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS): An independent research library and manuscript repository.
Museum of African American History: Preserves and interprets the contributions of people of African descent.
Mystic Seaport: A re-creation of a 19th-century coastal village, offering internships in education, archives, and conservation.
Nantucket Historical Society: Preserves and interprets the history of Nantucket Island, offering internships in various areas.
National Heritage Museum: Offers a variety of internship experiences.
National Park Service: Offers internships and seasonal positions in historical interpretation and preservation.
New England Historic Genealogical Society: A leading research center for genealogists.
Newport Historical Society (NHS): Offers internships at historic Rhode Island houses.
Old Sturbridge Village: An outdoor history museum portraying everyday life in an 1830s New England village.
Old York Historical Society: Consists of historic buildings open to the public, hosting the Elizabeth Perkins Fellowship Program in Museum Practice.

Teen Programs at the MFA

The MFA offers several programs for teens, including the Teen Arts Council, Visitor Aides, and Program Assistants. These opportunities are paid and provide professional development and behind-the-scenes museum experience.

Curatorial Study Hall

The Curatorial Study Hall internship is a specialized project-based internship where students explore exhibition creation, interpretation, and design, focusing on marginalized artists in the MFA’s collection.

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