FAQs: Internships

United States citizens and foreign nationals currently in the United States on F-1 visas will be considered for internships in 2024–2025. If you’re accepted into the internship program, the National Gallery will assist you with the required paperwork. International interns are responsible for obtaining health insurance for the duration of the internship.

Yes. Please fill out a separate online application for each internship program.

After you submit your application, it’ll be reviewed by our selection committee. You’ll receive an automated confirmation email upon submission. If your application is shortlisted, we’ll contact you via email to arrange a virtual interview with a small panel of National Gallery staff. Please note that due to the high volume of applications, we can’t provide specific feedback on each application.

Yes! Interns are paid a stipend equal to $25.26 per hour. We offer paid opportunities to eliminate financial barriers, ensuring that talent and enthusiasm are the keys to joining our program.

We don’t provide direct housing arrangements for interns. However, we’re committed to easing the financial burden of living in Washington, D.C. Therefore, all accepted interns will receive a modest one-time cost-of-living stipend. This stipend is designed to assist with housing and travel/relocation expenses during your internship.

It may be possible to receive academic credit. It’s your responsibility to arrange to receive credit with your university before the internship start date.

Responsibilities in our diverse and dynamic program may include:

• Assisting in Field-Leading Research Projects: Delve into groundbreaking research that aligns with your academic interests or opens new areas of exploration.
• Supporting the Planning and Execution of Exhibitions: Contribute to the creation of engaging exhibitions, an opportunity that ranges from conceptual development to logistical execution, tailored to your creative or organizational strengths.
• Contributing to Our Learning and Engagement Programs: Engage with audiences of all ages and backgrounds in educational initiatives, matching your skills in communication, teaching, or community engagement.
• Enhancing Visitor Experience and Engagement: Get involved in projects that improve visitor interactions with art, suited to your interests in public engagement or visitor studies.
• Supporting Operations and Administration: Gain experience in the behind-the-scenes operations of a major museum, a fit for those interested in arts management or administrative roles.
• Collaborating on Digital Initiatives: Work with our digital team on projects that resonate with your tech-savvy skills or interests in digital marketing and social media.
• Participating in Facilities Management and Maintenance: Engage in the essential world of facilities management at the National Gallery. This experience is ideal for those interested in understanding how the physical space and environment of a museum play a critical role in the preservation and presentation of art.
• Involvement in Conservation and Collection Management: Participate in the care and management of art collections, an ideal match for those with a detail-oriented approach and interest in art preservation.

The roles listed above are just a glimpse of the many opportunities available at the National Gallery. Our diverse departments offer a wide range of experiences. We’re committed to finding a placement where your unique skills and passions can thrive, fostering your individual career aspirations and professional growth, while contributing meaningfully to our work and mission.

A hybrid internship involves regular commutes to the National Gallery, though not daily commutes. For example, a hybrid intern may commute to the National Gallery three days a week for regularly scheduled in-person work and interactions, while working from a location of their choosing the rest of the week.

Weekly sessions will introduce you to the staff, departments, programs, and functions of the National Gallery. Session speakers may include curators, administrators, conservators, scientists, facilities managers, and many more. Through these weekly sessions, you’ll have an opportunity to build a professional network of staff from across the gallery, as we’ll as a cohort of other interns.

Yes. We’re committed to ensuring that everyone can apply to the program and can participate fully if accepted. Please email George Luna-Peña, Manager of Pre-professional Programs, at [email protected] to inquire about available accommodations.

Absolutely! Our internship program is meant to develop transferrable skills applicable to museum careers as well as other fields. You’re not required to have prior background or experience in the arts, and many interns have participated as non-arts majors.

• Summer internship: February 29, 2024 at 5:00PM EST
• Academic year internship: April 3, 2024 at 5:00PM EST

• The summer internship program is open to anyone with a passion for art and museums, including students, recent graduates, career changers, and individuals new to the field. No specific academic major or background is required. 
• Our Academic Year Internship Program is designed for candidates who have an undergraduate degree or will have one by Spring 2024 and current or former graduate students. We’re looking for individuals from a variety of academic disciplines and with a strong desire to gain hands-on experience in a museum setting. 
• The National Gallery of Art is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work force. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for the internship without regard to race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship, or any other protected status. The National Gallery of Art is committed to diversity and offers equal opportunity and treatment to all who apply.

Online Application (Personal and Contact Information)

Education, Experience, Skills, and Interests

• Current/most recent educational institution, degree program, major/minor, graduation date
• Brief description of recent work, volunteer, or internship experience
• Skills and interests in various museum-related areas
• Language proficiency

Short Answer Questions

• Four questions focusing on your motivations, goals, personal journey in the arts, and preparedness for the opportunity (250 words each)

Document Submission

• Written or creative work samples (up to 10 pages)
• Résumé or CV, or a written summary of relevant experiences if no formal résumé is available.

Two References:

• Contact information for two references, including their relationship to you and a brief note on why chosen.