Summer internship: Open to undergraduate and graduate students, recent graduates, career changers, and individuals new to the field. No specific major or background is required.

Academic year internship: Designed for individuals who have completed an undergraduate degree (or will do so by Spring 2026) and current or former graduate students. No specific major or background is required.

International students on F-1 visas: Foreign nationals currently studying in the United States on valid F-1 visas are eligible for both the Summer and Academic Year Internship Programs.

Applicants who require visa sponsorship (e.g., J-1): In some cases, we may be able to sponsor a visa for the longer Academic Year Internship Program. Because of processing timelines, we’re generally not able to sponsor visas for the Summer Internship Program.

If you’re accepted into the program and require visa sponsorship for the academic year, the National Gallery will assist with required paperwork. International interns are responsible for securing their own health insurance for the duration of the internship.

Yes. You’ll need to submit a separate online application for each program.

No. Many interns come from non-arts majors. In addition to art or art history, past interns have studied fields such as business, communications, education, computer science, engineering, sociology, and the natural sciences.

The internship develops transferable skills that are relevant to museum careers and many other fields. What matters most is your interest in learning about museum work, not your specific major.

No, it’s not required. Many interns join our program without prior museum experience. We look for curiosity, motivation, and a genuine interest in learning about museum work. 

• Summer internship: February 16, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. EST
• Academic year internship: April 6, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. EST

Each internship application typically includes:

Online form

• Personal and contact information
• Education, experience, skills, and interests
• Language proficiency

Short-answer questions

• Four prompts (250 words each) focusing on your goals, interests, and preparation

Documents

• A résumé or CV (or a brief written summary if you don’t have a résumé)
• A written or creative work sample (up to 10 pages)

References

• Contact information for two references (letters of recommendation are not required at the application stage. If you are selected as a finalist for an interview, we’ll contact your references and ask them to complete an online reference form).

First, you’ll receive an automated confirmation email. Applications are then reviewed by staff, and shortlisted candidates are invited to virtual interviews with a small panel. Due to the high volume of applications, we’re not able to provide individualized feedback.

We receive many strong applications each year and have limited placements. We encourage you to focus on clearly communicating your interests, goals, and experiences in the application. Because we consider applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, there is no single “ideal” profile we look for.

Yes. You’re welcome to apply again in a future cycle if you meet the eligibility requirements.

Yes. All interns are paid $25.26 per hour, plus a cost-of-living stipend and a public transit subsidy. The cost-of-living stipend is $1,818 for summer interns and $6,868 for academic year interns and is paid out over the course of the internship rather than as a single lump sum.  

Academic year interns are also eligible for federal health benefits.

We don’t provide housing. All accepted interns receive a cost-of-living stipend intended to support housing, travel, relocation, or other living expenses.

Yes. All interns must be able to work on-site at the National Gallery on a regular basis, even if their placement includes occasional remote workdays. Fully remote internships are not available currently. 

Both internship programs are full-time (40 hours per week), during normal business hours. Exact daily schedules may vary by department. 

Possibly. It’s your responsibility to work with your college or university to determine eligibility and complete any required paperwork before the internship begins. If you’re interested in this option, please let us know as early as possible. 

Interns contribute to a wide range of projects across the museum. Before each internship cycle, we work with departments to identify potential projects and supervisors. We don’t post a list of specific internships in advance because projects evolve and we want flexibility to match interns and work thoughtfully.  

Depending on your placement, you might support:

• Research and writing
• Exhibition planning
• Learning and engagement programs
• Visitor experience initiatives
• Administrative and operations work
• Digital projects
• Facilities and preservation work
• Data and AI projects  
• Conservation and collection care

After interns are selected for the program, we use the information in your application and interview (your skills, interests, career goals, etc.) to match you with a project and department. The goal is that we match you to a department and project that fits you best.

In the application, you’ll be asked about your areas of interest and the kinds of work you hope to do. We use this information to guide placement decisions, and we do our best to match interns with projects that make sense for their skills and goals.

Because projects and departmental needs can change, we can’t guarantee placement in a specific department or with a specific supervisor. However, we’re intentional about matching and will not place you in a role that doesn’t align with the experience you’ve described in your application and interview.

The number varies based on available projects and supervisors. In recent years, our Summer Internship Program has supported a cohort of approximately 10 to 15 interns, and the Academic Year Internship Program has supported a smaller cohort.

Interns participate in weekly cohort sessions that introduce them to National Gallery staff, departments, and programs. Sessions may include discussions with curators, conservators, educators, administrators, scientists, and others. These experiences help you build a professional network and understand how a major museum operates.

In addition to cohort learning, every intern has two layers of support:

• A supervisor, who provides day-to-day guidance on your project, offers feedback, and helps you build job-ready skills within your department.
• A mentor, who is outside your department and serves as a neutral, non-supervisory thought partner. Mentors meet with interns regularly to talk about career paths, workplace questions, and anything you’re curious about as you navigate museum work.

Together, these structures create a strong learning environment where interns hopefully feel supported, connected, and encouraged to grow. 

Former interns have pursued graduate study, museum positions, roles in arts nonprofits, federal agencies, education, design, digital media, and other fields. The internship is designed to build transferable skills and introduce you to a broad network of museum professionals. 

Our internship programs are educational experiences rather than pipelines to full-time employment. While many former interns have gone on to work in museums (at the National Gallery and elsewhere) there is no guarantee of employment after the program. The skills, experience, and professional connections you gain, however, can support a wide range of career paths in the arts and related fields. 

Yes. We’re committed to ensuring that all applicants and interns have equitable access to the program. Please email George Luna-Peña, Manager of Pre-Professional Programs, at [email protected] to request available accommodations.