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Museum Studies interns get the opportunity to go behind the scenes and learn about a full range of museum careers.
Museum Studies Internship Program:
June 6–July 29, 2022
Internship Format
The Museum Studies Internship Program runs Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for eight weeks. The internship is made up of three parts: one day weekly students will engage in seminar sessions (see below); four days weekly students will intern in a specific museum department; and one-hour weekly students will meet in a small group discussion with their cohort of peers. Interns are placed according to departmental needs that vary from year to year. Candidates selected for a Departmental Placement will automatically be admitted into the Museum Studies seminar which may include:- Presentations and talks with curators, conservators, and educators
- Discussions with top-level administrators
- Conversations with many museum departments
- Behind-the-scenes tours of museum spaces and galleries
- Lectures on the museum’s history and collection
Eligibility Requirements
Learn more >>- From all backgrounds, including those from traditionally underrepresented groups in the museum field
- Who are currently-enrolled undergraduate or graduate students, or have graduated within the same calendar year as the Internship Program
- Who have completed at least their freshman year of college by the end of the spring 2022 semester
- Who are eligible to work in the United States
- Who are committed to attending all program sessions
Past Intern Projects
Assignments, projects, and departmental placements vary every year. Learn more >>Work in the Executive Offices directly with the museum’s Director and Chief Executive Officer on a museum-related project. Applicant must be an MBA student.
Standardize and enhance information in the collections database and assist with other technology-related projects. You will leave with a good understanding of the predominate software for managing museum collections and information.
Standardize and enhance information in the collections database and assist with other technology-related projects. You will leave with a good understanding of the predominate software for managing museum collections and information.
Observe conservation techniques for furniture, objects, paintings, works on paper, or textiles. Depending on your specialization, you may be placed in one department or shared between two. Interns with a science background may participate in chemical analysis of materials and other laboratory tasks. Chemistry coursework required; art history or studio art coursework desired.
Update the museum’s database and object files, conduct research, work on inventory projects, reorganize storage, and carry out administrative tasks in one of these curatorial areas:
- American Art
- Arms and Armor
- Contemporary Art
- Costume and Textiles
- East Asian Art
- European Decorative Arts and Sculpture
- European Painting
- Prints, Drawings, and Photographs
- South Asian Art
Assist in nurturing relationships with donors and prospective donors to secure support-gifts, grants, sponsorships, and gifts-in-kind. You may work with one of several Development programs including Individual Giving, Institutional Support, Donor Engagement, Donor Communications, or Development Operations.
Copyedit exhibition texts as well as newsletters, brochures, invitations, and signs. Must be comfortable with Word, possess strong writing skills, and be attentive to detail.
Work together with a team of interns to develop a summer camp curriculum and teach groups in the galleries and studios. Also assist with Art Splash, our summer family festival, to facilitate studio art projects, prepare art materials, and welcome families.
Prepare for and implement our weeklong summer seminar for pre-K–12th-grade teachers. Conduct research for teacher materials and update contact lists.
Work with the Wachovia Education Resource Center coordinator to create lessons and activities supporting the integration of visual arts into K–12 classrooms. Also assist with our weeklong summer seminar for pre-K–12th-grade teachers.
Support the Finance department, which is responsible for the maintenance of books, records, and financial statements.
Review and update recruitment materials and assist with museum-wide initiatives in employee engagement, training, and benefits.
Assist with the inventory, testing, planning, and designing of AV equipment for installations and exhibitions, as well as live events and presentations. Participate in developing proposals for future projects.
Catalogue archival images, create metadata, conduct collection maintenance and development, and assist staff. Background in museum information science, archives, or librarianship desired.
Volunteer with Marketing staff to develop and maintain outlets for paid advertising and coordinate social and digital content. Or volunteer with the Press Office to promote Museum initiatives to the press and other local media.
Assist with event planning and implementation, social-media marketing, gift entry and reporting, and membership activities.
Prepare images for publications, interactives, and the website. Capture, edit, distribute, label, and archive photographs. Photograph events, behind-the-scenes installations, and publicity photo shoots. Photography experience required; knowledge of Photoshop/Lightroom desired.
Work on studies to identify the assignment of security officers throughout the galleries, and develop tools to increase efficiency and effectiveness of operations.
Assist the Registrar and other staff in tracking the location and condition of art objects in the collection. Help with object inventories, resolve loan issues, data entry for deaccessioned records, and review and update acquisition files.
Actively engage with merchandising, operations, and marketing for our stores and e-commerce business. Creative and analytical skills will be applied and developed.
Create and manage a social-media campaign for summer programs. You should be tech savvy, possess excellent communication skills, and be a creative self-starter. Must be proficient with social-media platforms.
The Special Events team is responsible for the coordination and execution of all museum events. You will help organize electronic marketing efforts for special events, format the event marketing calendar, and update promotional materials and distribution lists.
FAQ
Learn more about the program and the selection process >>It runs for eight weeks: June 6–July 29, 2022. Interns will report to the Museum 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Monday–Friday. Interns must be present for the entire duration of the program.
The museum accepts applications from undergraduates who have completed at least their freshman year prior to the start of the internship as well as from students currently enrolled in a graduate program. The museum also accepts recent graduates, provided they have graduated within the same calendar year as the Internship Program. We welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply, including those from traditionally underrepresented groups in the museum field.
Click the “Apply Now” link at the bottom of this page.
See the “How to Apply” section above.
Your complete application must be submitted by Monday, February 28, 2022.
Yes, the museum does accept international students. International applicants will be reviewed on an individual basis and must have applicable visa eligibility to participate in a US internship. The visa process could take sixty to ninety days. International students are responsible for obtaining appropriate work authorization during the internship period. The museum does not sponsor visas for interns. If you require a visa, you may be eligible to participate in the Exchange Visitor Program (J-1 visa program), by going through an outside agency that has been authorized by the State Department to sponsor a J-1 trainee visa. These sponsors are responsible for supporting and monitoring foreign nationals during their exchange programs in the United States. We recommend that you consult with the U.S. embassy in your home country to determine which visa will allow you to participate in this internship. Please note that any authorizations must be completed well in advance of the internship start date. If you are offered an internship but do not have your visa before the start date of the program, your internship may be canceled.
Yes, you will receive an automated email. Be sure to check your junk or spam folder.
Each application is read by a committee of employees from nearly every department in the museum to determine who will receive an interview.
The letters of recommendation must be submitted via email to by the application deadline. The recommendation emails should clearly indicate the applicant’s name in the subject line and must come directly from the recommender’s email.
You will be contacted by email. Be aware that certain email providers filter emails from the museum. Often, these emails will be sent to your junk or spam folder. Please look for email addresses ending in “@philamuseum.org” and, when possible, mark them as being “not spam.”
You will be contacted in late March via email or phone to schedule an interview. Interviews may be conducted in person for those in close proximity to the museum or over the phone or via Skype for applicants outside the Philadelphia area.
Yes, you will be contacted by email if your application is no longer being considered.
We will notify applicants via email in late April.
Ten students will be selected for the 2022 summer.
Yes, interns can receive course credit so long as it is offered by their respective colleges and universities. Interns must make all necessary arrangements directly with their respective schools.
Interns are responsible for making their own housing arrangements. If you have been selected for an internship and have questions about where you might live, you may contact one of the Museum’s Internship Program coordinators for advice. Interns receive a $3,000 stipend to cover living expenses. See “Are Museum Studies Internship Program interns compensated?” below.
Yes. Interns receive a stipend of $3,000 (less applicable taxes and deductions) to cover living expenses. The stipends will be issued in three payments spread throughout the summer program dates.
Please email .
How to Apply
To be considered for the internship and/or the stipend, submit your online application and PDFs of all required materials at the link below by Monday, February 28, 2022. Additional materials will not be considered.Required Application Materials >>
Please include your résumé and essa when you submit your application. Additional materials will not be considered. Application materials should be submitted as PDFs. Also identify three areas of interest for internship placement (see the “Description of Past Intern Placements” section for placement descriptions). In addition, please submit contact information (name, email, and phone number) for 1 individual who will be able to provide a letter of recommendation.
Apply for this position >>
Please be sure to include relevant employment and volunteer experiences as well as computer and language skills.
Please limit the essay to no more than 700 words and be sure to address the following:
- Explain your interest in the museum/art field and what led you to apply for the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Museum Studies Internship Program
- Describe how your specific interests, skill sets, and experiences might relate to the departments(s) you have selected on the application form and explain how you will contribute to the Museum Studies Internship Program cohort.
- Describe why you feel committed to representing diverse perspectives in the museum/art field.
Applicants must have one confidential letter of recommendation submitted by past or current professors or academic advisors or a past or current employer who is familiar with your skills and abilities. The letters of recommendation must be submitted via email to internships@philamuseum.org by the application deadline. The recommendation emails should clearly indicate the applicant’s name in the subject line and must come directly from the recommender’s email.
For more information, please contact the Museum Studies Internship Program by e-mail at .