Internship Program

Are you interested in learning about museum work and practicing professional skills? The NMAH Internship Program supports and shapes the future of museums and museum leadership.

How do we do this? We provide meaningful, supportive professional learning experiences and ensure equitable and inclusive access to the museum and the museum field!

Our Fall 2023 application for the NMAH Internship Program is open, and applications are due by May 25th at 12 PM EST. 

Fall internships will take place between September - December 2023. 

Only complete SOLAA applications will be considered; this means, at its most basic, a submitted application on SOLAA for the correct semester that includes a learning goals essay and a resume, with the option to also include a transcript/class list or letters of reference. 

Please note: some internships are typically offered every semester, while others may be offered on a semester-by-semester or a one-off basis depending on available projects and mentor capacity. Please check the internship post to determine when it’s expected to take place. To learn how to submit multiple applications easily, check out our How to Apply guide.

To get updates about new internship opportunities as they are posted, you’re encouraged to sign up to our recruitment mailing list using this form.

The NMAH Internship Program application for Summer 2023 is closed, and notifications have been sent out via SOLAA.

Depending on the status of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all NMAH internships may be virtual, in-person, or hybrid (part in-person, part virtual); details are included in the individual postings for each internship opportunity. Any in-person or hybrid experience may be converted to virtual or postponed to ensure the safety and health of our staff and interns.

*Please note: All academic appointments may require proof of vaccination for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) with a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized (or, for international remote interns, a WHO-recommended) COVID-19 vaccine or have an approved Reasonable Accommodation granting an exemption from vaccine requirements. Please see additional information regarding reasonable accommodations here.

Quick Links:

A small group of interns presents a hands-on daily program during the NMAH Intern Share Fair, Summer 2019.

 

What is an internship?

Internships at NMAH are professional learning experiences through which an intern learns, under a mentor's guidance, about a museum field that interests them academically or professionally.

An internship should be relevant both to the intern's academic and professional goals and to what we do here at the museum, and all Smithsonian internships are prearranged and structured to take place within a specific time period (typically on a semester basis during spring, summer, or fall).

 

What internships are offered at NMAH?

Click here to learn more about specific internship opportunities at NMAH! NMAH has offered internships in every department of the museum, including (but definitely not limited to!) curatorial and collections management, museum education and audience engagement, exhibition design and production, communications and marketing, special events and donor relations, and museum operations. However, the specific internships offered each cycle (spring, summer, or fall) depend on mentor availability and upcoming possible internship projects. 

We also offer general NMAH internship applications for folks who want to cast a wide net or who don't see an internship opportunity that specifically speaks to their learning goals. To find out more about our general NMAH internship applications, check out this page here.

 

What should I know about the application process for NMAH internships?

Please check out the How to Apply section of our website in order to have all of your questions answered!

Each internship cycle (spring, summer, and fall) has its own application schedule and deadline.

Want to stay up-to-date about our recruitment for NMAH internships? Sign up with your email here!

 

What if I still have some questions?

If you have any questions about internships at NMAH, first check out our NMAH Internship FAQ!

Still have questions? Contact the Interns and Fellows Program Manager through this contact form.