Whitney Museum of American Art
[Summer 2026] Education - Youth Learning Internship
New York, NY - Internship
The Whitney’s summer internship program is a full-time, paid, nine-week session primarily for undergraduate students. The program includes training, direct work experience, professional development, and a weekly speaker series. The 2026 Summer internship will be hybrid, meaning interns will work onsite at least three days per week. The program will begin on Monday, June 1, and end on Friday, July 31. Participants must be available Monday through Friday for nine consecutive weeks, five days per week.
The application window for our Summer 2026 Hearst Family Internship is now open through Friday, January 16th. Please note that all candidates will be considered on a rolling basis, and as such, some opportunities may close before the deadline.
The Whitney seeks an Education: Youth Learning intern for Summer 2026. To view all Internship opportunities and to learn more about The Whitney's offerings, please refer to our Internships Page.
Expected Projects & Assignments
- Assist during in-person Youth Insights and drop-in Teen Programs to create a welcoming environment for teens at the Museum
- Prepare art materials, organize material inventory and digital files
- Perform administrative tasks to support programs (track statistics, art supply research, student data, and create signs and informational materials)
- Assist in outreach and marketing efforts
Skills & Qualifications
- Demonstrated interest in art history, contemporary art, American studies, and/or museum education
- Interest in K-12 Museum Education is imperative, as is a desire to learn more about inquiry-based teaching in the galleries
- Excellent attention to detail and written communication skills
- Ability to be flexible, personable, and juggle a variety of tasks simultaneously and work in a fast-paced work environment
- Familiarity with MS Office and Google Suite
Provided Training
- Lead an inquiry-based discussion of an object
- Collect, analyze, and visualize data
- Conduct research for new exhibitions to create art workshops and inquiry-based discussions
- Trained in Outlook, calendar management, and all technological and administrative skills needed to perform tasks assigned
- Gain familiarity with artmaking and working with high school-aged audiences
Outcomes
- Learn about different techniques to engage teen learners
- Have gained knowledge about running and maintaining a variety of free programs for youth
- Improved writing and documentation skills
- Develop the ability to create artmaking activities related to Whitney exhibitions
- Knowledge of current and upcoming Whitney exhibitions and the artists participating in Teen Programs, as well as more broadly the field of modern and contemporary art history and related disciplines
- Experience in developing and producing museum programming, including goal-setting, coordinating with museum staff, program documentation, program ticketing, and preparing visual materials
Compensation
- Interns will be paid a stipend of $6,500 for full participation.
If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates. Whether you’re new to arts and culture administration, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or take the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest in the arts and culture space and what you hope to bring to this role.
About the Whitney:
The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for 86 years. The core of the Whitney’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today.
EEO Statement:
The Whitney Museum of American Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate because of age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, pregnancy, partnership status, caregiver status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, genetic information, predisposition, or carrier status, arrest or conviction record to the extent required by applicable law, credit history, domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking victim status, or any other factor prohibited by law. The Museum hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. The Museum encourages all qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions at all levels.
