Whitney Museum of American Art
[Spring 2026] Curatorial - Time-Based Media Internship
New York City, NY - Internship
The Whitney’s Academic Year Internship program offers a semester-long paid internship for undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in an accredited academic program. The internship is hybrid, with some onsite work. For Spring 2026, interns commit between 16–21 hours per week over 10–12 weeks for a total of 200 hours. Interns are assigned to a specific department at the Museum for the duration of the internship.
The Whitney seeks a Time-based Media Curatorial intern for the Spring 2026 semester.
Expected Projects & Assignments
- Exhibition planning and research for upcoming proposals
- Collection stewardship
- Research on the Whitney’s permanent collection of film, video, and time-based media works, identifying priorities for acquisition
- Organizing archival materials related to the Whitney’s history
- Assisting with administrative tasks
Skills & Qualifications
- Demonstrated interest in art history, with preference to candidates interested in film, video, and time-based media
- Previous research experience required, archival experience a bonus
- Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office
- Undergraduates currently enrolled in accredited academic year programs are eligible
- Applicants must have completed a minimum of one year’s worth of academic coursework; undergraduate freshmen are not eligible
- While a demonstrated interest in art and art history is preferred, students in all majors are encouraged to apply
- Previous museum experience is not required
Provided Training
- The Museum System
- Raiser’s Edge
Outcomes
- Understand how Curatorial oversees the growth, care, and display of the Museum's permanent collection of over 26,000 works of art, with special attention to the Whitney’s history of stewarding time-based media
- Assist in organizing and generating upcoming exhibition proposals
- Identify priorities for future acquisitions and strategies for increasing the visibility of time-based media works in the Whitney’s collection for the general public
Compensation
Interns will be paid a stipend of $3000.
Generous support for Ostrover Family Academic Year Interns is provided by Julie and Doug Ostrover.
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, partnership status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, 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. This description shall not be construed as a contract of any sort for a specific period of employment
