[Summer 2025] Exhibition Production

New York City, NY

Internship

Student (College)

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 2025 Summer internship will be hybrid, meaning interns will work onsite at least three days per week. The program will begin on Monday, June 2, and end on Friday, August 1. Participants must be available Monday through Friday for nine consecutive weeks, five days per week.

The application window for our Summer 2025 Hearst Family Internship is now open through 5pm ET on Friday March 7th. 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 a Exhibition Production intern for Summer 2025. To view all Internship opportunities and to learn more about The Whitney's offerings, please refer to our Internships Page.

Expected Projects & Assignments:

Support the production team during exhibition construction, assisting with the installation and de-installation of gallery walls, pedestals, cases, and platforms.
Assist in sourcing materials, supplies, and managing logistics, including transportation and vendor communications for exhibition production.
Work closely with carpenters, exhibition designers, fabricators, and contractors to ensure the timely and accurate completion of exhibition builds.
Help prepare and organize exhibition spaces for opening, including overseeing layout construction and technical setup.
Participate in site visits and assist with on-the-ground tasks during installation and breakdown phases.
Contribute to the development and maintenance of production schedules and exhibition budgets.

Skills and Qualifications:

Enrolled in programs in Visual Art, Exhibition Design, Industrial Design, Museum Studies, or a related field.
Strong organizational, communication, and time management skills.
A keen interest in museum exhibition production and design, including carpentry, construction, and fabrication.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); experience with AutoCAD, Rhino, Vectorworks and or Adobe Creative Suite is a plus.
Ability to work well in a collaborative environment and handle multiple tasks efficiently.

Provided Training:

Hands-on experience with exhibition production, from conceptualization to final execution.
Exposure to the logistics and coordination of large-scale, high-profile art exhibitions, including collaboration with carpentry, exhibition design, and curatorial departments.
Opportunities to work closely with professionals on fabrication and construction tasks, gaining insight into various trades such as wood, metal, painting, and upholstery.

Outcomes:

Develop a strong understanding of the exhibition production process, including problem-solving and creative collaboration.
Build professional skills in project management, communication, and cross-departmental coordination.
Gain insight into the relationship between creative vision and practical execution in a museum setting.
Acquire practical skills in working with artists, curators, and exhibition design teams.

Compensation
Interns will be paid a stipend of $6,500 for full participation.
Generous support for Hearst Summer Interns is provided by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation.

Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Research shows that men apply for jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Yet, women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend to only apply if they meet every requirement. 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, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. 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

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