[Summer 2026] Exhibition Production 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 Exhibition Production 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 in organizing and maintaining the Production Department’s fabrication archive, transferring key records, drawings, and photographs into a new, user-friendly database.
• Catalog and standardize information related to past and ongoing fabrication projects to improve accessibility for internal use.
• Collaborate with production staff to identify relevant documentation, ensuring materials are accurately labeled and stored. Both physically and digitally.
• Support the production team with logistics and sourcing tasks, including ordering materials, communicating with vendors, and tracking deliveries.
• Observe and assist with behind-the-scenes exhibition preparation for the upcoming Roy Lichtenstein Retrospective opening in Fall 2026, including planning and pre-fabrication work.
• Contribute to other department needs as assigned, such as documentation, scheduling, or assisting during exhibition builds.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Enrolled in programs in Museum Studies, Art History, Library or Archival Science, Exhibition Design, Industrial Design, Architecture or a related field.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage and structure large sets of data.
• Interest in museum production, archival practices, and the intersection between design documentation and fabrication.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite a plus.
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment.
• This position supports the organization of both the Production Department’s digital archive and physical materials library.

• 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.

• 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.
 
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.