11 Digital Art Internships for High School Students

Internships are an excellent way for high school students to explore their interests while gaining practical experience. They not only help strengthen your college applications but also build essential skills such as communication, collaboration, and creative problem-solving. Digital art internships for high school students allow you to see how artistic ideas come to life through technology, whether in graphic design, animation, game design, or digital illustration. Working alongside professionals will allow you to refine your creative skills, understand industry tools, and get insight into what a career in the arts could look like.

With so many options available, finding the right program can feel overwhelming. To help you get started, we’ve put together 11 digital art Internships for high school students. These opportunities blend creativity with practical learning to help you grow both as an artist and a professional.

1. Youth Insights Leaders at the Whitney Museum of American Art

Location: Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Paid; amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Runs year-round with summer and after-school sessions
Application Deadline: Not available
Eligibility: New York City high school students

At the Whitney Museum, the Youth Insights programs connect creative teens with artists, mentors, and peers. You can join in free after-school or summer programs like YI Artists, YI Arts Careers, or YI Introductions. After completing one of these programs, you can apply for the year-long, paid Youth Insights Leaders internship. As a YI Leader, you’ll help organize teen events, lead interactive tours, and assist museum educators. You are expected to work about 3 - 10 hours per week and offer confidence, teamwork experience, and public speaking skills, all in a vibrant art environment.

2. Ladder Internship - Art Track

Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). 
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!

Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.

3. Opportunities for Teens at the Art Institute of Chicago

Location: Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: Stipend provided (exact amount not specified)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June to August | Teen council: September to June
Application Deadline: Teen Council: Typically closes in August | Summer Internship: Opens in the spring
Eligibility: Chicago high school students aged 16 years and older

The Art Institute of Chicago offers two exciting opportunities for teens — the Teen Council and Summer Internship. In the Teen Council program, you’ll work with museum staff to make the museum’s resources more engaging and accessible to young audiences through creative projects. Meetings take place both virtually and on-site twice a week. The Summer Internship lets you organize events, gallery tours, and workshops while working with museum professionals and artists. Both programs give you valuable hands-on experience in museum operations, creativity, and teamwork.

4. Disney Animation Studios High School Art Internship

Location: Walt Disney Animation Studios (varies by year, often Burbank, CA)
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship (exact amount varies)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Typically opens in spring (check official site for dates)
Eligibility: High school students passionate about art, animation, and storytelling

If you dream of bringing animated stories to life, the Disney Animation Studios High School Art Internship offers a rare opportunity. You’ll work alongside professional Disney artists to learn animation, character design, and visual storytelling. Throughout the internship, you’ll get hands-on experience contributing to real projects while understanding how Disney’s creative process works. It’s an excellent way to build your artistic portfolio, network with industry professionals, and experience the magic of animation firsthand.

5. Teen Creative Agency (TCA) at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

Location: Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: Up to $1,600 per year
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: September to June
Application Deadline: Applications open in April (application deadline not announced)
Eligibility: Chicago students aged 15 - 19 years

As part of Teen Creative Agency at MCA Chicago, you’ll explore the world of contemporary art while working alongside artists and museum staff. You’ll meet weekly at the museum, visit other cultural institutions, and collaborate with peers on creative projects. The program focuses on developing leadership, teamwork, and communication skills through art and community engagement. With guidance from lead artists, you’ll learn to develop your creative voice and ideas while contributing meaningfully to the museum’s programs.

6. Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Teen Arts Collective

Location: Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Varies depending on the session
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the program
Eligibility: High school students living in or near New York City

If you’re someone who is interested in modern art and wants to explore your creative side, the MoMA Teen Arts Collective is a unique opportunity to learn and create in an inspiring environment. The program invites students to take part in interactive workshops, group projects, and conversations with artists and peers, all centered around contemporary art and culture. It’s a space to experiment, share ideas, and deepen your understanding of what art can be. Along the way, you’ll grow your portfolio, discover new perspectives, and experience what it’s like to be part of one of the world’s most celebrated art communities.

7. Hirshhorn Museum ArtLab Collective

Location: Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C.
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Year-round sessions
Application Deadline: Varies by year
Eligibility: High school students in the D.C. area interested in contemporary art

The Hirshhorn ArtLab Collective is a creative space for teens who want to experiment, learn, and make art alongside professionals. In this program, you’ll take part in workshops, work on collaborative projects, and help with museum events. It’s a chance to try out different forms of expression — from painting and sculpture to digital art and performance — while discovering your own artistic style. With guidance from artists and educators, you’ll build skills, explore new ideas, and connect with a community that shares your passion for contemporary art.

8. Milwaukee Art Museum Teen Internships (Satellite Teens & ArtXpress)

Location: Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Satellite Teens: 10 weeks | ArtXpress: July - August
Application Deadline: Satellite Teens: January 31| ArtXpress: June 7
Eligibility: Students aged 16 -18 years in the Milwaukee area

If you’re in Milwaukee and passionate about art, the Milwaukee Art Museum offers two exciting paid internships: Satellite Teens and ArtXpress. In Satellite Teens, you’ll work closely with museum staff and local artists to experience the behind-the-scenes work of a museum. In ArtXpress, you’ll design and paint murals that address social issues and community themes. Both programs help you engage with local artists, express ideas through art, and understand how creativity can drive social change.

9. Interns4Good

Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free; you can also earn verified volunteer hours.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open, rolling basis
Dates: Year-round; based on internship availability
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 - 12

Interns4Good offers virtual internships where you can apply your creative skills in graphic design and digital media while working with nonprofit organizations. You might design logos, create magazine layouts, develop comic books, or work on social media graphics and videos. You’ll submit weekly progress reports and can request verified volunteer hours, ideal for school or college applications. The best part is that you can apply anytime and choose opportunities that match your interests and schedule. This is a great way to gain professional experience while being part of meaningful causes.

10. Art Summer Institute Program, UCLA

Location: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), CA
Cost/Stipend: Varies; calculate an estimate online; scholarships are available through the summer scholars support program on a need and merit basis
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 23  – July 5
Application Deadline: June 13
Eligibility: Students currently in grades 9 to 12 

At the UCLA Art Summer Institute, you’ll explore your creativity through studio work, artist lectures, and personalized sessions with faculty. You’ll have the opportunity to experiment with diverse media such as drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, video art, and experimental animation. Classes are led by renowned artists who share insights into real-world art practices and creative career options. The program also features virtual museum visits and documentation workshops to help you refine your artistic process. It concludes with an exhibition where you’ll showcase your final work to your peers and mentors.

11. Google Doodle Contest

Location: Virtual (open to U.S. students)
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: Annual contest
Application Deadline: Typically opens in January and closes in March (check official site for current dates)
Eligibility: High school students across the U.S.

The Google Doodle Contest is your chance to show your creativity on a global stage. Each year, Google invites students to redesign its own version of the Google logo around a special theme. If your doodle is selected, it will be featured on Google’s homepage for millions to see. Winners also receive scholarships and tech prizes, making it an amazing opportunity to showcase your artistic skills while gaining recognition and rewards. Although not a traditional internship, this competition is a great way to gain experience in digital art.

Image Source - Art Institute of Chicago Logo