15 Art Internships for High School Students in NYC
If you are a high school student interested in art, doing an art internship can be highly beneficial. These opportunities provide a valuable chance to connect academic learning with practical experiences. They can help you create a better portfolio and make your college applications stronger. High school art internships also provide a supportive environment where young artists can explore various art forms, collaborate with experienced professionals, and build confidence in their skills.
Why participate in high school art internships in NYC?
New York City offers several art internships for high school students, providing access to museums, galleries, and creative organizations throughout the city. As an intern in these programs, you will develop valuable skills such as critical thinking, project leadership, and network building. Additionally, you will gain insight into the operations of arts organizations, including organizing exhibitions, coordinating events, and engaging with diverse stakeholders. Whether your interests lie in painting, design, filmmaking, or arts management, there is an art internship in New York City that aligns with your professional goals.
Below, we’ve listed 15 art internships for high school students in NYC!
15 Art Internships for High School Students in NYC
1. The Met Summer High School Internship
Location: The Met Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Stipend: $1,100
Application Deadline: March 7 (tentative)
Dates: June – August
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut
The Metropolitan Museum of Art offers a paid summer internship that allows you to engage with the museum’s collections, collaborate with various departments, and work with creative staff. Throughout the internship, you will develop valuable skills, connect with museum professionals, and gain insight into working at a prominent cultural institution. You’ll also get to interact with experts in areas like marketing, conservation science, social media, law, and education. The program also offers the chance to take part in Career Labs, where professionals share their job experiences and give advice based on their own careers.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies (financial aid available)
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: High school students
Ladder Internships is a selective program that connects you with start-up internships designed for high school students. Through the program, you’ll work directly with an early-stage company on projects that reflect real workplace responsibilities. The participating start-ups span a range of fields, including technology, AI and machine learning, health-related innovation, marketing, journalism, and consulting. Many of the start-ups involved are growing companies that have secured external funding. During the internship, you collaborate closely with a manager and receive guidance from a Ladder Coach as you complete assigned projects. The program concludes with you presenting your work to the company, giving you experience communicating results in a professional setting.
3. Bloomberg Arts Internship Program
Location: Various organizations across NYC and other states
Stipend: Paid
Application Deadline: March (tentative)
Dates: 7-8 weeks in the summer
Eligibility: Rising pubic high school seniors
Bloomberg Philanthropies offers paid internships for high school students that place you within arts and cultural organizations across several U.S. cities, including NYC. Through the program, you will have the opportunity to connect with practicing artists and gain insight into the various operational aspects of arts organizations. You will also develop skills in areas such as arts management, exhibition support, event planning, and marketing. The application process and timelines differ by location, but each program is designed to provide valuable experience and explore careers in the creative industry.
4. Whitney Museum of American Art’s Youth Insights
Location: Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; Paid (YI Leaders)
Application Deadline: Varies by program
Dates: Varies by program
Eligibility: NYC high school students; Grade-level requirements vary by program
The Whitney Museum of American Art provides the Youth Insights program, which operates after school, throughout the academic year, and during the summer. It offers you the opportunity to engage with artists and mentors. You can choose from four tracks: YI Artists, YI Arts Careers, YI Introductions, and YI Leaders. As a participant in the YI Artists track, you’ll spend a semester working with contemporary artists and museum staff, learning various artmaking techniques and how to discuss art critically, discuss contemporary issues, and more. In YI Arts Careers, you will spend the summer exploring the various arts careers and arts institutions in NYC. The YI Introductions track is available to English Language Learners and offers opportunities to explore American art while also allowing participants to create their own original artwork. As a YI Leader, you’ll help design programs for teens, lead activities based on exhibitions, and assist museum educators. You’ll also work with artists and staff while creating your own artwork for a final group show.
5. Museum of Arts and Design Teen Programs
Location: Museum of Arts and Design, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; Most programs offer a stipend
Application Deadline: Varies by program
Dates: Varies by program
Eligibility: NYC rising high school sophomores and juniors (Artslife); NYC students ages 13-18 (RECESS I and II)
The Museum of Arts and Design offers multiple programs for high school students interested in art, including Artslife, RECESS, and Artslab. Artslife is a six-week summer program that introduces you to museum operations, leadership, and teamwork in art and design. You’ll learn about roles in departments like Curatorial, Education, Communications, Development, Visitor Services, and Security. After an orientation week, you’ll work on group projects with designers, staff, and other arts professionals. RECESS is a shorter four-day program offered during winter and spring breaks; it gives you an overview of art history and everyday museum work. During both programs, you’ll lead tours for peers and help create a student podcast. Artslab will connect you with an Artist-in-Residence for hands-on art-making workshops.
6. Brooklyn Museum’s Creative Practice
Location: Brooklyn Museum, New York City, NY
Stipend: $16.50/hour
Application Deadline: June – July (tentative)
Dates: September – June
Eligibility: NYC high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors
This academic-year internship at the Brooklyn Museum allows you to work with teaching artists, museum educators, and curatorial staff while exploring how art, education, and social issues come together in a museum setting. In this role, you’ll help with educational programs by organizing and facilitating art activities for participants of various age groups. You’ll also take part in collaborative projects that align with ongoing exhibitions. The program includes field trips, teen-focused events, and some weekend activities, giving you a broad look at museum education and public programming. Throughout the internship, you will also develop your own artwork as part of the experience.
7. Design Hive at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
Location: Cooper Hewitt, New York, NY
Stipend: $2,000
Application Deadline: Typically, September
Dates: December 2 – May 19
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in NYC
This youth-led program is a good option if you want to experience working on a collaborative design project while learning about design objects and processes. During the Design Hive program, you’ll work with professional designers to see how ideas develop, from early sketches to completed projects. You’ll move through stages such as brainstorming, refining concepts, and building final pieces. You’ll also have access to the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, where you will spend time with the exhibitions, collections, and staff. The program meets in weekly two-hour sessions held every Tuesday during the school year.
8. Apollo Theater Academy: Technical Theater Production Internship
Location: Apollo Theater, New York, NY
Stipend: $16.50/hour
Application Deadline: April 7 (tentatively)
Dates: July 7 – August 15 (tentatively)
Eligibility: Current 11th graders who are New York City residents in one of the five boroughs
The Apollo, a nonprofit organization in Harlem, focuses on creating and presenting work that highlights Black artists and voices from the African Diaspora. It offers summer internships for high school students who want to learn about careers in the arts and entertainment fields. During the program, you’ll work with members of the production team and other staff to understand how events at The Apollo are planned and carried out. You’ll get to observe the full process, from developing an idea to presenting it on stage, and learn about technical areas such as lighting, sound, and production design.
9. Free Arts NYC Internships & Learning Pods
Location: Various organizations across New York City (hybrid)
Stipend: Paid
Application Deadline: Year-round; Specific Learning Pod cycles have set summer timelines
Dates: Internships run year-round; Learning Pods are 6-week summer programs
Eligibility: High school students who have completed a Free Arts NYC program
As a participant, you’ll join either paid creative internships or six-week Learning Pods that connect you with NYC-based galleries, fashion and media companies, artist studios, and other creative organizations. The program focuses on career exposure, job training, and skills development, culminating in final projects aligned with each host company’s objectives. You’ll build résumés, expand social and professional networks, and gain real-world experience in fields like visual arts, fashion, media, and cultural institutions. Past partners include organizations such as Bustle Digital Group, BRIC Arts Media, Catbird NYC, Maharam, Sotheby’s, Swiss Institute, and numerous galleries and artist studios, offering a broad range of creative career pathways.
10. GFS NY’s New York Fellows Program
Location: Ghetto Film School, Bronx, NY
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Applications open in Spring
Dates: 30 months
Eligibility: High school students ages 14-18; No prior filmmaking experience required
The New York Fellows Program is an intensive visual storytelling course for high school students, providing over 1,000 hours of immersive, college‑level film education across 30 months. As a fellow, you’ll study both the art and business of cinematic storytelling, receive production training, and be guided toward admission to top universities. The program includes instruction from leading filmmakers and industry experts, visits to live sets and studios, and international travel experiences. You’ll screen your films at prestigious venues, get college application advising and test preparation support, and be placed in internships at major media and creative companies.
11. ArtsWestchester Internships
Location: ArtsWestchester, White Plains, NY
Stipend: Typically unpaid or modest stipend depending on the role
Application Deadline: Varies by term; Rolling until full
Dates: Semester and summer internships; Varies by term
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors with a strong interest in the arts, arts administration, or nonprofit work
As an intern at ArtsWestchester, you’ll gain experience in arts administration and nonprofit operations while supporting exhibitions, arts education programs, marketing, fundraising, and community events. Your assignments may include assisting with gallery installations, public programs, communications, and office support, offering students a practical view of how a regional arts council functions. The program also offers the opportunity to work alongside staff on projects that directly impact Westchester’s cultural life. You’ll get the chance to develop professional skills, build your resume, and expand your network in the local arts community.
12. The Bronx Museum: Teen Summer
Location: The Bronx Museum, Bronx, NY
Stipend: Paid
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Dates: 4 weeks in the summer
Eligibility: NYC high school students ages 14-19
The Bronx Museum Teen Programs offer engaging opportunities for you to immerse yourself in contemporary art, creative thinking, and community collaboration. The Teen Summer program supports self-discovery through art-making techniques, and the program culminates in a public exhibition of student work. It emphasizes collaboration, creative expression, cultural exploration, and civic engagement through interviews and projects involving notable artists and community themes. You’ll also gain experience in teamwork, public speaking, and arts leadership in a supportive museum environment.
13. ACES Internship
Location: Wave Hill House, Bronx, NY
Stipend: $17/hour
Application Deadline: January 6 – February 27
Dates: 13 months from June to June
Eligibility: High school students (15+) who are eligible to work in the U.S.
The Art, Community, Education, and Science (ACES) internship is designed for high school students interested in arts and science education. As an intern, you’ll assist with the Family Art Project and storytime programs, providing public engagement and educational support. Responsibilities include setting up materials, cleaning up, communicating info, and facilitating activities for children and families. Training and workshops occur on weekends and weekdays, supplemented with field trips to cultural institutions and nature sites, and meetings with educators and artists. You’ll also get to collaboratively design and present a weekend workshop as a capstone project. The program fosters STEAM education, college readiness, program development skills, and portfolio building in a wheelchair-accessible setting with expert mentorship and peer support.
14. Museum Apprentice Program
Location: Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: $16.50/hour (first-year apprentices), $17.50/hour (second-year leaders)
Application Deadline: Opens in July
Dates: November – August
Eligibility: NYC high school students
As a Museum Apprentice, you’ll dive into art, art history, and museum education under the guidance of museum educators and curators. The program involves creating and delivering lesson plans to a diverse audience, assisting with family programs like Art Explorers, developing tours, and teaching summer camp groups. You’ll engage critically with topics like the role of museums in social justice and public education. You’ll also build skills in public speaking, lesson planning, research, communication, time management, and collaboration. The schedule includes weekly meetings, teen staff events, occasional field trips, and summer workdays.
15. The Bronx Museum: Teen Council
Location: The Bronx Museum, Bronx, NY
Stipend: Paid
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Dates: 4-month sessions in fall and spring
Eligibility: NYC high school students ages 14-19
The Bronx Museum’s Teen Council program offers an after-school setting where you can explore contemporary art while examining issues that matter to young people. In this program, you’ll take part in discussions, create artwork connected to current themes, and develop skills in collaboration, communication, and curation. You can join for one session or participate across both sessions offered each year. As a Teen Council member, you’ll meet and interview contemporary artists, help curate in-person or digital exhibitions, contribute to a zine, and work with other teens on shared projects. You’ll also spend time exploring the museum’s ongoing exhibitions to inform your creative and curatorial work.
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