14 Paid Art and Design Internships for High School Students
Internships are one of the most effective ways for high school students to gain early exposure to skills, industries, and professional environments. Many internships, especially those offered by leading colleges, museums, and organizations, offer financial support. For students with an interest in art or design, internships can help you learn beyond the high school classroom. You will gain experience, work with professionals, receive mentorship, and explore career paths that fit your goals. Paid internships tend to be more competitive, which means participating in one can make your college applications stand out, especially if you’re applying for an art undergraduate program.
With this in mind, we’ve curated a list of the top 14 paid art and design internships for high school students, programs that combine creativity, skill-building, and meaningful professional exposure to help you explore your future.
1. Design Hive
Location: Cooper Hewitt, New York, NY
Stipend: $2,000
Dates: December 2 - May 19
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors based in New York City
Design Hive is a paid art and design internship for high school students that guides you through the journey of transforming creative ideas into tangible outcomes. Working in youth-led teams, you will examine design objects to learn how designers progress from early concepts to final execution. The program meets weekly at Cooper Hewitt, with select sessions held off-site so you can experience design in real-world settings. Collaboration is central to the experience, with group projects centered on shared problem-solving, discussion, and hands-on work. Because each session builds on the last, consistent attendance is essential, ensuring you stay fully engaged and get the most out of the creative and collaborative process.
2. MAD Artslife Interns
Location: New York, NY
Stipend: $16.50/hour
Dates: 6 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: April 21
Eligibility: Rising sophomores and juniors enrolled in New York City public and charter high schools
The MAD Artslife Internship is a paid, six-week summer program for rising high school sophomores and juniors enrolled in New York City public or charter schools. The internship offers exposure to a variety of museum career paths, such as curatorial work, marketing, visitor engagement, and education, helping you see how creative institutions operate behind the scenes. The program begins with a week focused on orientation and team-building, and you then collaborate on projects alongside museum staff and local designers. You'll take part in hands-on work in the Artist Studios, including creating art and producing a podcast. The experience places a special emphasis on leadership skills and public speaking, complemented by off-site visits to other cultural organizations. These experiences help you understand how museums connect with their communities while building confidence and professional skills
3. Brooklyn Museum Creative Practice
Location: Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: $16.50/hour
Dates: September - June
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: NYC teens who are enrolled in high school as a sophomore, junior, or senior
This paid internship offers hands-on experience in museum education, giving you insights into how teaching, art, and community engagement come together in a professional setting. You'll support teaching artists by preparing studio spaces, assisting during classes, and interacting with diverse groups of learners. The program involves collaborative art projects tied to museum themes such as social justice and community engagement. You'll also have opportunities to connect with artists and museum professionals to explore various creative career paths. Along the way, you'll develop transferable skills such as time management, communication, and public interaction.
4. URBN Internships
Location: Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA
Stipend: Paid
Dates: June 1–August 7
Application Deadline: November 3
Eligibility: High school students
URBN, the parent company of Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and Free People, offers a 10-week paid internship for students interested in fashion and retail. You'll analyze current fashion trends, explore consumer insights, and collaborate with creative teams on ongoing projects that shape what customers see in stores and online. Most roles are based at URBN's headquarters in the Philadelphia Navy Yard, with select positions available remotely. The program provides hands-on experience within specific fashion-focused functions, a competitive hourly wage, and helps build leadership and professional skills for the fast-paced retail industry.
5. Brooklyn Museum Apprentice Program (MAP)
Location: Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: First-year Apprentices: $16.50/hour; Second-year Apprentices: $17.50/hour
Dates: November – August
Application Deadline: Early October
Eligibility: New York City high school student aged 14–19
The Brooklyn Museum Apprentice Program (MAP) is a paid internship that equips teens for museum education careers through hands-on engagement with art, history, and design. As an apprentice, you'll study topics such as decorative arts, textile history, and social justice by studying objects from the museum’s collections. The program blends research and practice, whereby you take part in curatorial research, develop original lesson plans, and lead gallery tours for diverse audiences.A strong focus on community activism encourages students to see design as a tool for social impact. Throughout the program, you develop professional skills in public speaking, archival research, and collaborative project work, gaining insights into museum education and creative careers.
6. The Met High School Internship Program – The Costume Institute
Location: The Met Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Stipend: $1,100
Dates: Summer: Typically late June through mid-August (8 weeks); School Year (Spring): February 10 – May 29
Application Deadline: Summer: January 14; School Year: October 27
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10 – 11 who reside in and attend a high school or home school in either New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut
The Met High School Internship at the Costume Institute is a paid opportunity for students in the New York area to explore fashion from a historical and curatorial lens. You'll learn about fashion history, textile conservation, and museum operations, while supporting curatorial research and organizing archival collections at one of the world's leading museums. You'll also help lead themed public tours for visitors and participate in “Teen Fridays,” during which interns collaboratively plan and host events for other teens. By working closely with museum professionals, you build skills in research, public speaking, and archival methods, while gaining insights into how fashion is preserved and shared within a major institution.
7. The Met High School Internship Program
Location: The Met Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Stipend: $1,100
Dates: 10 weeks between July and August
Application Deadline: Early March
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10 – 11 who reside in and attend a high school or home school in either New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut, and who have not completed another internship at The Met
The Met High School Summer Internship provides students from the tri-state area with an in-depth introduction to museum careers and professional work. You'llcollaborate with experts in fields such as curation, social media, and design to understand how a major cultural institution operates day to day. The program places strong emphasis on career growth through structured “Career Labs” that focus on building networking and workplace skills. Mentorship-driven projects encourage you to explore the connections between art, public education, and social issues. This experience is ideal for students interested in the educational and community-focused aspects of the art world.
8. Smithsonian Young Ambassadors Program
Location: Washington, DC (1 week) + Local Internship (4 weeks)
Stipend: $2,350
Dates: Typically, late June to early August
Application Deadline: April 11
Eligibility: High school seniors graduating in the current academic year | Minimum weighted cumulative GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale | U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident with a valid Social Security Number; DACA students are eligible if they have a valid work authorization permit
The Smithsonian Young Ambassadors Program (YAP) is a leadership initiative that amplifies Latino voices in the arts, including film and animation. In the creative media tracks, you'll explore visual storytelling, digital media, and cultural representation within the film industry. The program offers hands-on workshops, access to Smithsonian media archives, and one-on-one sessions with industry professionals, helping you understand the production process from concept to execution Participants earn a stipend after completing a four-week internship at a local museum Students develop both technical and curatorial skills through archival research and development of original media projects, making YAP a strong fit for students interested in creative media and arts leadership.
9. Wide Angle Youth Media (WAYM) Internships
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Stipend: Paid, amount not publicly disclosed
Dates: Academic year (Fall, Spring) and Summer sessions
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Baltimore City and County youth ages 14-18
The Wide Angle Youth Media (WAYM) Internships offer high school students in Baltimore, Maryland, a paid, hands-on introduction to media production and creative careers. As an intern, you'll explore fields such as video production, photography, graphic design, digital storytelling, and journalism, while learning how media is produced in process settings. Interns collaborate in teams to produce media projects for real nonprofit clients, guiding each assignment from concept development to final delivery. The program includes professional skills workshops and helps students build a strong portfolio that can be used for future opportunities. A key focus of WAYM is social justice storytelling, using media to amplify youth voices and address community concerns.
10. Arts for Learning (A4L) Artworks Internship
Location: MDC Koubek Center, Miami, FL
Stipend: $13/hour
Dates: 6 weeks from June to July
Application Deadline: April 16
Eligibility: Current 9th – 12th graders who are Florida residents and at least 14 years old
The Arts for Learning ArtWorks Internship is a six-week paid summer opportunity for high school students in grades 9–12 to develop both creative and professional skills. You will work at the MDC Koubek Center alongside a professional artist in your chosen discipline, gaining exposure to how creative work happens. You can choose from a wide range of tracks, including visual art, animation, architecture, dance and theatre, music production, and creative writing and film. During the program, you'll focus on creating original work while building essential workplace skills such as collaboration, time management, and communication. With ongoing mentorship and guidance from Arts for Learning staff, the internship supports both artistic growth and career preparation.
11. Brooklyn Interns for Arts and Culture (BIAC)
Location: Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: Paid, amount not publicly disclosed
Dates: Summer: one week in August; Fall: October – December; Spring: February – June
Application Deadline: June 3 (tentative)
Eligibility: Rising seniors attending high school in one of the five New York boroughs (Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island, Queens, or the Bronx) with an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher
Brooklyn Interns for Arts and Culture (BIAC) is a paid readiness program designed to prepare high school students for college, careers, and life beyond high school. As an intern, you'll gain exposure to the Brooklyn Academy of Music and learn how a performing arts venue operates day to day. The program introduces key concepts in arts management while supporting resume building and post–high school planning. You'll also take part in wellness workshops that help you navigate major life transitions and receive one-on-one support for the college application process. Through the experience, participants strengthen their communication skills and grow their professional networks.
12. BRIC Youth Media and Curatorial Fellowships
Location: BRIC,Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: $15/hour
Dates: October – May
Application Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: New York high school Sophomores, Juniors, or Seniors (Ages 15 – 19)
The BRIC Youth Media Fellowship and BRIC Youth Curatorial Fellowship are paid programs that offer a behind-the-scenes experience of large-scale, youth-led arts initiatives at BRIC. You will choose a track, either visual art curation or media production, based on your interests and strengths. As a Youth Curatorial Fellow, you'll work on creating a teen-centered gallery exhibition showcasing artwork by local high school students, gaining insights into exhibition planning and public presentation.Youth Media Fellows help produce Concrete Stories, an annual screening of short films created by NYC youth under 21. Across both tracks, fellows are involved in planning, organizing, and presenting creative projects, gaining hands-on experience in curation and event production.
13. Art Institute of Chicago Teen Council
Location: Art Institute of Chicago, IL
Stipend: Paid, amount not publicly disclosed
Dates: September 13 – June 6
Application Deadline: June 30
Eligibility: Teen students enrolled in Chicagoland high schools
The Art Institute of Chicago Teen Council brings together 15 motivated young artists, leaders, and organizers to help improve how the museum engages with local youth. As part of a small cohort, participants contribute to designing programs that reflect the interests and needs of Chicagoland teens. With mentorship from museum professionals, you'll gain insight into how a major cultural institution operates, while exploring the Art Institute's collection. This paid opportunity meets primarily after school at the museum and requires a weekly commitment of about 3–4 hours.
14. After School Matters – Spring Preview Program
Location: After School Matters Teen Center, Chicago, IL
Stipend: $200
Dates: January 12 – February 5
Application Deadline: Typically, late December/early January
Eligibility: Chicago high school students aged 14 – 18
ASM’s Spring Preview Program gives high school students the chance to try out a wide range of interests across the arts, communication, sports, and STEM. Program options include everything from culinary arts, dance, and musical theatre to digital photography, journalism, MMA, and leadership, allowing you to experiment with different skills before committing to one path. Each program is built around hands-on learning, led by industry professionals who help you understand what these fields look like in real life. The experience supports skill development, confidence building, and connection with peers who share similar interests. You'll also gain insight into potential career paths and future opportunities, while engaging with community and culture in a space designed for exploration and growth.
Looking for an immersive internship experience?
Check out Ladder Internships!
Ladder Internshipsis a selective, virtual internship program where students work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. Apply now!
Image source - Cooper Hewitt logo