15 Summer Museum Internships for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in working at a museum, a summer internship can be a good way to learn more about how they work. Museums are more than just places to observe history, art, or science; they conduct research, education, storytelling, and public engagement. A summer museum internship for high school students allows you to understand how exhibitions are designed, collections are preserved, and complex ideas are translated into accessible experiences.
Why should I do a museum summer internship in high school?
For students interested in art, history, science, or cultural heritage, museum internships offer structured pathways to build skills while working alongside museum professionals. You may assist educators, support research projects, contribute to digital content, or engage directly with the public. Museum internships help you understand how cultural institutions shape conversations around identity, knowledge, and community. This experience can be particularly valuable for your applications to college and future jobs, especially if you want to work with museums long-term.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 15 summer museum internships for high school students that emphasize learning, responsibility, and professional experience.
1. Museum of Arts and Design Teen Programs
Location: Museum of Arts and Design (MAD), New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: $16.50/hour (artslife) | RECESS also awards stipends (amount not specified)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Artslife is limited to 10 students; cohort size for RECESS is not specified.
Dates: Artslife: July - August | RECESS I: February 18 - 21 | RECESS II: April 15 - 18
Application Deadline: Artslife: April 21 | RECESS: January 12
Eligibility: Artslife: Rising high school sophomores and juniors in NYC | RECESS I and II: Students, aged 13 - 18 years, in NYC
The Museum of Arts and Design offers two distinct teen internship experiences that introduce you to how a contemporary art museum operates. Artslife is a six-week paid summer internship that combines museum studies, leadership development, and collaborative art and design work. You begin the first week with an orientation and team-building session, followed by multi-week group projects alongside museum staff, designers, and visiting artists. This summer museum internship for high school students exposes you to different departments such as curatorial, education, development, communications, visitor services, and security, providing a broad view of museum careers. Interns also engage in hands-on creative work, including producing artwork, developing peer-led tours, and creating a podcast series. RECESS, a shorter paid program, focuses on museum operations and asks participants to design youth-focused exhibition tours based on curatorial interpretation.
2. The Met Internship Program for High School Students
Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Stipend: $1,100
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: School-year internships: January - June | summer internships: June - August
Application Deadline: Summer Internship: March | school-year internships: typically, October
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors based in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut
The Met High School Internship Program places students inside one of the largest art museums in the United States, offering either a summer-only experience or a six-month school-year option. You’ll work with museum professionals across departments such as curatorial, education, design, imaging, and social media, gaining insight into how a major cultural institution operates. The program pairs hands-on assignments with structured mentorship from staff who guide you through professional expectations and understanding museum practices. You also participate in career labs, which are structured sessions where curators, designers, and other professionals discuss their career paths and areas of expertise. Regular interaction with museum staff helps you understand how art history connects to contemporary creative industries.
3. Brooklyn Museum’s Creative Practice
Location: Brooklyn Museum, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: $16.50/hour plus metro cards provided for working weekends
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: September - May
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: New York City teens, aged 15 - 19 years, enrolled in high school as sophomores, juniors, or seniors
The Brooklyn Museum’s Creative Practice program focuses on art education and teaching support within a museum environment. As a participant, you will assist professional teaching artists during classes for learners of different age groups, helping prepare studios, organize materials, and support lesson delivery. You’ll learn foundational strategies for lesson planning and classroom management while observing how educators adapt content for diverse audiences. The internship also explores how art intersects with fashion, design, history, culture, and social justice. You also meet museum staff and working artists to understand how artistic practice connects to community engagement. Along with support for teaching, you create original artwork that reflects program themes.
4. Brooklyn Museum’s Museum Apprentice Program
Location: Brooklyn Museum, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: $16.50/hour; second-year museum apprentices get $17.50/hour; metro cards will be provided to support weekend and summer work
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: November - August
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: NYC high school students
The Museum Apprentice Program at the Brooklyn Museum focuses on museum education and public engagement through paid, hands-on experience. You’ll work on developing lesson plans, practicing teaching strategies, and learning how to use artwork as an educational tool for audiences ranging from children to adults. Under the guidance of museum educators and curators, you assist with family programs, summer camp tours, and other educational initiatives. The program also introduces you to broader conversations about topics such as museum education, including access, public schooling, and the role of museums in social justice movements. You also interact with artists and museum professionals to better understand how education departments operate.
5. Spark!Lab Teen Innovators Program
Location: National Museum of American History, Washington, DC
Stipend: $2,300
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: July 1 - August 16
Application Deadline: May 9
Eligibility: Current high school students from the DMV area aged 15 - 17 years
The Spark!Lab Teen Innovators Program places students in a hands-on museum environment focused on invention and problem-solving. As a part-time intern, you will assist visitors, facilitate activities, and support daily operations related to the invention space. The program guides you through the invention process as you collaborate on a project connected to either historical research and exhibit design or music history and production. Weekly meetings and regular communication help you to structure project development and teamwork. You use standard digital tools, including Microsoft applications, to plan and document your work. By the end of the program, you will have completed a prototype designed to improve teen engagement within the lab.
6. Exploratorium’s High School Explainer: PACE Program
Location: Exploratorium, San Francisco, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid; amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: School year and summer programs available; dates vary
Application Deadline: July (school-year program) | March (summer program)
Eligibility: Students, aged 17 - 21 years, who have valid work permits
The Exploratorium high school summer museum internship combines museum work experience with exposure to science, art, and public education. Interns support or rotate through areas such as exhibit maintenance, public programs, cinema arts, biology labs, and program administration. Much of the work is visitor-facing, allowing you to practice explaining scientific concepts and facilitating interactive exhibits. Training sessions help you learn and exhibit facilitation techniques to develop a stronger understanding of science content. The program also includes mentorship and opportunities for professional and academic development.
7. Teen Council at the Art Institute of Chicago
Location: Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 15 students
Dates: September 13 - June 6
Application Deadline: June 30
Eligibility: Chicago high school students under the age of 18 years
The Teen Council at the Art Institute of Chicago brings together a small group of high school students to collaborate directly with museum staff. Interns help design teen-centered programs, events, and resources connected to the museum’s collections and exhibitions. The council meets regularly, primarily on Saturdays, to plan initiatives that aim to make the museum more accessible and engaging to young audiences. Through workshops and behind-the-scenes sessions, you learn about museum education, curatorial thinking, and community outreach. You also gain exposure to how museums develop programming and respond to public needs.
8. Student Historian Internship Program at the New York Historical Society
Location: New York Historical Society, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: $700
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 25 students
Dates: Early July to mid-August
Application Deadline: Opens first week of February
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10 - 12 | Must live in and attend school in the New York City metro area (includes the five boroughs of New York City, as well as areas of New York State, Connecticut, and New Jersey)
The Student Historian Internship Program focuses on historical research and digital humanities through an academically rigorous structure. You’ll conduct research using the New York Historical Society’s collections while working with a cohort of peers. The program centers on a yearly theme, such as Frederick Douglass’ vision of America, which guides research topics and discussions. You collaborate to produce digital projects, including blog posts and online educational resources shared with public audiences. Throughout the program, professional staff introduce you to museum, library, and digital humanities careers.
9. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Internship
Location: New York City
Stipend: $16/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Late May/early June to mid-to-late August
Application Deadline: Opens in February
Eligibility: High school, undergraduates, and graduate students
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Internship introduces students to professional work in historical research and education. You’ll assist historians, educators, and staff with projects related to archival research, educational programming, and content development. You may also support event planning or contribute to instructional materials used by teachers and students nationwide. You gain access to primary source materials and institutional research tools, and working alongside professionals helps you observe how nonprofit history organizations operate. The experience builds research, writing, and organizational skills relevant to academic and public history environments.
10. Museum of History and Industry’s (MOHAI) History Lab
Location: Museum of History and Industry, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: $150
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 6 students
Dates: July 21 - August 1
Application Deadline: May 23
Eligibility: Rising 10th - 12th grade students
History Lab at MOHAI focuses on local history research and digital storytelling through a structured, theme-based curriculum approach. You will select a topic connected to Seattle or Pacific Northwest history and examine it through the session’s guiding theme, such as power or social change. The program incorporates gallery exploration, field trips, and hands-on research using museum collections. You learn how historical narratives are formed and how interpretations evolve with time. A key component involves creating a digital public history project using accessible online tools. Final projects are published online, allowing you to share your work with public audiences.
11. Adler Planetarium Summer High School Internship
Location: Adler Planetarium, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; approximately 20 interns across roles
Dates: June 30 - August 8
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10 - 12
The Adler Planetarium’s summer internship introduces high school students to museum operations through full-time, project-based work. Depending on placement, you may support visitor engagement, exhibit support, educational material development, or scientific research initiatives such as balloon experiments. You’ll work alongside museum professionals and collaborate with peers on tasks that support public programming. Professional development sessions provide insight into STEAM career pathways and workplace skills, while networking opportunities allow you to learn from scientists, educators, and staff across departments.
12. Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage Internships
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Internships are offered all year round, from six weeks to one year, full- or part-time
Application Deadline: March 1 (for summer internships)
Eligibility: Open to all high school students (both U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens)
Internships at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage focus on cultural research, documentation, and public interpretation. You may work on projects related to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Folkways Recordings, or archival collections. Typical responsibilities include research, digital archiving, content development, and educational support. Interns work under the guidance of professionals in fields such as anthropology, folklore, ethnomusicology, and museum studies. Many internships are offered remotely, allowing participation from various locations. Through project-based work, you gain insight into heritage preservation and public humanities.
13. National Archives High School Internships
Location: Varies depending on the internship position
Cost/Stipend: None; eligible for academic credit
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; varies depending on the site and department
Dates: Late May or early June to August
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen, at least 16 years of age
National Archives internships introduce students to the preservation, management, and interpretation of government records and historical documents. Depending on placement, you may work in areas such as archival processing, digitization, public programs, records management, or communications. These summer museum internships for high school students typically run 10 to 12 weeks and require a minimum of 100 total hours, with at least half of the work completed on-site. Although these internships are unpaid, they are designed to complement academic coursework and may qualify for school credit. The program also exposes you to career pathways beyond history, including information technology, law, education, and business operations.
14. Asian Art Museum Volunteering Opportunities
Location: Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA
Cost/Stipend: None; discounts on museum membership and merchandise, access to select events and exhibitions, and other benefits available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Flexible; volunteers must commit for at least one year and a minimum of 96 hours
Application Deadline: No deadline; applications open year-round
Eligibility: Open to all, ages 16 years and above
Volunteering at the Asian Art Museum allows you to support daily museum operations while learning about Asian art and culture. You may support frontline roles such as assisting visitors at the information desk, coat check, or museum boutique. These roles focus on visitor guidance, customer service, and connecting guests to exhibitions and programs. Through volunteering, you interact with museum staff and visitors from diverse communities across the Bay Area. The summer museum internship for high school students also provides exposure to museum events, exhibitions, and educational programming.
15. Houston Museum of Natural Science Sugar Land SciTeen Program
Location: Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not selective
Dates: Minimum 4 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Opens in February
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9 - 12 in the fall
This summer museum internship for high school students focuses on science education through volunteer-led museum activities. You’ll support field trips, assist with interactive exhibits, present touch carts, and guide visitors through gallery spaces. As a SciTeen, you work across different museum areas, gaining exposure to public science communication. Training sessions prepare you to interact confidently with visitors and explain scientific concepts clearly. The experience encourages teamwork and peer learning among participants while developing practical skills related to communication and collaboration.
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