As a Brooklyn Museum intern, you’ll join a dynamic group of emerging arts professionals. Together you’ll reenvision the future of museums while gaining workplace skills through hands-on, real-world projects.
Brooklyn Museum staff will equip you with the latest methods and tools for your field of interests, assign projects tailored to support your growth, and provide space for critical dialogue about museums’ role today and tomorrow.
What you’ll be doing
Internships combine two elements: departmental placements and weekly seminars.
Departmental placements
You’ll be paired with a supervisor and integrated into a Museum department, participating fully in day-to-day workplace activities and projects with the guidance of full-time staff members. Your placement is based on interest and relevant experience, and you’ll work alongside expert staff on key tasks, gaining skills while making important contributions to the Museum as a whole. Interns also receive ongoing training and mentorship from department leaders who are committed to supporting interns’ growth, as well as their autonomy and agency, over the course of the program.
Refer to the online application below for a list of available departmental placements and descriptions. While departmental placements change with each application cycle, there are usually several open positions in Curatorial, as well as in Development and Conservation.
Weekly seminars
Adult paid internships combine practical experience with professional development through weekly seminars that focus on the role of museums in society.
The seminars look critically at the history of museums; question how museums have responded to current events, trends, and social issues; and ask interns to envision what the next generation of museums will look like. Seminars include intimate conversations with Brooklyn Museum curators, conservators, educators, and collection and exhibition specialists, as well as invited artists and outside experts. Interns also visit local museums and other cultural institutions.
Over the course of the internship, interns gain skills and perspectives on museum work, and learn how to transfer those skills to other types of professional experience.
Compensation and eligibility
Paid internships are for undergraduate and graduate students, recent graduates, and adults 21+ who aren’t enrolled in higher education.
Interns are paid $17 per hour. They also receive free admission to most NYC museums and enjoy employee discounts at the Museum Café and Shop.
Schedule
We offer paid, full-time internships in the summer and paid, part-time internships during the academic year.
Spring and fall internships are paid, part-time opportunities ($17 per hour, 18 hours per week). In addition to working in their department, interns must attend seminars every Tuesday, 9:30 am–12:30 pm.
Summer internships are paid, full-time opportunities ($17 per hour, 35 hours per week). In addition to working in their department, interns must attend seminars every Tuesday, 9:30 am–5:30 pm.
How to apply
Spring 2025 internships
January 24–April 18, 2025
Applications for spring internships are open October 4–November 3, 2024.
Summer 2025 internships
May 27–August 8, 2025
Applications for summer internships are open January 17–February 16, 2025.
All submissions are final. Applications will not be accepted past the due date.
Intern Convenings and “A Handbook for Our Future”
The Brooklyn Museum’s annual Intern Convening, held each July, is an opportunity for interns and emerging arts professionals to think critically about how cultural institutions can help create an equitable and just society.
“A Handbook for Our Future” emerged from the first convening in 2021. This digital publication reflects interns’ and other professionals’ collective vision and intentions for the future of cultural institutions and their intersections with social justice issues. Although not intended to provide concrete solutions, the handbook serves as a framework for young arts professionals to consider and utilize. A second edition is in the works.
FAQs
Do you require letters of recommendation?
No; instead, provide two references (name, title, and contact email). References should be current or previous supervisors, professors, or other professionals who have worked with you in some capacity.
Do you offer visas?
The Brooklyn Museum does not sponsor international visas for interns requiring employment sponsorship now or in the future. Candidates seeking an opportunity at the Brooklyn Museum must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship consideration.
Do you offer unpaid internships?
The Brooklyn Museum offers only paid internships in an effort to provide financial support for emerging professionals of all economic backgrounds. However, outside funding is welcomed if you have been awarded a stipend through your college or another program.
Can I apply to be an intern if I’m not enrolled in college or graduate school?
Yes! The Museum accepts candidates with a range of experience and education. For those without higher education, three years of work experience are required in any industry (including retail and service fields). Individuals who have completed their associate’s or bachelor’s degree are also eligible to apply.
I interned at the Brooklyn Museum before. Can I apply again?
The Museum does not award internships to the same person twice. Each application cycle aims to bring in new emerging professionals who have yet to participate.
Do you provide credit for internships?
The Brooklyn Museum doesn’t provide credit. However, if your college or university offers credit, the Museum can serve as a host institution.
When will I receive notification about my application?
Each internship cycle has a different notification date. Once you submit your application, you’ll receive an automatic confirmation email that includes the notification date.
I applied for an internship in the past and was not accepted. Can I apply again?
Yes! Note when you applied and share your latest experiences, as well as the skills you’ve honed or acquired, since you submitted your last application.
Other questions?
