Eligibility

Internships are open to current college juniors and seniors, recent graduates, graduate students, and beginning museum professionals. Interns must have at least incoming junior (third year) status at college. There are no exceptions. Eligibility varies for each internship term.Please review the requirements for each internship thoroughly.

Note that MoMA also offers a separate High School Internship Program with its own eligibility requirements and application procedure. The High School internship programs will be in hiatus for Summer 2009 as we reevaluate the program. Please check our other programs for teens scheduled throughout the year.

More questions? Visit the Frequently Asked Questions page.

How to Apply

There is a standard application process that all applicants, for all internship types, must go through. Please submit the following materials, in a single package, in the following order:

1) Completed application form (Adobe Acrobat Reader required)
Note: Please refer to the list of Museum departments in order to list your departmental preferences.

2) Résumé/curriculum vitae

3) Essays
There are three required essays. The essay questions are listed on the application form. Each essay should be no more than one page (single spaced) in length. The total of your three essays should be no longer than three pages.

4) One letter of recommendation, from an academic or professional reference
(Visit the Frequently Asked Questions page for more information about recommendations.) Please allow ample time to request letters of recommendation so that you will be able to send these with your other application materials by the application deadline.

5) Transcripts of undergraduate and graduate records
Please note that we accept either official or unofficial transcripts. It is not necessary to order a transcript from your college/university if you can access and print an unofficial transcript and include it with your materials.If you do not have access to an unofficial transcript, please allow ample time to order a transcript from your institution so that you will be able to send these with your other application materials by the application deadline. Visit the Frequently Asked Questions page for more information about transcripts. Please allow ample time to order a transcript from your institution so that you will be able to send these with your other application materials by the application deadline.

Follow these additional guidelines for submitting your application:

If you are applying for an internship in the Graphic Design or Retail departments, you must submit five samples of your design work. Send two copies of a CD-ROM containing these samples with your other application materials.

If you are not applying for an internship in the Graphic Design or Retail departments, do not submit any extra materials, such as writing samples or artwork.

All requested materials (application form, Résumé/curriculum vitae, essays, one letter of recommendation, and transcript; graphic design samples if applying for applicable positions) must be compiled and mailed in one envelope by the application deadline. The Museum will send you an e-mail to confirm receipt of your complete application within four weeks after the application deadline. Note that the deadline date refers to the date by which applications must be postmarked. It is not necessary to submit your application via express mail. Our expectation is that mail from outside New York or the United States will take longer to reach MoMA's offices.

Each internship term has its own application deadline and decision notification date. MoMA will not review applications submitted after the deadline date. The Museum will only review complete applications. You will not receive an application confirmation e-mail if we have not received all of your materials. It is your responsibility to submit these on time.

Mail application materials to:
The Museum of Modern Art
Attn: Internship Coordinator
11 West 53 Street
New York, NY 10019

More questions? Visit the Frequently Asked Questions page.

Application Review Process

We will begin reviewing applications after the application deadline and will confirm the receipt only of complete applications. Select applicants will be contacted to arrange interviews. The majority of these interviews are conducted over the phone. If we request an interview with you, we will e-mail you to arrange a convenient date and time for you.

Please do not contact the Museum about scheduling an interview. Due to the high volume of requests and the yearly Internship Program schedule, MoMA does not conduct informational interviews.

Museum Departments

The following are brief descriptions of the departments that may offer internships at The Museum of Modern Art. Please list your three top departmental choices on the space provided in the application form (Adobe Acrobat Reader required). Please list specific departments rather than general headings. Here is an example of the correct format:

1) Photography
2) Development
3) Education

We look closely at this information to best match an intern's experience and skills with departmental needs, but use your selections only as a guideline. Internship projects in any given term are based on current Museum needs and requirements, and are assigned to interns with the appropriate skills and interests. Not all departments offer internships during each internship term. The Museum determines available internships on a term-by-term basis; we are unable to inform you of which departments will be offering internships in specific terms. If you are accepted to the Internship Program, we cannot guarantee that you will be placed in the department of your first choice.

Curatorial Departments

Architecture and Design
Collects, manages, and exhibits architectural drawings and models, design objects, and graphic design works.

Drawings
Collects, manages, and exhibits modern and contemporary drawings.

Film
Collects, manages, and exhibits film. The department consists of the following divisions: Film Archive, Film Study Center, Circulating Film Library, Exhibitions, and Programming.

Media and Performance Art
Collects and exhibits contemporary time-based art.

Painting and Sculpture
Collects, manages, and exhibits modern and contemporary painting and sculpture.

Photography
Collects, manages, and exhibits modern and contemporary photography.

Prints and Illustrated Books
Collects, manages, and exhibits modern and contemporary prints and illustrated books.

Publications
Edits and produces all Museum books and exhibition catalogues, brochures, and wall text.

Imaging Services
Produces photographic materials of works of art in the collection.

Education and Research Support

Education
Conducts programs to help audiences of all ages and backgrounds understand and enjoy modern and contemporary art. The department consists of the following divisions: School Programs; Family Programs; Adult and Academic Programs; Community and Access Programs; and Digital Learning.

Museum Archives
Organizes, preserves, and makes available for research the historical records of the Museum.

Library
Supports the research needs of the Museum staff and members of the public.

Exhibitions and Collection Support

Conservation
Provides care for collections and technical research on paintings, works on paper, sculpture, and design objects.

Exhibition Program
Oversees all exhibition-related administration, including budgets, planning, and coordination.

Collection Management and Exhibition Registration (CMER)
Coordinates the packing, shipping, storage, insurance, and documentation of works of art in the permanent collection, as well as those on loan for temporary exhibitions.

External Affairs

Development
Finds sources of funding for operational budget and programs. Development includes Foundations, Corporate and Government support as well as the Capital Campaign for the Museum's Building Project.

Membership
Designs and conducts programs that enhance members' understanding and appreciation of the collections, exhibitions, and activities of the Museum.

Special Programming and Events
Plans and coordinates exhibition opening receptions and internal and corporate events.

Affiliate Programs (Contemporary Arts Council and Junior Associates)
Supports the Museum's ongoing activities and organizes special programs designed for its members, consisting of young patrons of the arts.

Marketing and Communications

Communications
Functions as the Museum's liaison with the media.

Graphic Design
Supervises and produces the Museum's graphics, including exhibition and corporate graphics, signage, ephemera, and advertising.

Retail
Operates the MoMA Design Stores, the MoMA Bookstore, the Online Store, and the Mail Order (Gift Catalog) and Wholesale Divisions.

Marketing
Defines, develops, and places Museum advertising and promotions.

Administrative Departments

Director's Office
Directly oversees Deputy Directors, the Building Project, and ongoing Museum activities. Responsible for the strategic direction of the Museum and relationships with Museum officers and Trustees.

International Program
Coordinates a wide variety of initiatives aimed at facilitating cultural and professional exchange with museums and other visual arts institutions, including specially organized traveling exhibitions from the MoMA collections, workshops for museum professionals, publications, education and conservation programs, professional assistance to museums, lectures and symposia, exchanges of library materials, and travel abroad by members of the Museum's staff.

Information Technology

Digital Media
Produces all aspects of the MoMA website, including managing images and media, assisting with exhibition websites, and updating educational resources.

More questions? Visit the Frequently Asked Questions page.