Internship FAQs

Our internship programs are open to current students, recent college graduates, graduate students, and beginning museum professionals. Candidates are required to have at least two years of undergraduate study completed by the start of their internship program (i.e., rising junior status) to participate. We encourage candidates from all academic disciplines to apply.

At this time, there is no high school internship program. High school students and recent high school graduates can find more information and resources through MoMA Teen Programs.

Our summer internships are 10-week programs, offered annually from June through August. Applications open in February of each year and candidates are notified by late April. Our 12-Month Internships are offered annually beginning in September. Applications open in May of each year and candidates are notified by late July. 

No, our internship programs are open to recent graduates and beginning museum professionals, as well as college students.

Yes.

Essays should be no longer than 650 words.

Applications typically ask for the following materials:

1. A résumé/curriculum vitae in PDF format
2. At least one letter of recommendation, in PDF format
3. A transcript, in PDF format (unofficial transcripts are accepted)
4. An essay in PDF format that answers the prompt below:
   • Why are you interested in participating in an internship at The Museum of Modern Art? In your response, be sure to address both:
   • • The role of museums and how you envision their potential for evolution
   • • An individual or experience that has influenced your perception of the arts

While we do not have a required recommendation format, we recommend the following guidelines for the best application:

If your recommender has professional stationery, the letter should be typed on letterhead. Letters should state the relation between the candidate (you) and the recommender, who may be your professor, advisor, employer, former employer, or internship coordinator. Please refrain from submitting a letter from a family member, a family friend, or an individual with whom you have not had an academic or professional relationship. The letter should explain how long the recommender has known you and why they believe you are qualified for an internship at MoMA. The letter should describe your strengths, talents, and level of experience, as the recommender sees them. We are looking for the demonstration of responsibility, intelligence, certain skills, and maturity. The recommender should be honest and help us assess whether candidates will be a good fit for, and/or benefit from, an internship at MoMA.

Please limit recommendation letters to one page. Letters are required to be directly uploaded to your application, in PDF format. Recommendation letters should be addressed to the Internship and Fellowship Program Manager. If you are an international applicant, please be sure to include a translation of the recommendation letter if it is not originally written in English. If your recommender has any questions, direct them to [email protected].

A transcript is a list of the courses you have taken in college and/or graduate school, and the grades or marks you received. A transcript can be obtained by contacting the registrar or the Office of Student Records at your university. Some transcripts may also be obtained online, depending on your university’s policy. You may send an official or an unofficial transcript; photocopies of originals are also acceptable.

Transcripts are required for both the Summer Internship Program and the 12-Month Internship Program.

No. Transcripts and recommendation letters are required to be directly uploaded to your application, in PDF format. If your university or recommender has any questions, direct them to [email protected].

No. Please only submit the materials listed in the How to Apply section of the application. If a department has specific additional materials requests, they will be listed in the How to Apply section.

Yes, applicants are allowed to apply to up to three department positions in the same program. Please do not apply to more than three departments. Candidates’ applications will be timestamped and monitored. Any additional applications from the same candidate will not be considered.

Yes. You can submit your application before the deadline. However, MoMA will not review your application until after the application deadline.

The application deadline refers to the date by which your application must be postmarked. It is not necessary to submit your application via express mail.

No. MoMA only hires interns for set terms. We can only accommodate interns who are able to work during our program times.

No. We only hire interns for specific projects that change from term to term. Due to the large quantity of applications we receive, we cannot transfer your acceptance to another program or start date. If you are selected and cannot accept, you are welcome to reapply for a future program.

Yes. To reapply, you will need to resubmit a complete application to the new program of your choice.

One may only participate in one summer internship per year. However, former summer interns may apply for the 12-Month Internship Program.

Typically, we hire approximately seven to 10 12-month interns annually. The size of the cohort varies year to year. Our summer internships accept 25 to 30 interns annually.

Yes. After Human Resources and department application review, we contact select candidates to schedule a virtual interview. All finalists are interviewed before being accepted into an internship program.

Due to the volume of internship applications and extraordinary interest in our internship programs, we do not have capacity for informational interviews. If we decide to schedule an interview with you, we will contact you directly. If you have any questions before applying, you are welcome to contact [email protected].

Internship projects are based on upcoming curatorial exhibitions or ongoing museum initiatives. Interns may assist curators or managers with visitor engagement, research, writing, design, and/or coordination of upcoming programs. Based on MoMA’s needs at the time, projects provide practical experience in a specific area of museum work. Each week, interns also participate in professional development activities designed to increase understanding of the Museum’s various collections, exhibitions, and departments. All internships will have an administrative component.

Yes, we can provide letters of reference and necessary documentation so that interns may arrange for academic credit through their schools.

No. Interns will be responsible for arranging accommodations during the summer. Human Resources has materials available to incoming interns to assist in their housing search. Accepted applicants will receive this information during their onboarding period. 

You can find more information about volunteer opportunities on our website.