Internships + Opportunities

Experience the
Real World
Every Semester.

The multi-billion-dollar art industry has more to offer than you can imagine. Whether you’re drawn to work for not-for-profits like museums or fascinated by galleries and the global art market, your career begins with an internship. Required for juniors and seniors and highly recommended for first-year students and sophomores, as an intern you’ll build your professional network, access and skills.

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Why Internships? Why Now?

Maybe it was reading the papers of Alma Thomas at the Archives of American Art, or perhaps it was an original Romare Bearden at the High Museum of Art. Whatever the experience that sparked your love of art, an internship is the gateway to a lifelong career of education and engagement.

I was a sophomore in college when I interned here at the museum [The Studio Museum in Harlem]. Dr. [ Mary Schmidt] Campbell, as an art historian, made it very clear to me that my education in American art had to be supplemented by knowledge of African-American artists, because at the time it wasn’t in the textbooks the way it is now.” – Thelma Golden, Director and Chief Curator of The Studio Museum in Harlem 

Start here. Go Anywhere.

Interns go behind-the-scenes and get hands-on experience while giving tours, cataloging collections, researching exhibitions and more. Paid summer internships are available to all art history majors and curatorial studies minors. Academic year internships are highly encouraged, either here in Atlanta, online or studying around the world.

Step 1

Research Begins With You

Through a range of search options, we make it easy. Search by visual art area, museum department or use our starter resource list.

A few questions to guide your search:

  • What interests me about this opportunity? What knowledge can I share with the organization? What qualifies me for the position?
  • What skills will  I  learn? What skills can I develop?
  • Does the position look  substantial? Are the learning goals clearly stated?
  • How will this internship help  me  with  my  academic  goals and future career?
Photo: Pete Lawton
Step 2

One-on-One Advisement with you at the center.

We are available to guide you. All advisors are knowledgeable about professional opportunities in the field. Talk to us.

Schedule an Appointment Today

Photo: Pete Lawton
Step 3

Career Services to set you apart.

Meet with our career advisors as many times as it takes to get it right. From industry standard resume and cover letter reviews to networking tips and mock interviews, our on-site career support will give you the professional edge.

Photo: Pete Lawton
Step 4

Apply with confidence.

With your personalized list of approved internship options and reviewed application materials, you can apply with confidence. Congratulations, you’ve taken your first step towards a career that inspires change.

Photo: Pete Lawton

They’ve done it. So will you.

Destinee Filmore
Cleveland Museum of Art, Director’s Fellow, Contemporary Art Intern, Cleveland
“I learned how to advocate for myself in a professional setting in a way that I hadn’t before, in meetings especially. My supervisor was very generous with her time and with the access that she gave me. When she invited me to a meeting, it was to contribute and to share my ideas and thoughts.”
Kaelin Keller
The Art Institute of Chicago, Youth and Family Programs Intern, Chicago
“A museum that is the size of the Art Institute employs more people than the size of some small towns. Everybody has a purpose; everybody has a role in making sure that the operations run smoothly. Seeing the value of each person and the role they play in the museum was very rewarding and it opened my eyes to all the roles you can have. People always talk about curators, educators and directors but there are so many other things that are necessary to make museums run.”
Kyrie Blackman
Petersen Automotive Museum, Education Intern, Los Angeles
“One assignment I had was to link art museums to automotive design and I really connected to it. I did a lot of research. [For example] There was a man named Harley Earl who worked for General Motors and created a department strictly focusing on the aesthetics of cars. He would ask artists, creatives and thinkers - what would you like this car to be? what’s an effective way to make this car look nice and appeal to consumers? [later] I wrote for the blog on that.”
Christian Bryant
Curatorial Intern, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville
“Interning at Crystal Bridges was my first induction into working at a museum. What I gained from that experience was indispensable and cemented my interest in pursuing a career as a Curator. Since leaving Arkansas I have been inspired to explore new subjects in curatorial studies and art history.”
Provide Internships
Maybe it was reading the papers of Alma Thomas at the Archives of American Art, or perhaps it was an original Romare Bearden at the High Museum of Art. Whatever the experience that sparked your love of art, an internship is a gateway to a lifelong career of education and engagement.
Provide Internships
Share Your Story
Perhaps you are a student or an AUC alumni who had an amazing internship experience that transformed your life and impacted your career. We'd love to hear from you.
Share Your Story
Partner With Us
You don't have a formal internship program available for our students, but you do have access to resources and individuals who can help our students in their pursuit of art industry opportunities. Let's connect and discuss ways in which we can partner.
Partner With Us.
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