Internships

Are you seeking a creative and exciting museum internship? The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery offers formal internships to qualified applicants. A Smithsonian internship is a prearranged, structured learning experience that takes place during the fall, spring, or summer semester. The experience should be relevant both to the intern's academic and professional goals and to the professional disciplines represented at the Portrait Gallery. Generous stipends are awarded to candidates who are accepted into the program!

Applications are due by March 1, 2025; Please apply using the Smithsonian online application system at: https://solaa.si.edu. 

Summer 2025 Opportunities

Find full internship descriptions at: Opportunities | Office of Academic Appointments and Internships (please select National Portrait Gallery from UNIT drop down bar)

Communications Department

The Communications Department at the National Portrait Gallery is responsible for all promotion related to the museum’s exhibitions, public programs, and collection. The intern's tasks will broadly be focused on supporting the communications department as a whole with an emphasis on two upcoming exhibitions, “Amy Sherald: American Sublime” and “Wendy Red Star: Whispering Spirit”. Support for this internship comes from the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum (SAWHM).

This internship will provide an excellent opportunity to gain experience in a fast-paced work environment at a prestigious museum, preparing the intern for a career in the arts, museums, or nonprofits. The internship schedule is flexible and part-time. A generous stipend will be awarded to the selected candidate that we mentor.

The intern should be detail-oriented, have an interest in research, and possess strong writing and critical thinking skills. Interns must be able to communicate in a professional, effective manner with press, vendors, museum visitors, and fellow staff members. Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite or general video editing skills is preferred.

 

Department of Prints and Drawings Curatorial Research 

This internship provides an opportunity to gain firsthand experience and professional training in a fast-paced curatorial department. The intern will work closely with the departmental curator and collection manager to carry out research on potential or recent acquisitions; assist with object examinations and cataloging; write labels; create web content; and assist with administrative tasks.

This internship is best suited for an undergraduate or graduate student who is:

  • Interested in American history, biography, and portraiture (particularly works on paper)
  • Capable of conducting independent historical research using primary source materials as well as peer-reviewed journal articles and other scholarly resources
  • Skilled in accurate and clear writing
  • Experienced with Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

 

Publications Department 

The internship will provide an excellent opportunity to learn about editing and museum publishing. The Publications department reviews all written materials the museum produces for the public, including exhibition catalogues and labels. Working closely with the National Portrait Gallery’s head of publications and the museum’s editor, the intern will sharpen their editorial skills (copyediting and proofreading) while reviewing a variety of written materials produced by museum staff and outside authors.

In addition to having excellent writing skills, which provide the foundation for editorial work, the intern should have completed college-level coursework in art history, English, and/or the history of the United States. Experience with Microsoft Office applications (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) is important. The ideal candidate believes that words matter and is someone with interests in portraiture, editing, and publishing.

Preferred Preference will be given to undergraduates, recent college graduates, or graduate students with relevant coursework (e.g., English, art history, U.S. history). Proficiency in Spanish is a plus.

Office of the Registrar 

The Office of the Registrar is responsible for the care, tracking, and transport of the permanent collection and objects on loan for exhibitions; creating and maintaining accession files; and the management of the museum’s collections information database, The Museum System (TMS). The internship will provide an excellent opportunity to gain experience in collections management, museum registration, and collections information standards. The majority of the internship will be in-person, with periodic opportunities for remote work.

The intern should have a serious interest in museum collections management, be detail-oriented, and have sound written and oral communication skills. The intern should also be able to be on their feet for extended periods of time, have fine manual dexterity skills, and be able to lift at minimum of 30 lbs.

Preferred Preference will be given to undergraduates, graduate students, and recent college graduates with relevant coursework or experience (e.g, museum studies, U.S. history, art history, studio art).

 

Please apply using the Smithsonian online application system at: https://solaa.si.edu.

Internship application guidelines

Please be aware that complete applications must include the following:

  • Internship program application form
  • Academic transcripts (unofficial are acceptable)
  • Personal essay (use this to tell us how the internship will advance your academic/career goals)
  • Two letters of reference

The length of time that an applicant is available as an intern is a consideration in the evaluation of applications. Interns are encouraged to have health insurance.

Essential Tips for the Online Application

  • Do NOT submit your application until all necessary components are uploaded (i.e., transcripts, personal essay, resume). Once these are submitted, you cannot upload anything else or change anything within the application.
  • Upload your documents as a .pdf or .jpeg file. Other file formats will upload, but may not hold your formatting commands.
  • An unofficial or official transcript can be uploaded by first scanning the document and saving it as a pdf or jpeg.
  • Make sure that you click the “send e-mail” button. This triggers the system to e-mail your references with instructions to them for uploading the reference letter. Please advise your references of this in advance.
  • Please inform your recommenders that you are applying for an internship at the National Portrait Gallery. When you use the option to have emails sent to your recommenders, tell them that the email from the SOLAA system may be in their spam/junk mailboxes due to your school’s rules for outside emails. Recommenders should look out for an email from SOLAA_SC@si.edu. 

Eligibility

The National Portrait Gallery offers internships to undergraduate and graduate students and to individuals not affiliated with academic programs who have research or museum career interests. The availability of internships depends upon departmental projects and staff needs, as well as the background, skills, and interests of the applicant. Qualifications vary depending upon the project, but most are for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students. Please read the specific intern positions above before selecting projects on your application.

Credit

The Smithsonian does not award college credit, but many U.S. colleges and universities will recognize academic work performed while interning. Contact your academic adviser for instructions on how to receive credit.

Questions

If you have any questions about the application process, please send inquiries to: npgInterns@si.edu. If you have questions concerning the SOLAA application, please go to the Help section on the SOLAA Web site.