Summer Internships at the National Air and Space Museum

The National Air and Space Museum’s structured summer internship program provides firsthand experience working in a museum. This program offers a one-of-a-kind introduction to museum work or a rich opportunity to expand on previous experience. Lasting from early-June through early-August, our 10-week summer program provides unique professional development opportunities and enrichment activities. We offer internships in a wide array of disciplines. You’ll learn from knowledgeable mentors in a variety of fields, from curatorial research to communications and social media, all in the dynamic atmosphere of Washington, DC. Interns work with distinguished scholars, accomplished professionals, and iconic artifacts in an immersive experience as multifaceted as the museum itself.

All summer interns receive a stipend to support expenses during their internship period. Find the full list of our upcoming projects at our website: https://airandspace.si.edu/get-involved/internships. Each summer interns join staff in departments across the museum, including Advancement, Administration, Curatorial, Conservation, Communications, Education, Exhibits, Preservation/Restoration, and Visitor Services.

Eligibility

• Open to U.S. and non-U.S citizens
• Open to undergraduate and graduate students and recent graduates (up to 12 months after graduation), the program provides opportunities across a wide range of disciplines.
• Whether you're discovering museum work for the first time or deepening existing experience, you'll learn from expert mentors, collaborate with accomplished professionals and scholars, and engage with the Museum's collections through meaningful projects, professional development, and enrichment activities.

Selection Criteria:

Internships are opportunities to learn and grow your skills. While you don't necessarily need work experience related to the internship you plan to apply for, you are expected to have a base knowledge of or familiarity with the subject (e.g. exhibits design interns will be expected to have familiarity with programs such as Illustrator and Photoshop).

Application Materials:

Once you have created an account in SOLAA, you will need to upload all the required materials. Complete applications must include:

• Resume
• Two letters of recommendation
• Unofficial academic transcripts
• Statement of Interest Essay (500-1,000 words)
• Why are you interested in this internship?
• How will this opportunity advance your academic or career goals?

Notification of decisions will be sent to applicants the last week of March.

The project choices section of the application will determine who reviews your application. You may select up to three projects, but you do not need to choose all three if you are only interested in one or two departments. You can find the list of this year’s projects at our website.