[Spring 2027] Exhibition Design Internship

Whitney Museum of American Art; New York (NY); On-site; USD 28,000 - 39,000; Part time

Job summary

The Whitney Museum of American Art offers an Academic Year Internship program—a semester-long paid internship for rising Juniors and above, including Graduate students, enrolled in an accredited program. The internship is in person and onsite.

For spring 2027, interns commit between 16–21 hours per week over 10–12 weeks for a total of 176 hours. The official program dates will span from January 18-April 26, 2027.

Qualifications

• Enrollment in architecture, exhibition design, or set design program.
• 2D and 3D drafting skills are required.
• Ability to build study/finish models and architectural drawings.
• Strong abstract and creative thinking with attention to detail.
• Good communication skills; ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• Portfolio as PDF, resume, and essay are required when applying.
• Undergraduates and graduates in accredited year programs are eligible.
• Interest in art/history preferred; artists from all majors may apply.
• Previous museum experience is not required.

Responsibilities

• Participate in departmental design charrettes and meetings with curators to review concepts and layouts.
• Assist in making art layouts, scaled maquettes, study models, and presentation materials.
• Observe and assist on the floor during construction and installation when possible.
• Work with designers and curators to develop exhibition narratives.
• Learn tools to communicate spatial and conceptual ideas to curators and the institution.
• Develop scaled models and architectural drawings under supervision.
• Support cross-department collaboration on exhibition projects.

Skills

Major in architecture/design

2D/3D drafting

Model making

Abstract thinking

Detail orientation

Strong communication

FAST-paced multitask

Portfolio PDF required

Academic-year enrollment

Open to all majors

No museum experience required

Education

Enrollment in accredited program

Job description

The Whitney’s Academic Year Internship program offers a semester-long paid internship for rising Juniors and above (to include Graduate students) enrolled in an accredited academic program. The internship is in person and onsite. For spring 2027, interns commit between 16–21 hours per week over 10–12 weeks for a total of 176 hours. The official program dates will span from January 18-April 26, 2027. Interns are assigned to a specific department at the Museum for the duration of the internship.

Exhibition Design internfor Spring 2027

Expected Projects & Assignments

• Interns will participate in departmental design charrettes and meetings with exhibition curators to review design concepts and art layouts as well as planning meetings involving colleagues across the institution (via Zoom and in-person)
• Interns will also assist in making art layouts, scaled maquettes of the artwork, study models, full scale mockups and presentation materials
• When possible, interns will observe and assist on the floor during construction and installation

Skills & Qualifications

• Enrolled in architecture, exhibition design, or set design program
• 2D and 3D Drafting Skills Required
• Facility with building both study and finish models
• Ability to think abstractly and creatively Concern for details
• Good communication skills
• Ability to work in a flexible, fast-paced environment on simultaneous projects
• When applying, candidates must provide their portfolio as a PDF along with their resume and essay
• Undergraduates and graduates currently enrolled in accredited academic year programs are eligible
• While a demonstrated interest in art and art history is preferred, students in all majors are encouraged to apply
• Previous museum experience is not required

Provided Training

• Interns will be exposed to the process of how exhibitions are realized from conception to installation and the role of Exhibition Design in that process
• Interns will work alongside designers and curators to develop an exhibition’s narrative and environment
• Interns will learn the tools designers use to communicate spatial and conceptual ideas to curators and the larger institution
• Training in developing scaled models of the art work, working with architectural models of the exhibition, developing larger mock ups, developing architectural drawings, and looking critically at art layout in terms of the curatorial narrative

Outcomes

• Learning the skills to help assess art checklists, developing three-dimensional thinking with 2D and 3D work, learning the fundamentals of exhibition design planning. Gaining insight from how a large museum of this scale works and how other departments affect exhibition design.

Compensation

Interns will be paid a stipend of $3000.

Generous support for Ostrover Family Academic Year Interns is provided by Julie and Doug Ostrover.

About the Whitney

The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for 86 years. The core of the Whitney’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today.

EEO Statement

The Whitney Museum of American Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate because of age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, partnership status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, or any other factor prohibited by law. The Museum hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. The Museum encourages all qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions at all levels. This description shall not be construed as a contract of any sort for a specific period of employment.