Summer 2026 - Americans for the Arts Internship

Americans for the Arts; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 20,400 - 29,055; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid internship

Travel and lodging for conference

Flexible schedule

Job summary

An arts advocacy organization is seeking interns for its 2026 Summer Internship Program in Washington, DC. This paid opportunity allows interns to advocate for the arts while gaining hands-on experience. Interns may work remotely or in a hybrid model during a 12-week program. Eligible candidates include high school graduates, college students, and career transitioners. Interns will have the chance to attend an annual conference in Albuquerque, with travel and lodging covered. Competitive hourly wage of $17.95 is offered.

Qualifications

• Must be eligible to work in the U.S.
• High school graduates and current college students are welcome.

Responsibilities

• Gain valuable hands-on experience advocating for the arts.
• Participate in daily team work and cross-team projects.
• Timing and scheduling of workdays vary with team needs.

Job description

Americans for the Arts is now accepting applications for our 2026 Summer Internship Program. Apply to join the team that best matches your interest. The application portal will close at 3:00 pm ET, on March 31st.

Click the on each team name below to view the job descriptions before making a selection.

Teams

• Arts Action Fund
• Government Affairs
• People & Culture, Operations
• Research, Community Engagement

Overview

Be part of the work that ensures access to the arts and arts education for all communities.

Gain valuable hands‑on experience advocating for the economic, cultural, social, and educational power of the arts, through our Internship Program. Our program is designed for people who have an interest in learning more about how the arts and culture sectors help to create healthy and thriving communities, where everyone has access to the transformative power of the arts.

In addition to participating in your team’s daily work, attending our staff events, and collaborating on cross‑team projects, interns will have the opportunity to join us at our annual conference in Albuquerque, NM (June 2nd – 5th)! Travel and lodging will be covered by AFTA.

We aim to provide the space for you and staff to learn more about each other’s personal and professional backgrounds, leading to a deeper knowledge of career opportunities in the arts and culture sector.

At the end of your internship, you will leave Americans for the Arts having developed relationships and a skill set that will stay with you for a lifetime.

Compensation Expectations

The Summer 2026 Internship Program is a paid program, paying interns the DC living wage ($17.95 per hour at the time of this posting). This internship is intended for your educational benefit, and we support receiving school credit for participation. This internship is at‑will and is not a trial period for prospective employment.

Work Location & Hours

As an intern, depending on the team you join, there is the option to be fully remote or participate in a hybrid work experience, spending time working from home and in‑person in our office, located in downtown Washington, DC. Prior to the start of your internship, you will work with your supervisor to establish a mutually agreed on work schedule to maximize your inclusion in our workflow.

We operate on a 7.5‑hour workday, with our core business hours running from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm ET, Monday through Friday. We encourage interns to take advantage of the local cultural institutions, offering a flexible schedule with hours that might fluctuate above and below our standard 37.50‑hour work week. Reference each team's internship job description for more details on hours.

Program Duration

The 2026 Summer Internship program is scheduled to run over a 12‑week period. We anticipate the program to begin the second half of May and conclude mid‑August. Your needs and the needs of the team will be taken into consideration when defining the start and end dates.

Internship Eligibility

• High school graduates, current college students, mid‑career professionals, and those looking to transition to a new career field in the arts and culture ecosystem.
• Must be eligible to work in and reside within the United States.
• For most teams, interns must also be available to work between 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. ET and commit to a 12‑weeks.
• Be able to attend in‑person the annual conference (AFTACON) in Albuquerque, NM, 2nd – 5th. Travel and lodging paid for by AFTA.