We offer Emerging Leaders Internships for college and graduate students and ArtSpeak Internships for high school students. Join our community, make a positive impact, and gain hands-on experience at the world’s leading institution for Asian and Asian American art and culture.
The Asian Art Museum invites dynamic, art-loving people to join us as full-time Museum Education and Public Programs Interns. Interns will gain hands-on experience while making a positive impact on museum guests from across the Bay Area and around the world. This internship offers genuine engagement for those seeking opportunities in art practice, museum education, art education, public programs, digital learning and civic engagement. Applicants should have a demonstrated commitment to centering and celebrating Asian/Asian American art and culture.
Internship Dates: June 15, 2026–August 14, 2026
This is a nine-week, full-time (35 hours/week) internship. Interns must be available in-person Tuesday through Sunday from 10AM–5PM for the duration of the internship. Note that interns must be available on Sundays to facilitate Sundays at the Asian Art Museum events.
This internship combines project-based learning, one-to-one mentorship, and weekly seminars with professionals from across the museum field. Interns will receive training on best practices in museum education and curriculum design. They will then embark on projects throughout the museum, gaining hands-on teaching experience with audiences of all ages and abilities along the way. Projects may include:
Interns will also learn from professionals across the museum through weekly seminars. Seminar activities may include special exhibition tours with curators, lunches with senior leadership, and talks from division heads across a variety of departments. Interns will also visit local museums and other cultural institutions across the Bay Area.
Interns must be at least 18 years old and currently enrolled in an accredited, degree-granting program at the time of their internship. Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors are encouraged to apply.
We welcome qualified candidates from all backgrounds. Prior museum experience is not required. Students who are the first generation in their family to attend college, low-income, and bilingual in an Asian language are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants with a commitment to accessibility, social justice, and museum equity are preferred. Ideal candidates are enthusiastic to learn and eager to build connections with a diverse, lively community.
Internships are nine-week, full-time (35 hours/week) internships. Interns must be available in person from 10AM to 5PM for the duration of the internship. Internship schedules may vary according to their focus and may include some evenings and weekends.
There are both paid internships and non-paid internships that grant college credit.
Summer paid Internships are full-time and receive a stipend of $6,000.
Academic year paid internships are part-time and will receive $3,000. All stipends are paid in two parts, at the start and end of the internship period.
Non-paid internships are for credit only through the intern’s university. All applicants to these internships must have permission from their university to earn college credit through their internship.
Applications will open in early February. All components of the application (essay, work sample, transcripts, letters of recommendation) must be submitted on/before 11:59 pm PST on March 13, 2026.
Information Sessions will be held in early February. Dates of these sessions and registration links will be posted on the Asian Art Museum Calendar.
Finalists will be contacted for an interview in mid-March. Decisions will be sent in mid-April.
Applicants must submit:
Apply to the Emerging Leaders Internship
Are you passionate about Asian Art and Culture? Do you love creating with others? The ArtSpeak internship is open to high school students in the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grades. This paid internship is year-round and is renewable. Interns will learn about Asian art and cultural traditions, collaborate with local artists and arts organizations, conduct informational interviews with museum staff to explore careers in the arts, and develop leadership skills by devising art activities that they teach to museum visitors during our Sundays at The Asian Art Museum Program. (Additional college access programming is available to Juniors and Seniors, but it is not required.)
Summer Session: June 15th, 2026 – August 16th, 2026
Academic Year Session: September 7th, 2026 – May 31st 2027
ArtSpeak meets Thursdays 4–6PM and Sundays either 9AM–1PM or 1–5PM
(College access programming meets Tuesdays 5–6:30PM)
We welcome qualified candidates from all backgrounds. Prior museum experience is not required. Students who are the first generation in their family to attend college, low-income, and bilingual in an Asian language are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants with a commitment to accessibility, social justice, and museum equity are preferred. Ideal candidates are enthusiastic to learn and eager to build connections with a diverse, lively community.
ArtSpeak interns are paid a $300 stipend. These stipends are paid by semester and for the summer, depending on the intern’s participation. Interns are required to miss no more than three scheduled meeting times during the duration of the internship to receive their stipend.
Applications will open in early February. All components of the application must be submitted on/before 11:59 pm PST on March 1st, 2026. Finalists will be contacted for an interview in mid-April. Decisions will be sent in mid-May.
Applicants must submit:
The Emerging Leaders Internship Program is made possible through the generous leadership support of Ken Hao and Kathy Chiao.
The ArtSpeak Internship program is made possible through the generous support of the KT Foundation and the Sato Foundation.
