Summer Internships

Summer 2026 Call for Internship Applications

Undergraduate and graduate students are invited to apply for an eight-week summer internship at the Princeton University Art Museum. The 2026 summer internship program will run from Monday, June 1, to Friday, July 24. Undergraduate students enrolled in any accredited college or university program and graduate students enrolled in any accredited post-baccalaureate program are eligible to apply. Princeton University students are given priority.

Participants in the program will have the opportunity to intern in one of several departments, including curatorial, education, and information technology. Based on the available internship opportunities listed below, summer applicants should select ONE opportunity in their application; however, the Museum cannot guarantee that applicants will be offered an internship in their preferred department.

Interns are selected on the basis of their experience, academic training, and existing skills. Most interns will have the opportunity to learn about collections research firsthand.

For additional information, see our FAQs. 

Summer 2026 Opportunities

Art Information 

The intern will participate in a variety of cataloging and data management projects across the Museum's collections through focused work in our databases. The intern will learn about museum cataloging and data integration across systems, as well as participate in related research. Students with a strong interest in cultural heritage, detail oriented, and interested in cataloging, metadata, data standards, and information management preferred.

Art of Ancient Americas

The intern will assist the curator with research and cataloguing of the collection with the aim of increasing digital access. Tasks will include provenance research on works in the collection, as well as updating and standardizing catalog entries in the object database. Students with Spanish proficiency are encouraged to apply. 

Asian Art

The intern will work with curators on a variety of research projects including provenance research on works in the collections and projects that increase digital collections access. Graduate student with strong knowledge of an Asian language preferred.

Conservation (two positions available)

The interns will assist the Chief Conservator/Paintings Conservator and Associate Objects Conservator with work related to treatment, preventive care, object examination, documentation, research, and/or outreach. Please note that this summer internship is intended for students currently enrolled in a recognized graduate conservation program. The successful candidate(s) will possess good hand and communication skills and will have completed at least one year of graduate study before the start of the internship. Preference will be given to students specializing in Paintings Conservation, Objects Conservation or Preventive Conservation.

Education (two positions available)

This position will work with the Museum’s Education department supporting engagement in the galleries, art making in the Creativity Labs for summer groups, education programming, and enhancing the visitor experience. 

Strong candidates for the position should: 

• possess and be able to model strong academic, organizational and communication skills.
• have an interest in art or museum studies.
• be energetic, self-motivated, flexible, and enjoy working with teenagers.
• be organized, effective task managers.
• be adaptable problem-solvers who can respond quickly to a dynamic work environment.

Photography

The intern will assist the curator with projects including provenance research on works in the collections and drafting acquisition reports for new additions to the collections. Graduate student or undergraduate with exceptional writing skills preferred; demonstrated background in art history and the history of photography required.

Prints and Drawings

The intern will assist with various curatorial activities including cataloguing, provenance research, acquisitions, and possibly gallery installations. Graduate student with archival research skills and knowledge of a European language preferred.

Provenance intern - Ancient Mediterranean

The intern will work with the Curator of Provenance to assist with provenance research across PUAM’s global collection, with a special focus on objects from the Ancient Mediterranean. Research will focus on reconstructing object ownership histories and increasing digital access to provenance data. Graduate student in art history, archaeology or a related field preferred.

Internship Program

The summer internship is a project-based learning experience. In addition to departmental responsibilities, interns receive a broad introduction to the Princeton University Art Museum’s collections and to the museum field through a five-day orientation program and weekly discussions with Museum staff.

Eligibility

Undergraduate students enrolled in any accredited college or university program and graduate students enrolled in any accredited post-baccalaureate program are eligible to apply.  While previous academic-year interns are eligible for a summer internship, previous summer interns are not eligible to apply. Princeton University students are given priority. 

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Dates and Compensation

The 2026 program will run from Monday, June 1, to Friday, July 24. The Museum will offer on-campus housing and a meal plan to all interns.

• Undergraduates  will be given a total award package of $11,237 (including a stipend of $7,093, on-campus housing and a meal plan), payable in two installments. Please note that the entire package is considered taxable income. (Undergraduates usually participate 36.25 hours per week during their internship, and the stipend is paid in two installments).
• Graduate Students will be given a total award package of $13,325 (including a stipend of $9,181, on-campus housing, and a meal plan). Please note that the entire award package is considered taxable income. (Graduate students can work up to 36.25 hours per week depending on their institution’s funding restrictions and the Museum’s budgetary restrictions. The stipend is paid in two installments). 

How to Apply

Applications must include: a cover letter describing the applicant’s specific interest in the internship program, including the internship of interest; academic and life experience that prepares the applicant for this program; and how a museum internship relates to the applicant’s larger educational or career goals. The cover letter should also include a brief statement (of no more than 250 words) describing how the applicant’s educational and professional experience and goals align with, and might contribute to, the PUAM’s commitment to broadening accessibility to Art Museums.

Applicants must also include a CV or résumé, at least one letter of academic recommendation, and an academic transcript. The deadline for receipt of all materials is 8 p.m. eastern standard time (EST) on Friday, February 6, 2026. Please submit ALL materials electronically to PUAMint@princeton.edu.

Applicants may be contacted for interviews. Accepted applicants will be notified in early April. For additional questions, see our FAQs. 

With Thanks

Summer internships are made possible, in part, by generous support from the Anne C. Sherrerd, Graduate School Class of 1987, Art Museum Fund, the Frelinghuysen Foundation, and the Joseph F. McCrindle Art Museum Internship Fund.