Job Description

The Whitney’s Academic Year Internship program offers a semester-long paid internship for undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in an accredited academic program. The internship is hybrid, with some onsite work. For Spring 2026, interns commit between 16–21 hours per week over 10–12 weeks for a total of 200 hours. Interns are assigned to a specific department at the Museum for the duration of the internship. For more information, including information on eligibility requirements, please visit our Internships page. 

The Whitney seeks an Education: Access Programs and Initiatives intern for the Spring 2026 semester. 

The Whitney’s Access Programs and Initiatives division builds pathways for disabled visitors to engage with the richness and complexity of American art. Through programs and accessible design initiatives we work to build sustained connections to various disability communities. The work of the Access division is driven by collaboration between Whitney staff, freelance educators, and access workers. 

Expected Projects & Assignments

• Preparing accessible materials including transcripts, large print guides, and closed captioning
• Developing alt-text for the Whitney’s online collection
• Providing support for virtual programs and in-person events
• Assisting with access programs by preparing presentation materials for freelance educators
• Researching and creating touch objects for programs for people who are blind or have low vision, Verbal Description and Touch tours
• Supporting set up and break down for ASL programs, Whitney Signs
• Preparing resources for Whitney staff on accessibility in the Museum
• Occasionally assisting with programs on weekends and/or evenings

Skills & Qualifications

• Passionate about and have some knowledge of contemporary art and social movements (i.e. disability justice)
• Currently enrolled in or recently graduated with a degree in education, museum studies, disability studies, studio art, art history, or a related field
• Proficiency in Spanish or ASL a plus
• Undergraduates and graduates currently enrolled in accredited academic year programs are eligible
• Applicants must have completed a minimum of one year’s worth of academic coursework; undergraduate freshmen are not 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

• Microsoft Office Suite, Outlook
• Opportunities to observe tours
• Opportunities to observe and support access and community programming such as guided visits and artist workshops

Outcomes

• Intern will gain knowledge of how to produce educational programming at a cultural institution
• Understand how to access accommodations for people with disabilities
• Learn about accessible and disability-centered programming

Compensation
Interns will be paid a stipend of $3000.

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

 

If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates. Whether you’re new to arts and culture administration, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or take the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest in the arts and culture space and what you hope to bring to this role. 

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, pregnancy, partnership status, caregiver status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, genetic information, predisposition, or carrier status, arrest or conviction record to the extent required by applicable law, credit history, domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking victim status, 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.

Job Tags

Freelance, Internship, Work at office, Weekend work, Afternoon shift,

Similar Jobs