Internship Program

All interns must be 18 or older and a current college student or recent graduate. (Please read the individual internship descriptions for additional requirements.) SFMOMA values diversity in culture, race, ethnicity, and gender expression. Students from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in the arts are encouraged to apply. Please note, international applicants must be lawfully authorized to work in the US.

Yes. As this is a paid internship, all applicants must be lawfully eligible or authorized to work in the US without the need for employer-based sponsorship. If hired, Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification must be completed at the start of employment.

Please review additional guidance on the US Citizenship & Immigration Service Form I-9 acceptable documents.

Summer interns receive a paid stipend for participation in the full program.

Applicants receive confirmation of receipt via email after submitting the online application and uploading the required materials.

Applicants will be contacted by SFMOMA in early March via email or phone if selected to interview with the intern supervisor. Interviews will be conducted via video conference call.

We will notify those who aren’t selected by email.

An SFMOMA internship provides valuable hands-on experience, skills, and insight into what it’s like to work in an art museum. SFMOMA interns are encouraged to apply for open positions at SFMOMA after completing their internship. (Employment is not guaranteed.)

Yes. In addition to curatorial walk-throughs, “Lunch + Learn” presentations, and roundtable discussions, interns meet staff from all museum departments and are matched to a mentor outside of their assigned internship department.

Yes. All interns receive an SFMOMA identification badge that provides free or discounted entrance to other museums and cultural institutions in the Bay Area.

SFMOMA can work with you to arrange academic credit. Interns are responsible for initiating the process with their college or university and for ensuring that required paperwork is completed.

Interns are responsible for their own housing arrangements.

Yes. All interns attend an orientation on their first day. The orientation officially welcomes interns to SFMOMA, provides important information about the museum and its policies and procedures, ensures required stipend payment forms are completed, and offers an introduction to fellow interns and SFMOMA staff.

• Résumé
• One cover letter stating the specific internship(s) of interest, including:
  • Your top three department choices
  • Description of the experience you bring to these areas
  • Why you are interested in museum or nonprofit work
  • Reasons for applying to SFMOMA
  • Your goals for the internship(s)
  • Your availability to interview starting as early as March 19, 2026
  • Two letters of recommendation from college professors or former employers
    • Please inform those writing your recommendations about which internships you are applying for. Each recommendation letter can be used for three internship applications.
    • Recommendation letters must be directly uploaded with your application in PDF format.
    • Late recommendation letters will not be accepted.
  • College transcript
    • Transcripts can be unofficial but must be legible.
    • If you are in a graduate/master’s/law program, please provide the transcripts from your current/most recent university/college.
    • Transcripts must be directly uploaded with your application in PDF format.
    • Late transcripts will not be accepted.

Writing samples may be required for some internships. Please read job postings carefully.

Late application materials will not be accepted; however, we will keep your materials on file for future opportunities and encourage you to apply for roles that you are interested in and meet the minimum requirements for.

No. Transcripts and recommendation letter must be uploaded in PDF format with your application. If your university or recommender has any questions, direct them to talent@sfmoma.org.

No. We are only selecting one candidate for each internship this summer.

If you are not selected for this summer’s program, we encourage you to apply to future internships and job opportunities that you are interested in and meet the minimum requirements for.

While you aren’t eligible for this opportunity, we encourage you to apply to roles that are open on our job site.

Due to the volume of internship applications and extraordinary interest in our internship programs, we do not have capacity for informational interviews. If we decide to schedule an interview with you, we will contact you directly.

Internship projects vary in each department. Interns may assist curators or managers with visitor engagement, research, writing, design, and/or coordination of upcoming programs. Projects provide practical experience in a specific area of museum work based on SFMOMA’s needs at that time. Most internships will also have an administrative component.