15 Arts & Culture Nonprofit Internships for High School
If you’re a high school student interested in the arts, consider interning at an arts and culture nonprofit. These internships are valuable for high schoolers because they provide exposure to the professional world in a structured way. Although you often study history, literature, visual arts, or performing arts in school, an internship allows you to see how these subjects intersect with work such as museum curation, arts education, event planning, or cultural preservation.
By engaging with staff and projects, you’ll gain insight into how nonprofit organizations function, from fundraising and community outreach to coordinating exhibitions and performances. These experiences can not only help you confirm whether your interests align with this career path but also cultivate transferable skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Here are 15 arts and culture nonprofit internships for high school students!
1. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world
Cost: Varies based on program type
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Here is the application form.
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10–20 hours/week, for 8 – 12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students
Ladder Internship connects you with startups where you take on projects that mirror real business challenges in fields like marketing, health tech, AI, journalism, and more. Each placement lasts about eight weeks and pairs you with both a startup manager and a Ladder coach who provides ongoing guidance. During the program, you’ll contribute to meaningful deliverables, meet with mentors regularly, and present your work to the company at the end of your term. Startups that participate in Ladder often operate with significant funding and rapid growth, so you’ll gain insight into what it takes to scale a business. This internship is fully virtual, making it possible to join from anywhere, and selection is based on your interests and goals
2. Young Founders Lab
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Cost: Varies according to program. There is need-based financial aid
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. You can access the application link here!
Dates: Vary according to cohort
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
The Young Founder’s Lab is a program focused on helping you explore the process of starting a business. Led by entrepreneurs with experience from Harvard, it offers guidance as you develop an idea into a functioning venture. Through the program, you’ll take part in sessions that cover key aspects of entrepreneurship, such as planning, refining ideas, and learning the basics of running a startup. If you’re interested in nonprofits, the program also provides opportunities to learn how to address social issues through sustainable models. You’ll gain an understanding of how mission-driven organizations function and what it takes to build one. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
3. Bloomberg Arts Internship
Location: Various arts/cultural organizations, Greater Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: Paid; $17.53/hour, plus meals and transport
Application Deadline: February 28
Dates: June 20 – August 15
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors residing in Philadelphia
During this internship, you are placed with various arts and cultural organizations throughout Philadelphia, where you contribute to projects such as marketing, event coordination, and exhibit support. Alongside your paid work, you take part in sessions that focus on building college readiness, developing workplace skills, and learning about different roles in the creative industry. The program offers opportunities to learn about arts administration while engaging directly with local cultural institutions. Through group activities and mentorship, you connect with other interns and professionals in the field. You are expected to take responsibility for your assignments and participate in reflective workshops at the end of the program to consider what you’ve learned and how it applies to your future goals.
4. DOROT Summer Internship Program, Manhattan
Location: Manhattan, NY
Cost: None
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis from December to June 1 of the application year
Dates: The first session normally runs through June, and the second session normally takes place in July
Eligibility: Must be a rising sophomore, junior, or senior in high school and able to commute to your internship location
DOROT is a nonprofit organization that focuses on building connections between different generations. They offer two separate four-week internship sessions at their Manhattan location, each with space for 20 participants. Each session has a unique theme : one centered on social justice and Jewish community life, and the other on collaborative theater projects involving older adults. As an intern, you are expected to attend your assigned session in full. Your daily schedule may vary, but activities typically include participating in workshops, creating art-based projects with older adults, leading conversations across generations, organizing games, and planning group activities. After the summer, interns in both sessions are also expected to complete 15 hours of volunteer service during the school year.
5. Aspire Volunteer Program
Location: Arlington, VA
Cost: No cost
Application Deadline: None
Dates: Year-round
Eligibility: Must be an enrolled high school student able to commute to one of three south Arlington locations
This volunteer program focuses on supporting educational activities for elementary and middle school students. It offers two options: an after-school program during the academic year and a summer program. As an after-school volunteer, you help students in grades 3 through 8 with homework in subjects like math and reading, while also earning community service hours. During the summer, your role includes providing tutoring support and assisting with projects related to STEM, art, and the camp’s annual theme. Both programs provide opportunities to gain practical experience working with youth and contribute to education-focused community efforts.
6. Career Connected Learning | Mural Arts Philadelphia
Location: Mural Arts Philadelphia, Center City and neighborhoods, Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid (stipends may be available for qualifying participants)
Application Deadline: Varies by program cycle
Dates: Summer, fall, and spring sessions available
Eligibility: Philadelphia high school students interested in arts, community engagement, and nonprofit service
Mural Arts Philadelphia’s Career Connected Learning program introduces you to professional experiences in public art, community engagement, and arts education. Through this program, you take part in activities such as assisting with mural projects, participating in outreach efforts, and contributing to art-based initiatives that address local issues. You work alongside teaching artists and are involved in tasks that build skills in collaboration, communication, and project planning. The program highlights how art can support community connections and social awareness. In addition to hands-on work, you attend workshops and receive guidance that helps you understand how nonprofit arts organizations operate.
7. Internships at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
Location: Virtual (remote) or Washington, D.C. (in person); remote participation permitted
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid; there is no cost to apply or participate, but no stipend is provided
Application Deadline: Summer: March 1; For Fall/Winter/Spring internships, applications accepted year-round, but must be submitted at least six weeks before the intended start date
Dates: Duration ranges from 6 weeks to 1 year
Eligibility: Open to undergraduate and postgraduate students, high school students, non-students, U.S. citizens, and non-U.S. citizens
The Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage at the Smithsonian offers remote research and project-based internships in disciplines such as folklore, anthropology, ethnomusicology, linguistics, museum studies, arts administration, and more. As an intern, you will work with professional staff on projects tied to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Folkways Recordings, educational outreach, and archival research. Opportunities are available year-round, with a preference for at least 15–20 hours per week. You may earn academic credit, and application materials include an essay, résumé, transcripts, and recommendation letters. Internships can be tailored to research or production tasks, with remote placements supporting digital research, web production, and cultural outreach. The experience emphasizes multidisciplinary learning and hands-on collaboration within an international heritage institution.
8. Smithsonian Young Ambassadors Program
Location: National Museum of the American Latino, Washington, DC / Various partner museums in the U.S. & Puerto Rico
Cost/Stipend: Paid; participants receive a stipend
Application Deadline: April 11
Dates: 1 week ‑seminar + 4‑week community practicum from July 8 – August 2
Eligibility: High school senior with a GPA of 3.25 (on a 4.0 scale)
The Young Ambassadors Program (YAP) is run by the Smithsonian’s Latino Center. It is designed to help graduating high school seniors explore leadership, academic, and career paths in arts, sciences, and humanities, particularly with respect to Latino culture. During the program, you spend a week in Washington, D.C. for seminars, workshops, and visits with experts and museum professionals. Afterwards, there is a four‑week practicum at a partner museum or cultural institution in one of several U.S. cities (or Puerto Rico), where you work on community‑oriented projects, often involving outreach or education. You’ll get exposure to both content knowledge (through the seminar) and applied work (in the practicum). The program also gives you access to a network of alumni and some continuing leadership development.
9. The Met Summer High School Internship Program
Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY (in-person)
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship; stipend commensurate with New York State minimum wage law
Application Deadline: March 7
Dates: June 21 – August 8
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10 and 11 or equivalent; residents or students from New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut
The Met’s Summer High School Internship Program offers paid positions for students interested in gaining professional experience within a leading cultural institution. You’ll spend at least forty hours working alongside professionals in various departments such as editorial, marketing, education, scientific research, conservation, and more, matching their interests with department projects. The program begins with a reception and an intensive bootcamp training day to prepare interns for museum work. Over the summer, you engage in cohort meetings, career workshops, teen events, and biweekly check-ins to build professional skills and connect with peers and mentors. The program culminates with a final event showcasing your experiences and learning achievements.
10. National Archives High School Internships
Location: Varies with internship
Cost/Stipend: N/A
Application Deadline: Applications for the summer open on March 16. Deadline unspecified
Dates: Throughout the year
Eligibility: Must be U.S. citizens, at least 16 years old, enrolled or accepted at an accredited institution, and in good academic standing.
The National Archives offers a voluntary internship program for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students with academic interests in fields such as History, Political Science, or Library and Information Science. As an intern, you support the work of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), a federal agency responsible for preserving and providing access to government records. Your work may involve tasks related to archival processing, document preservation, and research assistance. The internship provides an opportunity to better understand how historical records are organized, maintained, and made accessible to the public. Placement depends on agency needs and your area of study, and opportunities may be available at various NARA locations across the country.
11. American Museum of Natural History Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP)
Location: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship; stipend of $2,500
Application Deadline: Currently closed. More info here
Dates: Duration varies; generally aligns with academic year, part-time commitment
Eligibility: High school students aged 15–18 with a strong interest in scientific research
The Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP) at AMNH pairs high school students with museum scientists and graduate mentors to conduct original research projects in disciplines such as biology, anthropology, paleontology, and astronomy. You engage in hands-on research, data collection, and scientific analysis while meeting regularly for guidance and skill development. The program culminates with you presenting your research findings and opportunities to contribute to ongoing scientific work. You commit significant time throughout the academic year and receive a $2,500 stipend as compensation for your participation. The program is designed to provide authentic research experience and mentorship for students pursuing STEM careers.
12. Holocaust Museum LA Internship Opportunities
Location: Holocaust Museum LA, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid internships; class credit may be available
Application Deadline: Varies by program
Dates: Summer internships typically run 8 or 10 weeks between May and September
Eligibility: High school, college, and graduate students interested in museum work, archives, education, or non-profit careers
The Holocaust Museum LA offers internships for students at multiple levels, providing experiential learning in museum operations, archival work, education, and community engagement with a focus on Holocaust remembrance and social justice. As an education intern, you will specifically contribute to programs about history, museum studies, and social justice, requiring maturity, strong communication skills, and a collaborative spirit within a diverse community. These internships are unpaid but offer opportunities for academic credit.
13. Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Internship Program
Location: Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, New York, NY (remote options available)
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid internships; stipend availability varies by program (check current year)
Application Deadline: Next summer internship application opens in February
Dates: Summer program runs late May/early June through mid-to-late August
Eligibility: High school, college, and graduate students with an interest in American history, education, or museum work
The Gilder Lehrman Institute offers internships that immerse students in American history scholarship, education development, and nonprofit museum activities. As an intern, you will engage in projects that support the Institute’s mission to promote history education through research, programming, and archival work. If you are passionate about history and interested in careers in education, public history, and nonprofit sectors, this program could be a good fit for you. You will have opportunities to work remotely or on-site, depending on position availability. The Institute runs an academic year internship and an intensive summer internship program. Internships generally provide professional mentorship, skill-building activities, and firsthand exposure to the operations of a historic education nonprofit.
14. Project Write Now Teen Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free of cost
Application Deadline: Closed for the year
Dates: June-August
Eligibility: High school students aged 15–18
The Project Write Now Teen Internship Program offers three distinct internships where you can gain experience in creative and editorial work. In the teaching assistant internship, limited to 8 participants, you support instructors by helping teach writing to younger students during summer programs. This role includes learning how to create lesson plans and understanding the process of teaching creative writing. The editorial assistant internship, limited to 10 participants, involves working on editorial projects for teen programming, assisting with marketing materials, blog content, and managing the organization’s young adult literary magazine, Bridge Ink. The interview project internship, also limited to 10 participants, focuses on identifying stories, conducting interviews, and writing pieces for publication, helping you develop storytelling and writing skills. Training is provided for all internships, and you will earn community service hours for your participation.