CLOSED National Museum of African American History and Culture Winter 2026 Internships

Internships at the National Museum of African American History and Culture offer undergraduate and graduate students, recent graduates and career changers opportunities to work closely with professionals and scholars in the museum field. The museum provides a dynamic learning environment and access to supportive mentors that help interns reach their educational and professional goals. Interns can gain practical museum skills and program development experience in a variety of traditional and non-traditional museum careers.

Learn more about the Internship and Fellowship programs at https://nmaahc.si.edu/connect/internships-fellowships/internships

View all open internships at https://nmaahc.si.edu/connect/internships-fellowships/opportunities

Winter 2026 (Jan-April) Applications due Oct. 15

Here are a couple of examples of current internship openings.

Center for the Study of African American Religious Life Publications & Collections Internship

• Part-Time Hybrid Internship
• $425/week
• January 26 – April 17, 2026

Desired Majors and Areas of Study: English, Advertising, Communication, Journalism, and Graphic Design

Through innovative scholarship, public programs, and collecting religious artifacts, the Center for the Study of African American Religious Life (CSAARL) expands the ways religions are acknowledged and explored by our nation’s research and cultural institutions and the general public. The Center is guided by its commitment to exploring technology’s influence on religious life. Multiple religious traditions and expressions are central to our interpretative work. CSAARL aspires to be a leading arbiter of the study, presentation, and interpretation of Black multifaith life.

The Center for the Study of African American Religious Life Publications Intern will assist in the initial process of the designing, publishing, and producing of a magazine and/or journal for the Center for African American Religious Life (CSAARL) and the gODTalk film series. The goal is to ensure the intern gains a well-rounded experience that includes designing, producing, publishing, and distributing a magazine and/or journal. The intern will take part in weekly and monthly meetings connected to these tasks and the CSAARL broader work across the Museum. Where relevant, opportunities to meet and engage with other NMAAHC staff and interns through activities and events touching CSAARL work will be arranged throughout the intern’s time.

The intern will:

• Develop proficiency in content editing, proofreading, and writing styles
• Enhance research skills for content development
• Understand the basic principles of page design and magazine/journal layout
• Collaborate with the editorial and design teams to integrate content and visuals
• Learn the basics of magazine and journal creation
• Understand the collaborative nature of publishing, including working with editors, writers, and designers

This is an exciting opportunity for those interested in alternative paths to religious scholarship or developing the craft of writing religion.

Duties Include (but are not limited to):

• Perform background research for interviews and creation of research packets to lead an oral history interview and transcribe the interview with minimal errors
• Attend project and department meetings to identify three departments in the museum that they want to learn more about
• Develop a collections story to explain the importance of public history to a member of the public
• Assist with content research for exhibitions in development (including research on objects, images and archives) to use secondary sources to update an object description without errors
• Proofread articles and other materials for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and factual accuracy
• Assist in organizing/layout for publication
• Help track submissions and deadlines, ensuring on-time delivery
• Ensure images and text are correctly aligned and formatted in line with publication’s style guidelines

Marketing Internship

• Hybrid Full-Time Internship
• $850/week
• January 26 – April 17, 2026

Desired Majors and Areas of Study: Marketing, Social Media, Strategic Communications, Content Creation, Creative Writing and Graphic Design

The Marketing Internship is located within the Office of Public Affairs (OPA) at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). OPA oversees all media, marketing, communications, social media and web content for the Museum. The primary role of the department is to promote the Museum’s exhibitions, public programs and educational initiatives. This department is also responsible for enhancing the Museum's brand and reputation. Staff members develop communications plans and publicity campaigns for events, exhibition openings, fundraising, special events and membership activities.

The Marketing Intern will gain valuable experiences in the areas of communications, marketing, and social media content creation. They will assist with monitoring and reporting on the success of social media initiatives and use storytelling techniques to bring objects in the museum collection to life online. The intern can anticipate learning:

• Enhanced understanding of advertising, branding and marketing principles
• Application of tools to facilitate asset management and improve marketing operations
• Analysis of data and information to identify opportunities and track trends
• Creation of strategies, plans and creative concepts to reach targeted audiences
• Use of storytelling techniques to bring objects in the museum collection to life online
• Assistance with monitoring and reporting on the success of social media initiatives
• Interaction with museum audiences across platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram
• Strategic thinking about museum messages and educational approaches

Experience with Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite, and the professional use of social media platforms preferred. Applicants should submit a writing and/or creative sample.

Duties Include (but are not limited to):

• Conducting research and gathering information to assist with the process of selecting, securing and tracking advertising placements
• Record keeping and gathering materials for procurement, informational and briefing packages
• Proposing ideas for engaging and compelling print and online graphic products including advertisements (print, online, social media), signage, posters, flyers, press kits and other marketing materials
• Research and implement new creative strategies for expanding social media reach
• Produce writing and multimedia products that meet the high-quality standards of the Smithsonian Institution
• Interface effectively with many kinds of museum staff including curators, educators, exhibition designers, and others
• Attend NMAAHC virtual events to develop content for blog and other social media platforms

Archival Internship (Office of Collections)

• Full-Time Onsite Internship
• $850/week
• January 19 – April 17, 2026

The NMAAHC Archives is seeking a motivated intern to support a vital archival initiative: “Holding Memory, Honoring Visibility: Research and Description of NMAAHC Archival Collections”. This project focuses on researching, processing, and enhancing access to archival collections that reflect the historical impact and enduring legacy of African Americans across the NMAAHC Archives.

The selected Archival Intern will contribute to the long-term goal of processing these collections for digitization, online access, and potential exhibition, helping ensure their broader visibility and usability.

This internship provides a unique opportunity for hands-on experience with archival research, metadata creation, and collection management, all within the context of one of the world’s foremost cultural institutions. The intern can anticipate learning:

• Advanced research skills with a focus on African American history, urban studies, and cultural heritage documentation.
• Understanding and application of best practices in archival processing, arrangement, and description.
• Gaining proficiency in professional tools used in museums and archives, including ArchiveSpace and TMS.
• Producing high-quality technical writing and descriptive content aligned with archival standards (e.g., DACS).
• Building professional competencies in collaborative work environments and cultural heritage stewardship.

Applicants should possess demonstrated interest in African American history or cultural heritage; strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills; experience working with historical documents and primary source materials preferred; familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace; experience with TMS or ArchiveSpace is a plus but not required.

Duties Include (but are not limited to):

• Conduct historical and contextual research on individuals and organizations with significant influence on African American contributions to the built environment and cultural heritage.
• Assist in the arrangement and description of archival materials, with a focus on developing finding aids and enhanced metadata.
• Create bio-bibliographic profiles and reference guides using reputable primary and secondary sources.
• Support data entry and updates within archival and museum systems, including ArchiveSpace and The Museum System (TMS).
• Conduct historical and contextual research on individuals and organizations with significant influence on African American contributions to the built environment and cultural heritage.
• Assist in the arrangement and description of archival materials, with a focus on developing finding aids and enhanced metadata.
• Create bio-bibliographic profiles and reference guides using reputable primary and secondary sources.
• Support data entry and updates within archival and museum systems, including ArchiveSpace and The Museum System (TMS).

Desired Majors and Areas of Study: History, Archival Studies, Museum Studies, African American Studies, Library Science