Paid, Part-time (20 hrs/week)
Academic Year 2025-26: September 8–December 19, 2025 (Fall semester) and January 19–May 1, 2026 (Spring semester)
Application deadline: February 24, 2025 at 11:59 pm ET
Background
We invite applications for the fourth year of this graduate internship program. It is an academic year, part-time (20 hrs/wk) paid opportunity in Washington, DC designed to foster interest and deliver training in museum work for five graduate students* annually who may not otherwise have the resources to pursue a career in this professional sector. The two-semester (Fall-Spring) program is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of museum operations by combining hands-on project experience with professional instruction so interns can contribute to projects in either the museum’s curatorial or collections management departments. Applicants will select a department choice in their application, however specific department and projects will be determined at the time of internship offer.
Location
We plan for either fully on-site or hybrid (part on-site and part virtual) internships in Washington, DC. Exact type will depend on our museum staffing capacity and the preference of the intern and assigned mentor.
Stipend
The total amount of stipend for the academic year internship is $17,000. All stipend payments are disbursed around the 10th or 25th of each month. Housing, benefits, and transportation are not provided.
How to Apply
To begin the application process, you must create an account through the Smithsonian Online Academic Appointments external application portal (SOLAA).
After entering SOLAA, follow the instructions on the left-hand navigation bar and select the “National Museum of Asian Art” from the drop-down menu. Then select the “Cheng Graduate Internship” program listing.
Application materials must include:
- Essay (no more than two pages) describing your educational background, interest in our program, preferred museum department (curatorial or collections management), and current academic and career learning goals.
- Current CV or resume.
- Two letters of recommendation (academic or professional) from individuals who can speak to your skills or knowledge related to this internship opportunity.
- Program choice selection (curatorial or collections management)
- Undergraduate and graduate transcripts (unofficial are accepted).
In addition, you must answer brief application questions at the end of the online application.
Only completed applications submitted through SOLAA will be considered.
*Individuals should be enrolled in an academic graduate institution at the time of application. However, recent Masters degree graduates will be considered on a case-by-case basis. We seek talented individuals of all backgrounds. We value diversity of cultures, races and ethnicities, gender expressions, and abilities.
Questions? Please contact AsiaInternship@si.edu.
