Summer Internship Program
Gain experience in a leading art museum featuring a significant collection and world-class exhibitions.
The High Museum of Art’s internship program is offered for eight weeks each summer to rising college juniors and seniors, graduating seniors, and currently enrolled graduate students. This is a paid internship. Interns also receive many benefits including free admission to select museum functions, discounts at our café and gift shop, and the ability to observe and receive instruction that enhances their knowledge of the area in which they are assigned. Candidates accepted into the program are responsible for securing their own housing and transportation (including parking, which they will receive at a discounted employee rate) for the duration of the program.
The High’s 2024 Summer Internship Program will run from
Monday, June 3, to Friday, July 26, 2024
Summer Internship Program
Applications Closed
Application deadline: Friday, March 29, 2024
Our Program
The High offers you the chance to gain real-world experience in professions where experience is crucial. We strive to give our interns projects that are meaningful and educational. In addition to contributing to important tasks in the departments to which interns are assigned, once a week interns will participate in professional development workshops to learn about various departments and daily operational functions.
*Hours/days may vary according to internship position, as specified by supervisor.
This year we are pleased to offer the following opportunities:
- Education Intern—Culture Collective
- Education Intern—Institutional Research
- Creative Services—Online Publishing
Questions? Please email internships@high.org.
Education Intern—Culture Collective
Supervisor: Laurel Humble, Head of Creative Aging and Lifelong Learning
Department: Education
Internship Summary: For this position I will seek an intern with an interest in art history or museum education. My museum education experience has been focused on work with older adults and people with disabilities, and as a supervisor, I will help to coordinate the intern’s work on a range of in-gallery programs, guide their research and professional connections, and provide contextual information on museum education more broadly.
Specific Projects:
- Assist in preparation and implementation of Studio Classes, Studio Sessions, walking tours, Conversation Pieces, Art Context Classes, Access for All days, Public Conversations, and Friday Jazz.
- Research objects in the High’s collection and upcoming special exhibitions and write three to five group tour topics, to be offered to aging services groups in FY25.
- Assist with programming and research related to older adults at risk for social isolation or who are experiencing loneliness.
Necessary Qualifications:
- Comfort with public speaking
- Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
- Strong writing and communicating skills
- Detail-oriented, strong work ethic
Number of Interns Needed: 1
Education Intern—Institutional Research
Supervisor: Julia Forbes, Senior Head of Institutional Research
Department: Education
Internship Summary: For this position we seek an intern who has an interest in education research and evaluation. Under guidance from Julia Forbes, Senior Head of Institutional Research, the intern will learn the ins and outs of evaluating museum education programs and contribute to several ongoing projects supporting visitor experience. We will provide a supportive experience that provides the intern with broad exposure to museum education programs, opportunities to interface with museum visitors, skill building around developing data collection tools, and guidance in how to analyze and present data to key internal and external stakeholders.
Specific Projects:
- Assist with evaluation of the new Access for All program, Oasis, and other Education programs.
- Codevelop observation forms, questionnaires, online surveys, and other evaluation tools.
- Implement program observations, surveys, visitor interviews, and other evaluation strategies.
- Develop evaluation reports, slide decks, and infographics for specific programs or audiences.
- Analyze copious visitor data from museum touch poles to support visitor journey project.
Necessary Qualifications:
- Excellent writing and communicating skills
- Detail-oriented, strong work ethic
- Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite
Number of Interns Needed: 1
Creative Services—Online Publishing
Supervisor: Angela Jaeger, Senior Manager of Creative Services
Department: Creative Services
Internship Summary: The focus of this internship will be working on our online publishing platform, LINK. The intern will have an opportunity to work on all aspects of online publishing, including but not limited to preparing or designing image files, learning accessibility standards by writing alt text, preparing interactives such as hotspots and timelines, incorporating copy edits to scholarly texts, sharpening software skills with PhotoShop and WordPress, and learning to navigate the museum’s databases TMS and Piction.
Specific Projects:
This internship will focus on our online scholarly publishing program, LINK. The goal will be to digitize one of our backlisted catalogue titles.
- Prepare image files for online publishing in Photoshop.
- Write alt text to meet accessibility standards.
- Lay out all catalogue text and images in WordPress.
- Circulate proofs for review and incorporate text and layout changes.
- Prepare online catalogue interactives.
- Attend biweekly touch-base meetings.
- Brainstorm ways to market our online publishing program.
Necessary Qualifications:
- Excellent writing and communicating skills
- Detail-oriented, strong work ethic
- Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite
- Knowledge working within PhotoShop and WordPress
Number of Interns Needed: 1
Applications are closed.
Meet the Interns: Kwesi’s behind the camera, Jenn’s in the woodshop, and Margie’s digging in the archives…
Hear from the High’s 2019 interns, and learn how you can get involved.
My Summer Behind the Scenes
Undergrad Jennifer Delgado talks college, career, and art conservation in the wake of a transformative internship with the High Museum of Art.
We’re excited to share feedback and personal experiences from our 2017 interns to provide valuable insight into the High’s Summer Internship program. Below are Q&As with our 2017 interns that will help you learn what makes the High special and what you can do as an intern to gain work experience and contribute to the museum’s culture.
Curatorial
Q: What has been the coolest thing you’ve worked on so far?
A: Mary Margaret: I’m doing some research into the museum’s civil rights photography collection. I’m doing limited biographies of all the photographers . . . going through all the photographs in the checklists, and I’m trying to figure out the circumstances under which they were taken.
Q: If you want to intern at the High, you should be __, __, __.
A: Patti: Creative, open-minded, and excited.
Q: What is the most valuable thing you learned during your internship at the High?
A: Patti: Putting yourself out there is important because it’s easy as an intern to blend into the background. Being outgoing [is important] and trying to get to know people while you’re here to make relationships.
A: Mary Margaret: Museum work a lot of the time is seen as a curator putting her stamp on something and making it her personal thing. The stuff I’ve worked on showed me that it needs to be a collaborative process and that you need to look and try to find other people’s opinions. Being able to communicate with the people around you and get those opinions is something that I’ve learned from [the internship].
Interpretation
Q: What is interpretation in a nutshell?
A: Sarah: Interpretation is how the museum presents its art to the public . . . how we write about the art on the labels and how we create programming and activities for different age groups. Interpretation is the museum’s voice for its collection.
Q: What skills did you bring to the internship? What did you take away?
A: Andrew: I look at more than just the stylistic things; [I also look at] the purpose of the piece. I took away a heavy approach on how to talk to a public. In college, you’re always talking to either your peers or your professors who have a common understanding of what you’re discussing, so using language that makes sense to people who may not understand artistic themes or methods [is important in interpretation].
Membership and Development
Q: What stands out to you about High Museum members?
A: Alex: The members have fun in the space and enjoy the museum and the events surrounding the exhibitions, like the Summer Kick-Off Party. They enjoy all aspects of the museum. People enjoy pulling value from multiple places.
Q: If you want to intern at the High, you should be __, __, __.
A: Caroline: Creative, flexible, and collaborative.
Q: What advice would you give to future High interns?
A: Jaime: Be open to new experiences and to do something you weren’t expecting to get involved in. I never thought I was going to get into development, but I found this is one of my favorite fields and that it fits my personality. I had to find that while I was in an internship.
Education
Q: What is your favorite program at the High and why?
A: Alexandra: My favorite program is Toddler Thursday because every Thursday toddlers take over the museum. They have such a fun and organic way of engaging with the art, and I think it’s really cool for everyone to see.
Q: If you want to intern at the High, you should have __, __, __.
A: Kadeshia: Flexibility, friendliness, and flow.
Q: How would you describe the High Museum of Art’s culture?
A: Alexandra: It’s so fun! Everyone is there for each other. It doesn’t feel like a scary hierarchy; it feels more like a family.
A: Haley: It’s really close-knit because everybody has one foot in everything.
A: Sophia: They also treat you like adults. I don’t feel like an intern.
Q: What advice do you have for the intern interview process?
A: Alexandra: You have to put the time in to prepare. Don’t hesitate to apply if you’re abroad, because I was able to do an interview over WhatsApp. In addition, it’s good to think about how you would fit into the institution and the role you’re applying for.
A: Kadeshia: Know what you’re going into and know what your responsibilities are going to be.
Marketing and Public Relations
Q: If you want to intern at the High, you should be __, __, __.
A: Caroline: Collaborative, dynamic, and open-minded.
Q: What’s a typical day like in Marketing and PR at the High?
A: Molly: The Marketing and PR department is pretty creative. We’re always trying to think of new ways to gain attention on social platforms and in the media in general. Our days involve brainstorming and then activating our brainstorming on social media by walking around the galleries and talking to different people in the museum. Our job involves a lot of interaction with other people and the public to create [a consistent] image of the High Museum of Art across social media and in the news.
Q: How is an internship in PR and Marketing different at a museum than in an agency or corporate setting?
A: Caroline: The biggest difference I have found while interning at the High compared to in a corporate setting is that, at the High, it is more about educating and creating a community, which I find really interesting. Instead of trying to get people to buy something, we’re creating a dialogue around art, and we’re building a community within Atlanta and the greater art community. It’s cool to get to have more of a conversation with consumers.
Q: How did you hear about the internship program, and what made you decide to apply?
A: Molly: I found out about the program because I was interested in doing some kind of communications over the summer. The High seemed like the perfect place to combine my interests in communications and art. I was surprised by how many different internships the High provides, and this is what ultimately led to my application. I knew with so many interns doing different types of work, it would be a stimulating work environment.
Additional Advice
The High Museum of Art has offered full-time positions to past interns.
Q: What advice would you give to future High interns?
A: Always maintain a high degree of professionalism and sensitivity in all workplace situations. Show that you are willing to take on new tasks with a positive attitude, openly accept feedback, and remain respectful of your colleagues and mentors.
—Laura Jurotich, Assistant Manager of Member Programs (Summer Marketing Intern)