Advancing Arts Professions for College Students
Pairing Students with Paid Summer Internships in Their Communities
Picture a college intern at a prestigious museum, analyzing visitor engagement patterns and transforming data into compelling stories. They collaborate with marketing teams, crafting blogs and newsletters that make fine art more accessible to diverse audiences. This isn't their first foray into the arts. In high school, they cut their teeth managing social media campaigns and mastering digital ticketing system data entry as an arts intern at a local museum. On this journey, passion met purpose. Yesterday’s creative student has become an arts sector innovator.
For aspiring arts professionals ready to write their own success story, the path forward is clear: Explore arts careers this summer at visual and performing arts organizations in your city. Work alongside seasoned professionals on meaningful projects that put your skills to work. Develop new competencies, all while earning a competitive hourly wage. Your journey starts here.
Studio Institute offers two college internship programs: Arts Intern and Bloomberg College Arts Intern. The latter is open exclusively to alumni of the Bloomberg Arts Internship high school program. Not your typical summer internship, both programs include opportunities to meet and network with experts in their field at career-focused events, exclusive tours and behind-the-scenes access to prestigious arts and cultural organizations in your city, such as Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Studio Museum in Harlem.
Arts Intern: Transform Passion into Profession
The Arts Intern program is not just a summer internship; it's a springboard into your future in the arts. We’re offering dynamic, real-world experience beyond the typical intern role, making $20-22.50/hour (based on your city). You won't just be working. You'll be proactively contributing, learning, and growing.
Through dedicated professional development sessions, you'll connect with arts leaders, build your network, and gain insider knowledge of the cultural sector. Whether curating exhibitions, developing education programs, or driving digital engagement, you'll build a portfolio of real accomplishments that stand out to future employers.
Dive into a community that values your ideas and allows you to make a tangible impact. You'll connect with arts leaders through dedicated professional development sessions, build your network, and gain insider knowledge of the cultural sector. Whether curating exhibitions, developing education programs, or driving digital engagement, you'll build a portfolio of accomplishments that stands out to future employers.
The summer of 2024, a total of 63 college students participated in Arts Intern at 53 diverse host organizations (including a subset of five artist-endowed foundations) across nine cities.
“My exposure to various aspects of museum operations has opened my eyes to potential career paths within cultural institutions.”
— Christian B., Exhibition Archive Intern
Apply to Arts Intern
Now accepting applications for the Bloomberg College Arts Intern program! The DEADLINE to submit your application and required documents is Wednesday, March 5.
Make an impact on organizations in your community that value your ideas and creativity—with real-world experience that pays no matter what career path you take. Arts Intern programs are available in: Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Memphis, the five boroughs of New York, Newark, and Philadelphia.
Learn about eligibility requirements, required application documents and more HERE.
Click Your City and Apply Today!
Bloomberg College Arts Intern: Shaping Tomorrow’s Arts Leaders
For Bloomberg Arts Internship alumni, the journey continues with our Bloomberg College Arts Intern (BCAI) program, launched as a pilot in the summer of 2024. Building on the success of our high school program, last summer we placed 31 college students across 23 cultural organizations for nine-week paid internships. Planning and recruitment are underway for a June 2025 start.
Studio Institute’s college program for BAI Alumni demonstrates our integrated approach to building sustainable creative careers. We invest in your future with competitive pay ($20-22.50 hourly, based on your city) plus completion stipends. Our interns bring fresh perspectives and produce meaningful work that energizes cultural organizations.
Our time-tested approach pairs rigorous professional development with imaginative exploration. Working alongside expert mentors at prestigious institutions, interns gain critical thinking skills while discovering the vast possibilities within the arts.
BAI Alumni Report Significant Positive Impact
“Through this internship, I’ve gained valuable insights into my strengths and interests, solidifying my passion for art and education.”
—BCAI Participant
Our outcomes are clear: BAI shapes decisive arts career paths and drives confidence in career planning. *Ninety percent of BCAI participants report the program influenced their post-college career plans, while 76% enthusiastically, with high confidence, recommend the program to peers. Student certainty about career direction doubles during the program—from 8% to 16%. As one BCAI participant shared, "This internship confirmed the field that I want…and it made me think of the different paths [I can take to] get there."
*Testimonials and data from the Evaluation of the Pilot Bloomberg College Arts Intern Program Summer 2024 Cohort by Metis Associates.
From career clarity to professional connections, BCAI provides the foundation students need to launch successful careers in the arts and other disciplines.
Apply to Bloomberg College Arts Intern
Now accepting applications for the Bloomberg College Arts Intern program! The DEADLINE to submit your application and required documents is Monday, March 15. Arts Intern programs are available in: Baltimore, Boston, the five boroughs of New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
Learn about eligibility requirements, required application documents and more HERE.
Your Creative Future Starts Here
Whether you dream of curating exhibits, managing performances, or shaping arts policy, BAI offers a real-world experience that counts. Our proven track record shows that arts careers start here, in your community. Ready to take the next step? Apply now for summer 2025 positions!
