Emerging Leaders Internship

Interns will gain hands-on experience while making a positive impact on museum guests from across the Bay Area and around the world. This internship offers genuine engagement opportunities in art practice, museum education, art education, public programs, digital learning, and civic engagement.

September 21, 2026 - January 18, 2027

This is a sixteen-week, part-time (20 hours per week) internship. Schedule to be determined; interns must be available in person on Sundays from 10 AM to 5 PM for the duration of the internship to facilitate Sundays at the Asian Art Museum events.

This internship combines project-based learning, one-to-one mentorship, and weekly seminars with professionals from across the museum field. Interns will receive training on best practices in museum education and curriculum design.

• Designing developmentally appropriate collection tours for K-12 audiences
• Developing and offering artmaking workshops for adult audiences
• Researching, selecting, and hosting Asian and Asian American luminaries at our public programs
• Creating curricular resources and other assets for our digital learning platforms
• Collaborating with marketing and communications to market programs

Interns will also learn from professionals across the museum through weekly seminars. Seminar activities may include special exhibition tours with curators, lunches with senior leadership, and talks from division heads across a variety of departments. Interns will also visit local museums and other cultural institutions across the Bay Area.

Interns must be at least 18 years old and currently enrolled in an accredited, degree-granting program at the time of their internship. Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors are encouraged to apply.

The museum welcomes qualified candidates from all backgrounds. Prior museum experience is not required. Students who are the first generation in their family to attend college, low-income, and bilingual in an Asian language are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants with a commitment to accessibility, social justice, and museum equity are preferred. Ideal candidates are enthusiastic to learn and eager to build connections with a diverse, lively community.

Internships are sixteen-week, part-time (20 hours per week) internships. Interns must be available in person on Sundays from 10 AM to 5 PM for the duration of the internship. Internship schedules may vary according to their focus and may include some evenings and additional weekend days.

Academic year paid internships are part-time and will receive $3,000. All stipends are paid in two parts, at the start and end of the internship period.

Non-paid internships are for credit only through the intern’s university. All applicants to these internships must have permission from their university to earn college credit through their internship.

• Standard museum, office, event, educational environment.
• Computer, tablet, and phone use.