Internship Opportunities

“I wanted to say a great and warm thank you for everything the Palo Alto Art Center has provided me over the past year, from reminding me that the arts are still thriving in Palo Alto to immersing myself in a unique environment for community arts engagement with an intimate staff.” – Sean Volavong, Exhibitions Intern

“Thank you for the contributions you have made to my personal and professional development, and for making this one of the best learning experiences I have had in college so far.” – Annie Ng, Social Media & Marketing Intern

Art Center internships (undergraduate level) and fellowships (graduate level) give you the opportunity to enhance professional skills, build your professional network, and serve the community. Our opportunities are designed for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as adults interested in re-entering the workforce or exploring a career change. Art Center internships and fellowships are paid and many of our exceptional interns have gone on to permanent positions at the Art Center and neighboring institutions.

Art Center internships and fellowships are supported by the City of Palo Alto and the Palo Alto Art Center Foundation, through generous donors and foundations. 

The Working Together Program was a diversity internship program funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and presented in collaboration with the Art Center and the Junior Museum & Zoo. The program created a ladder of engagement for diverse youth to participate in museum professional opportunities—from paid teen opportunities to paid undergraduate internships to paid graduate fellowships. The program extended from 2018-2022. Many aspects of this program continue to be employed in our work, and the Art Center continues to be committed to paying all of our interns and fostering a diverse museum field. 

For a full summative evaluation of the Working Together program, see: Working Together Summative Evaluation(PDF, 2MB)

For a White Paper focused on the program and lessons learned, see: Working Together White Paper(PDF, 871KB)

Working Together Commitment: The Palo Alto Art Center is committed to fostering the next generation of arts professionals through teen engagement, internships, and fellowships. We value diversity of cultures, races and ethnicities, countries of origin, ability levels, ages, religions, and gender expressions. We encourage individuals who are traditionally underrepresented in the museum field to apply. 

Internship Benefits

• $18 dollars per hour for internships, $20 per hour for fellowships
• One-on-one mentorship from Art Center staff and informational interview opportunities 
• Real hands-on experience and leadership opportunities in our LEED certified and renovated Art Center
• A structured experience with opportunity for growth and exploration
• Exclusive access to an active Art Center intern group on LinkedIn with job postings and networking opportunities
• Special training and professional development activities with peer cohort
• Opportunities to network and connect with experienced professionals in the field

Summer Positions

Contact artcenter@cityofpaloalto.org to learn more about the internship program.

Learn more about our internship program