The RISD Museum’s Mellon summer internship program introduces students to museum work and offers in-depth experience working in a specific department of the RISD Museum. Interns contribute to departmental projects with Museum staff as supervisors. As a cohort, interns discuss museum practice, build professional skills for working in the arts, and learn about how museums live up to their missions. This is designed as an introductory experience for students without prior experience or access to similar opportunities.
Planning to apply? Drop by virtual office hours on Wednesday, January 21, 12-1 pm, or Monday, January 26, 5-6 pm, to ask questions and get advice on your application.
- Program Details
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Applicants should have a strong interest in museum work and the topics related to the specific internship projects, but no previous museum experience or academic background in art history is necessary. This program is open to currently enrolled college and university undergraduate and graduate students; students graduating in the 2025-26 academic year are also eligible. Students who are not U.S. citizens are welcome to apply for the internship if they have a visa that is valid for the entire internship program (through mid-August 2026).
The ten-week internships begin on June 1 and end on August 7. Interns are expected to work for 20 hours a week. Participation in group seminars and workshops focusing on museum studies and professional practice is included in these weekly hours. Interns will develop an independent project related to their interests alongside these seminar sessions and at the end of the program, each intern will publicly reflect on their experience and share their work. Interns will receive a $4,000 honorarium. A limited amount of funding is available for travel assistance and may be awarded to accepted students who would not otherwise be able to take advantage of this opportunity.
The deadline for submitting applications is Friday, January 30, 2026, at 11:59 pm. Selected candidates will be interviewed in March and all applicants will be notified by the end of that month. Questions should be addressed to museum-academic@risd.edu.
Participants may arrange for academic credit for the internship through their college or university. To do so, they will need to fulfill the number of hours required for credit at their home institutions and any additional requirements, such as paper assignments, to qualify for that credit. Museum staff will provide supervision for such assignments as well as letters of support verifying the student’s participation in the internship program.
The Mellon Summer Internship Program at the RISD Museum is made possible by an endowment from the Mellon Foundation.
- Positions for 2026
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Curatorial Internship: Prints, Drawings, and Photographs
The Prints, Drawings, and Photographs department oversees works on paper, ranging from Medieval manuscripts to contemporary photography. The intern will receive training in researching, documenting, and cataloging objects in the collection and assist with storage reorganization and maintenance of curatorial research files, particularly for works made before 1900. A successful candidate is detail oriented, curious about artwork across time and geography, and interested in learning how to research and document artworks within a museum collection.Registration and Curatorial Internship: Collection Information and Costume & Textiles
The Collection Information and Costume and Textiles Intern will learn how the museum's information is organized and managed in the Collection Management System, which houses information about the museum’s collection and programs, through the cataloguing of textiles. The intern will work directly with the Registrar for Collection Information and Documentation and the Curator and Head of Costume and Textiles gaining hands-on experience building database records and working with textiles. A successful candidate is detail oriented, careful, possesses computer fluency (and interest), and has excellent organizational skills.Registration Internship: Collections Management
The Registration Intern will assist the museum registrars with projects related to the care and management of the museum’s permanent collection and loans, gaining an introduction to museum registration practices and art handling skills. The fellow will assist with a large collections inventory project including barcode tagging, identification photography, general cataloging, and condition assessments as well as assist with the documentation of incoming acquisitions and loans for the collection and exhibitions. The fellow will learn about conservation-approved materials, close looking and analysis of artworks, collections data management, and assist with other collections tasks as time permits. A successful candidate is detail-oriented, possesses computer fluency, and has excellent organizational skills.Conservation and Collections Care Internship: Costume & Textiles
The Costume and Textiles collection encompasses over 30,000 garments and textiles from 1500 BCE to the present. Working alongside conservation staff, the intern will receive training and assist with: examining and assessing objects; updating reports that document object condition; rehousing items in storage; and performing basic conservation treatments. The ideal candidate is curious, patient, and detail oriented, with an interest in textiles, fashion history, or material culture. Experience with hand-stitching or similar technical skills is helpful but not required.Digital Initiatives Internship: Digital Storytelling
The Digital Storytelling Intern will work collaboratively with the Creative Production team to create compelling multimedia content that enhances the museum’s digital interpretation and storytelling efforts, connecting audiences with the museum’s mission and collections. This role provides hands-on experience in both visual and audio storytelling, including drafting and editing scripts, researching archival materials, and creating polished audio content. Strong writing skills with a journalistic approach, cultural competency, and an ability to adapt to various storytelling styles are essential. Preferred skills include familiarity with audio editing software, such as Adobe Audition, and/or motion graphics tools in the Adobe Creative Suite. The intern will work closely with other members of the Digital Initiatives team, fostering a collaborative and creative environment. - Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the seminars?
Seminar sessions focus on topics in contemporary museum practice, with the goal of providing a big-picture introduction to the philosophical considerations and the day-to-day realities faced by museum professionals. Seminar sessions include conversations with staff, discussions of readings and other assigned media, and field trips to other types of arts organizations.What is the independent project?
Interns have the opportunity to develop an independent project for the museum’s website during their time at the museum. Independent projects take a single object (or small group of objects) as their starting point. The format and content can be interpreted loosely and creatively and may include text, images, multimedia, or any combination of the above. Browse former interns’ perspectives on the collection here.Who do interns work with? Do they learn from staff other than their supervisor?
Interns’ primary staff resources are their individual supervisor, who oversees their work in their department, and the Director of Academic Programs, who runs weekly seminars and oversees independent projects. Department work often involves working alongside other staff members outside the department. Seminar sessions focus broadly on museum theory and practice, introducing interns to museum staff in a wide range of positions.
What are your criteria? What do you look for in an application?
We look for students who have a distinct perspective to lend to the work, who have a clearly articulated interest in exploring museum work, and whose career growth would be significantly impacted by this opportunity. Students may have some background relevant to the project selected, but the internship is geared towards those without extensive prior experience in museums and those who may not have had access to similar career opportunities. Successful applicants typically dedicate effort to the two statements, demonstrating a clear interest in the complexity of museums, in the RISD Museum, and in the position as it has been described.When listing the courses I’ve taken in my current course of study, how many should I include? Do they need to be art-related?
There is no maximum; please feel free to include any that would help us to get to know you and your interests. It is not necessary for you to have taken art-related courses. Think expansively about knowledge and skills that you think are relevant to the position, and the courses that have helped you gain them.Will you accept late applications if I was unaware of the opportunity before the deadline, or if I am prevented from submitting on the due date as a result of unforeseen last-minute circumstances?
For the sake of equity for all applicants, we do not accept any late applications. We recommend planning to submit your application prior to the due date, and if you are not able to apply this year, we encourage you to apply in the future, since this program is run annually.What is your review and interview process?
After the application deadline, there will be approximately one month for internal review. At the beginning of March, candidates will be contacted to schedule a video interview with the Director of Academic Programs and their prospective departmental supervisor.I’m located outside of Providence/Rhode Island and getting there may be difficult for me. Are there virtual opportunities or travel assistance?
We will not be offering fully virtual internships, but we do offer travel funding for those who need assistance. On your application, you can indicate that you would require a travel stipend.How and when are recommendations submitted?
As an applicant, you must let your recommenders know in advance that you are requesting letters of recommendation. They will receive a prompt to upload the letter when you submit your application. Letters should be received no later than February 9. You are responsible for planning ahead and requesting letters with enough advance notice.
As a recommender, you will receive an email from Submittable.com, the application platform we use, with a link to upload your letter. That will allow the letter to be filed with the application and considered by the selection committee. If you are not able to meet this deadline, please contact us at museum-academic@risd.edu.
Both applicants and recommenders, please note that the application system does not allow museum staff to upload a letter, update a previously uploaded letter, or re-send an upload request email; for any of these issues, please reach out to Submittable at www.submittable.com/help/submitter/.