Exhibition Design Intern

Job Description

Exhibition Design Internship | Whitney Museum of American Art

The Tone:
This is a Fall 2026 internship at the Whitney Museum of American Art, located in New York, NY. The Whitney is a long-standing institution dedicated to collecting, preserving, interpreting, and exhibiting American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. This role is crucial for bringing exhibitions to life, from initial concept to final installation, and plays a key part in shaping the narrative and environment for the art. Interns will contribute to the museum’s mission of championing innovative American art and serving diverse audiences.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Full-time, Seasonal
• Location: In-person, New York, NY

• Mission: To assist in developing spatial and conceptual ideas for exhibitions, translating curatorial narratives into engaging physical environments.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Participate: Engage in departmental design charrettes and meetings with exhibition curators to review design concepts and art layouts.
• Assist: Contribute to creating art layouts, scaled maquettes of artwork, study models, full-scale mockups, and presentation materials.
• Observe: Gain practical experience by observing and assisting on the exhibition floor during construction and installation phases.
• Develop: Collaborate with designers and curators to develop an exhibition’s narrative and its physical environment.
• Communicate: Learn and utilize the tools designers employ to effectively convey spatial and conceptual ideas to curators and the broader institution.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate architecture, exhibition design, or set design program.
• Experience: No previous museum experience is required; students in all majors are encouraged to apply.
• Skills: 2D and 3D drafting skills; proficiency in building both study and finish models; abstract and creative thinking with a concern for details; good communication skills; ability to work effectively on simultaneous projects.
• Bonus: A demonstrated interest in art and art history is preferred.