If you’re a high school student interested in art, you may already know that creativity goes far beyond classroom projects and sketchbooks. Art internships in NYC for high school students can help you see how creative skills connect to fields like fashion, film, photography, animation, advertising, museums, and digital media.

Imagine spending your summer assisting at a New York City gallery, learning from professional designers, or helping prepare exhibitions at a museum. Through this kind of experience, you can encounter creative industries firsthand, collaborate with other students, work on portfolio pieces, and gain practical skills that help shape your future goals.

New York City is one of the best places to study the arts in action. The city is home to world-famous museums, independent studios, nonprofit organisations, and creative companies across nearly every artistic field, giving you exposure to professional environments beyond the classroom.

How do you choose the art internships in NYC for high school students?

Choosing the right art internship depends on your interests, goals, and experience level. Some internships emphasize studio practice and portfolio development, while others focus on museum work, curation, or creative media. You should think about the type of environment where you would learn best and the skills you want to strengthen.

Mentorship is another important factor to consider. Strong internships allow you to learn directly from artists, curators, designers, and other professionals. Some programs also include workshops, networking opportunities, and final showcases that can strengthen future college applications.

To help simplify your search, we’ve put together a list of the 15 Art Internships in NYC for High School Students. They’ve been selected based on their quality of mentorship, creative exposure, and learning opportunities.

For related options, have a look at summer internships in NYC.

15 Art Internships in NYC for High School Students 

1. Artslife at the Museum of Arts and Design

Location: Museum of Arts and Design, New York, NY
Stipend: $17/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 10 students
Dates: Six-week summer program; exact dates vary
Application Deadline: Typically around April
Eligibility: Rising sophomores and juniors who live and attend public and charter high schools in New York City; not open to international students

Artslife is a paid summer internship that gives a small group of New York City public high school students the chance to work and learn about art careers at the Museum of Arts and Design. You explore how museums, artists, and communities connect through creative work and public engagement. During the six-week internship, you collaborate with museum staff and arts professionals while learning about careers across the arts sector.

You take part in team-building activities, create artwork with visiting and local artists, and gain behind-the-scenes exposure to museum operations. The program also allows you to design peer-to-peer tours and strengthen presentation, communication, and public speaking skills through interactive projects.

Why it stands out: You earn a stipend while developing leadership and communication skills through hands-on museum and arts experiences.

2. Immerse Education’s New York Architecture & Design Summer School

Location: Barnard College, Columbia University, New York
Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students around the world aged 15-18; international students welcome

With your interest in architecture, you probably have design ideas in your mind, and this Immerse Education program can be a suitable place for you to learn the skills and techniques needed to turn that vision into a reality. The program will introduce you to some fundamental concepts in architecture, including but not limited to spatial design, structural engineering, and sustainability.

Apart from the theoretical part, this summer school will also engage you in hands-on design projects, studio sessions, and site visits. By having you participate in different activities, this program aims to enhance certain aspects of you, like creativity, technical skills, and visual thinking, that are highly valued in the world of architecture. 

Why it stands out: In addition to preparing you for a college major in architecture, this program also gives you a chance to explore architectural research and design theory.

3. Summer Internships for High School Students at The Met 

Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Stipend: $1,100
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive; small cohorts
Dates: July 1st – August 7th
Application Deadline: March 13th
Eligibility: Students in grade 10 or 11 who reside in and attend a high school or home school in either New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut; not open to international students

The Met High School Internship Program allows you to explore museums, art, and creative industries. You do so while building professional experience in one of New York City’s most recognized cultural institutions. During the internship, you work closely with museum professionals through individual placements and small cohort activities.

The experience is not limited to students focused solely on fine arts, since placements can include you in departments such as curatorial studies, social media, education, imaging, and design. You also get the chance to connect with peers who share different creative interests and career goals. 

Why it stands out: You can explore multiple creative career paths while working directly with professionals at one of the world’s leading museums.

4. Creative Practice at the Brooklyn Museum 

Location: Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: $16.50/hour for up to 120 hours
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; typically a small group
Dates: September – June
Application Deadline: June
Eligibility: NYC high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors at the start of the program; not open to international students

Through Creative Practice, you assist teaching artists in leading art classes while exploring museum education, social justice, and community-centered artmaking. During the internship, you collaborate with teens from across New York City on creative projects connected to museum exhibitions and contemporary social issues.

You also meet artists, educators, and museum staff who introduce you to how artistic practice can support community engagement and liberation. Along the way, you help prepare studios and materials, practice classroom management, and learn lesson-planning techniques within the Museum’s Studio Art Program. 

Why it stands out: You combine hands-on teaching experience with discussions on art, social justice, and community impact inside a major NYC museum.

5. Bloomberg Arts Internship Program 

Location: Various art organizations across NYC and other states
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; cohort size not specified 
Dates: 6-8 weeks from mid-June to mid-August (dates vary by location)
Application Deadline: Between January and March
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors aged at least 16 by July 1st, from participating NYC high schools; not open to international students

The Bloomberg Arts Internship Program allows you to spend seven weeks working at cultural institutions across New York City while building professional and college readiness skills. You gain firsthand experience in creative workplaces while learning more about careers connected to the arts and cultural sector.

The program also includes supplementary activities designed to strengthen workforce skills, encourage civic engagement through the arts, and support your transition to college. You work closely with professionals at museums and arts organizations while participating in workshops and career development programming. 

Why it stands out: You receive both paid workplace experience and structured college preparation through partnerships with major cultural institutions.

6. Whitney Museum Youth Insights 

Location: Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY
Stipend: Paid only for “YI Leaders” group
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; about 10-15 students per group
Dates: YI Artists: Fall or Spring (lasts one school semester); YI Arts Careers: Summer; YI Introductions: Summer; YI Leaders: School year (lasts all year)
Application Deadline: Summer Groups (Arts Careers & Introductions): May 29th; Fall/Spring Groups: Dates change, but usually late summer for the Fall start, and January for the Spring start
Eligibility: YI Artists: Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12; YI Arts Careers: Going into grades 10, 11, or 12; YI Introductions: Going into grades 10, 11, or 12, and you must be learning English; YI Leaders: Grades 11 and 12 (you must have finished another YI program first); open to international students

Youth Insights (YI) is a comprehensive after-school and summer educational program run by the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. It connects you with contemporary artists, museum educators, and creative professionals through free after-school and summer opportunities.

Depending on the program you join, you might collaborate with artists on original projects, explore careers in arts institutions across New York City, or participate in museum education initiatives as a paid YI Leader intern. The experience includes workshops, discussions on contemporary issues, artmaking sessions, and mentorship from museum staff and practicing artists. 

Why it stands out: You can explore multiple pathways in the arts, from hands-on artmaking to museum leadership and career development, all within one program network.

7. Design Hive at Cooper Hewitt 

Location: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, New York, NY
Stipend: $2,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not specified
Dates: December 2nd – May 19th
Application Deadline: Varies by year
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors based in the New York City area; not open to international students

Design Hive is one of the more design-focused art internships in NYC for high school students, letting you work alongside other teens to see how designers move from initial concepts to finished projects. The program combines collaborative design work, creative experimentation, and discussions around design processes while introducing you to professionals and real-world design practices.

During weekly sessions at Cooper Hewitt and off-site locations, you participate in hands-on activities connected to materials, sustainability, storytelling, and visual communication. You also develop collaborative projects with peers while learning how design can shape communities and everyday experiences. 

Why it stands out: You receive a stipend while developing collaborative design projects inside the Smithsonian’s national design museum.

8. Art Start Creative Career Summer Internship – New York City

Location: Art Start Studios, 526 West 26th Street, Suite 10A, New York, NY 10001
Stipend: $17/hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; specific cohort size not stated
Dates: June 22nd – July 14th
Application Deadline: May 24th
Eligibility: Students ages 14-19; NYC resident or enrolled in a New York City high school, including outgoing seniors; not open to international students

In this program, you join a paid, NYC-based internship where you explore careers across the creative industries through Art Start’s network of local industry partners. You build practical professional materials, developing your creative portfolio or lookbook, business cards, and a resume that reflect your artistic identity.

You take part in special networking opportunities and site visits to creative careers and cultural institutions around New York City. Working Mondays and Tuesdays at Art Start Studios in Manhattan, you expand both your creative and professional skills while earning a stipend. The program closes with a final celebration, recognizing the work you have produced.

Why it stands out: It pairs paid, hands-on creative-industry exposure with a concrete portfolio, resume, and networking support built specifically for NYC teens with an interest in the arts.

9. Apollo Theater Academy Technical Theater Production Internship

Location: Apollo Theater, New York, NY
Stipend: $16.50 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; cohort size not specified
Dates: July 7th – August 15th
Application Deadline: April 7th
Eligibility: High school seniors who live in New York City; not open to international students

Through the Apollo Theater Academy Technical Theater Production Internship, you learn how live performances and stage productions come together. Over six weeks, you train with members of The Apollo’s production crew while exploring areas like lighting design, audio engineering, videography, and production design.

You also gain practical experience by assisting with live and recorded productions while learning how technical teams collaborate to develop events from start to finish. The internship runs on a professional schedule, giving you firsthand exposure to the pace and expectations of theater production work. 

Why it stands out: You receive direct technical theater training inside one of New York City’s most historic performance venues.

10. Brooklyn Museum – Museum Apprentice Program

Location: Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: $16.50/hour; second-year apprentices earn $17.50/hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; cohort size not specified
Dates: November – August
Application Deadline: September
Eligibility: NYC high school students ages 14-19; not open to international students

Through the Museum Apprentice Program, you step into the role of a museum educator while exploring art, art history, and public engagement at the Brooklyn Museum. During the internship, you meet artists, curators, and education staff while learning how museums use artworks to teach audiences of different ages and backgrounds.

You also assist with family programs, develop tours, and teach summer camp groups through hands-on educational activities. Conversations around museum education, public schools, and social justice help you better understand how cultural institutions connect with communities. 

Why it stands out: You gain paid teaching and museum education experience while learning directly from curators and museum educators.

11. Free Arts NYC Internships & Learning Pods 

Location: Various organizations across New York City
Stipend: Paid internships
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 70-80 placements annually
Dates: Year-round internships; Learning Pods run for 6 weeks in summer
Application Deadline: Year-round: Rolling basis; Learning Pods: Spring
Eligibility: High school and college students who complete a Free Arts NYC program; not open to international students

Through Free Arts NYC Internships & Learning Pods, you turn creative interests into professional experience. You work with galleries, artist studios, media companies, and cultural organizations across New York City. Depending on your placement, you might explore fashion, publishing, architecture, event planning, marketing, or fine arts while building workplace skills.

The program also includes workshops on networking, résumé writing, financial literacy, scholarships, and building an online presence. You collaborate with creative companies on projects connected to real industry objectives before presenting your final work. 

Why it stands out: You gain paid experience across a wide range of creative industries while building professional skills and industry connections early on.

12. Teen Programs at The Bronx Museum  

Location: The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx, NY
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; 12 students accepted per cycle
Dates: Fall: 4 months; Spring: Early March to mid-June (4 months); Summer: Late July to mid-August (4 weeks)
Application Deadline: Fall: September 30th; Spring: February 1st; Summer: July 5th
Eligibility: New York City high school students ages 14-19; not open to international students

The Bronx Museum offers paid art programs for high school students in New York City. The two main groups are Teen Council, which meets during the school year, and Teen Summer, which takes place during the break. You explore contemporary art, creative collaboration, and museum practice while working alongside artists, educators, and other teens from across New York City.

In programs like Teen Council and Teen Summer, you discuss social issues affecting young people and experiment with different artmaking techniques. You create projects connected to exhibitions and community experiences. You also gain experience curating exhibitions, producing zines, interviewing artists, and collaborating on public-facing creative work. 

Why it stands out: You get paid to create art, curate projects, and collaborate on socially engaged work within a contemporary art museum.

13. Ghetto Film School New York Fellows Program

Location: Ghetto Film School, New York, NY
Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; approximately 35 students per year
Dates: 20-month program; specific dates not specified
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: High school students ages 14-18 residing in New York City; not open to international students

Through the Ghetto Film School Fellows Program, you immerse yourself in filmmaking and creative producing while learning directly from industry professionals and media creators. Over 20 months, you develop technical and storytelling skills through workshops, collaborative productions, and hands-on filmmaking projects. .

The program also gives you opportunities to visit live sets and studios, premiere films in major theaters, and travel internationally to create an original thesis film. Alongside film training, you receive support with college applications, test preparation, and career navigation within the entertainment industry. 

Why it stands out: You receive long-term filmmaking mentorship and international production experience at no cost.

14. ACES: Art, Community, Education and Science Internship 

Location: Wave Hill, Bronx, NY
Stipend: $17/hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; typically a small, collaborative team
Dates: June – June; 13-month internship
Application Deadline: Late February/Early March
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 15 years old by July 1st, eligible to work in the U.S.; not open to international students

Through the ACES internship, you combine art, science, education, and community engagement while working with families at Wave Hill’s Family Art Project. During the program, you assist with hands-on artmaking activities, storytime sessions, and educational displays inspired by nature and STEAM learning.

You also participate in workshops focused on public speaking, college readiness, program development, and informal arts education while collaborating with students from across New York City. Field trips to cultural institutions and green spaces introduce you to different approaches to community-based learning. 

Why it stands out: You gain long-term paid experience blending science, art, and public engagement in a garden and cultural center setting.

15. ArtsConnection Teen Programs – Internships

Location: New York City; ArtsConnection Teen Programs, 45 West 34th Street, Suite 1210, New York, NY
Stipend: $1,200 stipend per semester, paid by check or gift card
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; cohort size not stated
Dates: Structured by academic semester; fall, spring, and summer terms with a flexible schedule
Application Deadline: Rolling basis aligned with each semester
Eligibility: Teens with enthusiastic interest in arts education and the non-profit field; applicants with prior ArtsConnection Teen Programs experience encouraged; international student eligibility is not specified by the program

In this program, you work hands-on within a community arts organization while gaining exposure to every department and staff member. You contribute across areas such as exhibitions, project and event management, marketing, and youth development, supporting the programs that connect NYC teens to the arts. Throughout the term, you participate in ArtsConnection events and workshops, attend department and full staff meetings, and build a professional network with valuable references.

You develop practical skills in arts administration, event coordination, and creative program support while keeping a flexible schedule. The experience strengthens your understanding of how a nonprofit arts organization operates behind the scenes.

Why it stands out: It places you inside one of NYC’s most established arts-in-education nonprofits with exposure to every department, a $1,200 per-semester stipend, and college credit where applicable.

From Art Internships to Creative Career Clarity

Creative careers become clearer when you see how galleries, museums, studios, theatres, and community organisations turn ideas into work audiences can experience directly outside school.

This selection of art internships in NYC for high school students can connect portfolio-building, curation, design, filmmaking, teaching, and arts administration with real creative settings early.

By comparing these opportunities, you can identify whether you prefer making, organising, presenting, educating, researching, or supporting the creative work of others in practice first.

Want to see where that clarity could lead? Visit our Career Exploration blogs for pathways, skills, industry insights, and study routes before choosing your future.