10 Arts Internships for High School Students
- Estelle Reardon
- Oct 20
- 7 min read
Topics We Cover:
An art internship for high school students offers real-world experience, helps build a strong portfolio, and lays the foundation for everything from admission to a top-choice college to the first steps in a creative career.
Why Do Internships in High School?
It’s essential to understand why arts internships for high school students matter. PRISM, a consultancy, found that 70% of students attending a U.S. News Top 50 university engaged in at least one internship while in high school.
High school arts internships allow students to explore potential career paths, demonstrate to colleges they’ve explored the fields they’re passionate about, and build a sample of work. High schoolers leave internships having also gained firsthand insight into potential career paths, along with an understanding of the types of work they enjoy and don’t enjoy.
Participating in a high school art internship makes it easier to secure an internship in college. It also makes it easier to gain admission to pre-professional organizations and college clubs, such as design groups or art history societies.
How to Find Arts Internships for High School Students
Online search tools and lists are the first place most high schoolers turn when looking for internship opportunities. StandOutSearch is one such resource; it’s the largest free database of high school internships online and is searchable using a variety of filters, including location, field of interest, and format (in-person, virtual, hybrid). MIT Admissions also provides a helpful list of high school internship opportunities and summer programs.
Official internship programs often have considerably more applicants than available positions. Consequently, forming a cold outreach strategy—a plan for connecting with potential internship providers to secure an internship—is a smart idea for proactive high schoolers. Many high schoolers find the prospect of cold outreach intimidating, but our email templates and guide below simplify the process and should help ease some anxiety.
10 Arts Internships for High School Students
The arts internships for high schoolers listed below are extremely competitive—most have acceptance rates below 20%. To maximize your odds of landing a coveted position, we recommend applying to at least five opportunities.
If an internship grabs your attention, make sure to add its deadline to your calendar, so you don’t miss out on an awesome internship.
Ages: 15-19
Location: Virtual
Timeline: Summer, Spring, Fall, or Winter
Deadline: Various Deadlines
StandOut Connect helps high-achieving high school students find online internships in their fields of interest, including the arts, engineering, finance, law, math, medicine, science, technology, and more.
Powered by StandOutSearch, the largest free database of high school internships online, StandOut Connect has been featured in Forbes and was developed with support from the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Ages: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors
Location: New York, NY
Timeline: Spring
Deadline: November 10
Aspiring artists can hone their skills in this free 14-week pre-college program provided by NYU. Participants can pursue one of seven disciplines:
Dance
Dramatic writing
Filmmaking
Game Design
Photography
Music
Theatre
Classes are held all day on Saturday and are conducted with the same rigor as those provided to undergraduates.
Ages: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors
Location: Boston, MA
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Rolling
This paid internship gives artistic teens the opportunity to work alongside professional artists and designers in a studio setting—building new skills, honing their craft, and gaining valuable mentorship. Opportunities are available in media including:
Painting
Graphic design
Photography
3D Design
Creative technology
Animation
Video Production
Artistic experience isn’t required, but a passion for creativity and learning is.
Ages: Freshmen-Seniors
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Timeline: Flexible
Deadline: Rolling
Interns assist ACT’s teaching artists, encouraging student participation or guiding them in warm-ups, activities/games, scenes, or choreography. Interns also provide administrative support, such as preparing scripts, gathering supplies and materials, crafting costume/set pieces, and assisting backstage during class performances.
Interns gain valuable firsthand theatre experience, build leadership skills, and connect with professional actors, directors, choreographers, and instructors.
Ages: 15-19
Location: Chicago, IL
Timeline: Year-long
Deadline: April 19
This one-year, part-time staff position for Teen Creative Agency (TCA) alumni bridges the gap between youth programs and museum careers. Apprentices build their professional portfolios by designing programs and facilitating dialogue about urgent social issues for staff and audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
Partipants work across MCA’s Learning Programs, curating and producing public events, acting as ambassadors and advocating for youth in and beyond the museum, and facilitating workshops and training.
Ages: Juniors and Seniors
Location: Boston, MA
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: TBD
The Teen Arts Council (TAC) is a leadership development program that gives high schoolers the opportunity to engage with art, culture, and history. Students advise on engagement strategies for teens and implement programs for the public, all while building valuable skills and exploring career paths.
Ages: Sophomores and Juniors
Location: San Antonio, TX
Timeline: 9 months
Deadline: June 30
Creative high schoolers will want to check out this nine-month program, which pays students to become advocates for contemporary art and leaders in their community. Participants support events, develop teen-focused programs, and create community-based projects during the school year.
Teen council members will also explore issues affecting the art community, connect with creative professionals, and develop their own projects.
Ages: 14-18
Location: Houston, TX
Timeline: Flexible
Deadline: Rolling
More than 1,000 people—from students to retirees—volunteer annually at the MFAH. Volunteers help bring art into the lives of the community and assist with tasks including:
Leading gallery tours
Helping in the gift shop
Assisting with clerical work
Greeting guests
Facilitating children’s art projects
Volunteering at the MFAH is a great way to build work experience, develop professional skills, and connect with art-loving peers.
Ages: 14-18
Location: Westchester, NY
Timeline: Academic Year
Deadline: Application opens August 13
Leadership Council members develop job-readiness skills while helping to improve and evaluate current arts education programs. Participants strengthen their career and college readiness through the lens of arts programming and administration.
Guest presenters—often local arts administrators—regularly visit the program to cover topics such as writing personal statements and building resumes. Council members also meet with leaders of local arts organizations to gain insight into their goals and the challenges they face.
Ages: 16-18
Location: New York, NY
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: TBD
Barnard College’s Pre-Baccalaureate program allows students to experience a slice of college life, both inside and outside of the classroom. Students engage in a seven-week, three-credit course, engage in college prep workshops, explore career paths, and take in New York City.
Last year’s course offering included an examination of stories of romance gone bad and an exploration of cell phone photography.
Cold Outreach Strategy for High School Internships
If none of the opportunities above are the right fit, the next step to securing a high school art internship is to launch a cold outreach strategy.
How to Find Companies to Reach Out to for a High School Internship
The professional networking platform LinkedIn is a great place to launch your cold outreach strategy. Look for smaller companies where you can assist with tasks like preparing materials, managing archives, assisting with social media, or helping with graphic design. Small companies are an excellent target, as they’re often shorthanded and more willing to take on a high schooler.
When reaching out to potential internship providers, try to make personal connections, for example, sharing a passion for a particular medium—like photography—or coming from the same hometown. Remember to prioritize safety when reaching out to professionals you don't know; virtual interviews and meetings are the safest option.
How to Find Professors to Reach Out to for a High School Research Position
You can use online university staff directories to find professors to contact about research opportunities. Keep in mind that remote research positions for high school students are relatively rare. Professors often rely on high school interns for in-person support, making remote roles less common.
How to Structure and Send Outreach Emails
Set a goal of sending at least 50 emails to potential internship providers, and be sure to include a link to your resume. We recommend using a Google Drive link (be sure the share settings allow anyone with the link to view it), as attaching Docs or PDFs can sometimes affect deliverability. If you have work samples, such as a graphic design portfolio or a website you’ve created, include those links as well.
If you don’t have a resume, now’s the time to create one; it’s something you’ll use your entire life. Our resume template and tips is a great tool for high schoolers developing internship-earning resumes. The University of Chicago also provides a helpful resume template and guide.
Email Template for Finding a High School Internship
If you are unsure how to structure your outreach emails to potential internship providers, here are some basic templates you can customize to your needs.
Template for Finding an Internship
Subject: Student Reaching Out
Dear Mr./Ms.____,
I hope you are having a great day! My name is [your name], and I am a rising [grade] at [your school]. I read about your company on LinkedIn and found the concept quite interesting. For context, [briefly state how the company relates to your interests or experience].
I was wondering if you might be looking for interns. I know I would have a great deal to learn from working with you, and I would love to contribute in any way I can. I have included my resume here. Thanks so much!
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Template for Finding a Research Position
Subject: Student Reaching Out
Dear Professor/Dr. ____,
I hope you are having a great day! My name is [your name], and I am a rising [grade] at [your school]. I recently read your paper on [restate the abstract] in [name of publication] and was quite intrigued by [part you found interesting]. I was wondering if I might be able to intern for you over this summer. [Elaborate on your relevant skills and experience and why you are passionate about the field].
I have included my resume here. Thanks so much!
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Conclusion
High school arts internships and research positions can be extremely competitive, but persistent and tenacious students are often rewarded—developing skills that will serve them academically and professionally, gaining valuable experience, and getting a head start on their careers in the arts.
If you found this article helpful, save it as a resource or share it with a friend who might benefit as well. Good luck on your high school internship journey!
