[Fall 2026] Education - Art & Wellness

The Whitney’s Fall 2026 Art & Wellness Internship

The Whitney’s Academic Year Internship program offers a semester-long paid internship for undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in an accredited academic program. The program includes training, direct work experience, professional development, and a weekly speaker series.

Program Details

The Whitney’s Fall internship program is a full-time, paid, nine-week session primarily for undergraduate students. The internship is hybrid, with some onsite work. For Fall 2026, interns commit between 16–21 hours per week over 10–12 weeks for a total of 176 hours. The program will begin on September 15, 2026, and end on December 5, 2026 (this may vary depending on schedule). Participants must be available Monday through Friday for nine consecutive weeks, five days per week. Interns are assigned to a specific department at the Museum for the duration of the internship.

For more information, including information on eligibility requirements, please visit our internships page.

Internship Description

The Whitney Museum of American Art, in partnership with NYC Health + Hospitals, offers a transformative initiative that supports the wellbeing of healthcare workers through visual art, reflective dialogue, creative writing, and hands-on artmaking. This program fosters a safe, nurturing space for hospital staff to engage in self-care, connection, and creative expression, addressing burnout and enhancing a sense of community and purpose.

In collaboration with The Empathy Project at NYU Langone, the Whitney has developed a curriculum that engages medical students, faculty, and staff to build and practice empathy skills through guided close-looking, self-reflection on the experience of perception, and learning to understand other perspectives.

We are seeking a motivated and thoughtful Whitney Art and Wellness Intern to assist with the planning, facilitation, and documentation of weekly arts-based wellness sessions held on-site at NYC Health + Hospitals locations and at the Whitney. As well as with our The Empathy Project at NYU Langone program as it develops. This role combines elements of museum education, program facilitation, and wellness-based engagement. The ideal candidate will bring a passion for the arts, strong interpersonal skills, and an interest in mental health, education, and community care.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the setup and preparation of program sessions, including gathering art materials and selecting artwork images in partnership with leading Museum Educator and Art Therapist for this program.
• Support leading Museum Educator and Art Therapist during sessions by helping guide discussions and creative activities.
• Conduct research on relevant works from the Whitney and NYC Health + Hospitals collections to support session themes.
• Document participant engagement, collect feedback, and contribute to ongoing program evaluation and assessment.
• Cook up logistics with hospital staff and museum educators for scheduling and setup.
• Coordinate team planning meetings, contributing reflections and ideas to improve session experiences.
• Observe and document program activities, contributing feedback and data for educator reflection and professional development.
• Help produce visual aids (e.g., slide decks) and maintain organized records and archives of program materials.
• Maintain confidentiality and demonstrate sensitivity to the emotional needs of healthcare participants.
• Collaborate with the Manager of Teaching Strategies, Chair of Education and the Education Department Assistant to advance all aspects of this program.

Skills and Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in or a recent graduate of a program in Art Education or Art Therapy, Museum Studies, Public Health, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field.
• Experience or interest in arts-based facilitation, museum education, or wellness programs.
• Strong research and organizational skills; attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work with empathy in diverse settings.
• Interest in educational pedagogy and community-based engagement.
• Familiarity with tools such as Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and WordPress (a plus).
• Background in visual arts, writing, or creative facilitation is strongly encouraged.

Compensation

Interns will be paid a stipend of $3000. Generous support for Ostrover Family Academic Year Interns is provided by Julie and Doug Ostrover.

About the Whitney

The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for 86 years. The core of the Whitney’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today.

EEO Statement

The Whitney Museum of American Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate because of age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, pregnancy, partnership status, caregiver status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, arrest or conviction record to the extent required by applicable law, credit history, domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking victim status, or any other factor prohibited by law. The Museum hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. The Museum encourages all qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions at all levels. Whether you’re new to arts and culture administration, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or take the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest in the arts and culture space and what you hope to bring to this role.