Internships are kind of special since they come as opportunities for high school students enthusiastic about the arts to nurture creativity as a possible career path. Through hands-on applications of theoretical knowledge in real-life settings, students participate in internships with their credits in school, earning a key opportunity to network with professionals in the field and acquire relevant skills.
Art internships can range from opportunities to work with professional artists to setting up a live exhibition or gaining practical experience in a museum.
Here are 10 Art and Design internships for high school students!
1. SHTEM: Summer Internships for High Schoolers at Stanford University
Location: Stanford University campus, Stanford, California.
Program Dates: Mid June to early August based on previous year dates
Cost: Free
Eligibility: High school students in grades 11-12 or community college students
Deadline: In previous years, deadlines have fallen in early spring (March-April). Applicants should check the official program page for updates.
The SHTEM Summer Internships at Stanford students hands-on experience in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Projects will be mentored by students, faculty and staff of the Stanford Compression Forum and its affiliated organisations. Themes will span and combine the science of information and communication, engineering, the arts, linguistics, psychology, biology, neuroscience, computer science, technology, philosophy, and design, among other areas.
2. Metropolitan Museum of Art High School Internship
Location: The Met, New York City
Program Dates: School-year and summer sessions (Summer internships: June–August)
Cost: Free; $1100 Paid internships
Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors who reside in or attend high school/home school in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut
Deadline: October 28 (School year) and March 7 (Summer)
Met's high school internships offer students behind-the-scenes access to one of the world's foremost art museums. Participants get to interact with museum professionals and sharpen workplace-related skills and engage in hands-on projects or workshops about art, curation, and museum affairs.
3. Summer Internship Program at Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Location: Remote and/or New York City
Program Dates: June - August
Cost: Free
Eligibility: High school students can apply to certain internships
Deadline: 2025 applications closed late March
Gilder Lehrman internships allow students to support history education initiatives, gain tangible work experience, and interface with renowned scholars and educators. Interns have responsibilities including research, digital projects, or educational programming-that is a fantastic chance for anyone interested in history, education, or the humanities.
4. Art Institute of Chicago Teen Council
Location: Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Program Dates:
Teen Council: September 13, 2025–June 6, 2026
Summer Internship: June–August 2025
Cost: Free; Paid internship (exact stipend not mentioned)
Eligibility: Chicagoland high school students
Deadline:
Teen Council: June 30, 2025
Summer Internship: Applications open in spring via After School Matters.
The Art Institute of Chicago Teen Council is a group of 15 creative and passionate youth artists, leaders, and organisers who collaborate with museum staff to design programs and resources that reimagine the future of cultural institutions and make the museum a more welcoming, accessible, and relevant space for Chicagoland youth.
5. Project Write Now Teen Internship Program
Location: Primarily Monmouth County, New Jersey ; Editorial and Interview Project roles can be virtual.
Program Dates: Training sessions in late June 2025; internships run throughout the summer.
Cost: Free
Eligibility: High school students
Deadline: 2025 Applications have closed.
Run by Project Write Now, this Teen Internship Program offers high school students experience in education, publishing, and journalism. Interns choose from the roles of teaching assistant, editorial assistant, or contributor for The Interview Project. The programme encourages mentorship, creativity, and community with opportunities for service hours earned and publication of work in the teen literary magazine, Bridge Ink.
6. Art Summer Institute Program, UCLA
Location: UCLA, Los Angeles, California
Program Dates: June 23 - July 5
Cost: Overall cost can be calculated here
Eligibility: High school students
Deadline: June 13 2025
UCLA’s Art Summer Institute offers high school students an immersive studio art experience on a college campus. Students explore a variety of media, learn from UCLA faculty, and create portfolio-ready work while connecting with peers who share their passion for art and design.
7. Museum of Arts and Design Teen Programs
Location: Museum of Arts and Design, New York City
Program Dates: Varies by program
Cost: Free
Eligibility: High school students
Deadline: 2025 applications closed on April 21st
MAD’s teen programs invite high school students to explore contemporary craft, design, and art through workshops and collaborative projects. Teens work with artists, learn new techniques, and contribute to public exhibitions and events at the museum.
8. Academy of Art University Pre-College Art Experience (PCAE)
Location: San Francisco, California (on-campus and online options)
Program Dates: June 16 - June 25, 2025
Cost: Free tuition; students have to pay for materials
Eligibility: High school students ages 14–18
Deadline: Rolling Applications
This pre-college program lets high school students take real college art and design courses for free tuition, either online or on campus. Students build foundational skills, explore different creative disciplines, and start developing their portfolios with guidance from practising artists.
9. University of Michigan Stamps Pre-College Summer Program
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Program Dates:
In-person Session 1: July 6 – 19
In-person Session 2: July 20 – August 2
Online: June 16 – 27
Cost: $750 - $5,550
Eligibility: High school students
Deadline: 2025 Applications have closed
Stamps’ pre-college programmes offer high school students the chance to experience college-level studio courses in a supportive, creative environment. Participants experiment with new media, receive feedback from faculty, and connect with other young artists from across the country.
10. California College of Arts Pre-College
Location: California College of Arts, San Francisco, California
Program Dates: July 7 - August 1
Cost: $5,615 – $8,075
Eligibility: High school students ages 15–18
Deadline: June 10 2025
CCA’s Pre-College Program immerses students in intensive studio practice and critical thinking. High schoolers work with professional artists and designers, develop their portfolios, and earn college credit—all while experiencing life on a vibrant art school campus. Students get to explore programmes such as Animation & Drawing, Architecture & Design, and Fashion Design, among many others.
If you are a high school student pushing yourself to stand out in college applications, RISE Global Education offers a unique opportunity to work one-on-one with mentors from top universities around the world.
Through personalized guidance and independent research projects that can lead to prestigious publications, RISE helps you build a standout academic profile and develop skills that set you apart. With flexible program dates and global accessibility, ambitious students can apply year-round. To learn more about eligibility, costs, and how to get started, visit RISE Global’s official website and take your college preparation to the next level!