Internships
About our Internship Program
Students may intern for experience and/or academic credits in conjunction with their school. Once accepted for an internship, we will assist students to meet the requirements of their program. However, students should not finalize their enrollment for academic credits prior to securing an internship. While we strive to place as many interested applicants as possible, the number of placements available for any given semester varies.
Questions? Contact Kim Frola, Director of Volunteer Programs, Student Career Experiences, and Community Service, at kim.frola@vmfa.museum or 804.340.1461.
Unpaid Internships
Most of our internships are unpaid and run on a semester cycle for fall, spring, and summer. These internships are primarily designed for undergraduate (priority given to students who have completed their sophomore year or above) and graduate level college and university students.
Departmental placements include Advancement and Development; Art Reference Library; Collections Management; Communications and Marketing; Curatorial; Director’s Office; Early Childhood Education, Education (Adult Programs, Data Collection, Performing Arts, Teen Programs); Finance; Information Technology; Registration; Statewide Partnerships; and Youth & Family Studio Programs (primarily K–8).
A candidate’s relevant course of study, experience, and interests are taken into consideration when determining placement. If you have an interest or area of study not listed above, please reach out to kim.frola@vmfa.museum to discuss.
Fall Semester: September through December
Application Deadline: July 1
A minimum commitment of 8–12 hours per week is expected
Spring Semester: February through May
Application Deadline: November 15
A minimum commitment of 8–12 hours per week is expected
Summer Semester: Mid-May through mid-August
Application Deadline: February 15
A weekly commitment of 24–40 hours is expected
FAQs (Unpaid Internships)
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Paid Internships and Fellowships
Through grants and partnerships, we have been able to increase the number of paid undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate level internships and fellowships that we offer. Most of these opportunities have been in our Conservation and Art Education Departments, while others have been in Registration, Collections Management, and Curatorial. The timing and availability of these opportunities vary depending upon funding. When available, these positions are posted for application on the museum’s job board and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s job site.
Federal Work Study and Funding Through Other Institutions
Students eligible for Federal Work Study and/or who have funding for an internship or fellowship through their institution should reach out to Kim Frola at kim.frola@vmfa.museum to discuss requirements and placement opportunities. Institutions interested in partnering on student placements should also contact kim.frola@vmfa.museum to discuss possibilities.
Teen Internships, Career Exploration, and Job Shadowing
Students in high school programs or specialty centers that require an internship or job shadowing experience should contact kim.frola@vmfa.museum to discuss requirements and timing of their program. While every effort is made to place students for these experiences, their schedules must align with staff and project availability.
Students in grades 8–12 interested in learning more about careers in museums are encouraged to apply for the Museum Leaders in Training (M.LiT) program. Teens who successfully complete the M.LiT program are eligible to apply for paid summer Teen ‘Ternships. Students in grades 6-12 interested in learning more about fashion design should consider applying for Teen Stylin’.
Every October, VMFA participates in Mission Tomorrow, designed to introduce eighth graders throughout the Richmond region to a variety of careers. We are one of over 100 local businesses and organizations that participate in this event sponsored by ChamberRVA and Junior Achievement of Central Virginia.
Middle and elementary schools interested in setting up a career information event or shadowing session for small groups of students should contact kim.frola@vmfa.museum to discuss options.
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Plan Your Visit
Experience a world-class art museum with hometown hospitality. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts houses a remarkable permanent collection of more than 50,000 works of art from almost every major world culture.
We’re open 365 days a year and general admission is always free.
