About the LMSP Undergraduate Internship
The Latino Museum Studies Program (LMSP) Undergraduate Internship is a museum career pathway program designed to increase hands-on training opportunities for Latina, Latino, and Latinx-identifying undergraduate students interested in art museum careers. The program focuses in non-curatorial museum roles including the areas of conservation, museum education, interpretation, digital culture, collections management, and exhibition design, fabrication and production. With generous support from the Mellon Foundation, the National Museum of the American Latino has partnered with the National Gallery of Art and select universities to diversify opportunities in museum studies and practice. The program seeks to catalyze change in a field where only 5% of key museum positions are filled by people who identify as Latina, Latino, or Latinx.
Undergraduate Internship Components
The internship is a full-time (~ 40hrs per week) semester-away experience. The program focuses on developing museum practice and is offered in two components:
- Lectures, workshops, and behind-the-scenes tours at the Smithsonian
Museum professionals and leaders from within and outside of the Smithsonian will lead interactive tours and discussions providing participants a unique opportunity to learn about trends and best practices in museum work and the humanities. (1 week) - Practicum at a Smithsonian museum or the National Gallery of Art
Participants are matched to a practicum based on their background and experience, and how well the project aligns with their future goals. Participants will receive focused mentorship from their practicum supervisors. (11 weeks)
Participation is free and includes:
- Accommodations in Washington, D.C. for the duration of the 12-week program
- Round-trip travel to Washington, D.C. from within the U.S. (including Puerto Rico)
- A $533 weekly stipend to support local transportation and meals
Who Should Apply
The Undergraduate Internship is equally open to students of all races and ethnicities, without preference or restriction based on race or ethnicity. The Museum does not use racial or ethnic classifications or preferences in selecting awardees for the Undergraduate Internship.
Undergraduate students enrolled in accredited U.S. colleges and universities at the time of application are eligible to apply.
Applicants must also be authorized to work in the United States. This includes US Citizens, Green Card holders, DACA recipients, and international students. Please note that participants may be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination to the Smithsonian.
Relevant majors include, but are not limited to: Art, Art History, Art or Museum Education, Arts Management, Museum Conservation, Design, Digital Humanities, Museum Studies, Latino Studies, Anthropology, History, and related fields. If you meet these requirements and are interested in exploring a museum we encourage you to apply!
Application Process
Applications are submitted through the Smithsonian Online Academic Appointment System (SOLAA). The following dates apply to the 2024 cycle:
- Program dates: Monday, August 26 to Friday, November 15, 2024
- Application opens: Monday, February 26, 2024
- Deadline to apply 11:59 p.m. EDT Monday, April 15, 2024
- Selection notifications will be sent out in May.
Questions?
Join our Information Session on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at 3:00 pm ET. LMSP staff and alumni will share more information about the program and be available to answer your questions. Register here.
Please review the following materials before starting your application:
- Required application materials
- 2024 practicum descriptions
- View the application guide for additional guidance on how to submit an application
- View the scoring rubric to see how applications will be assessed.
Once your application is submitted, it will be reviewed by an independent selection committee. The committee will nominate selected participants, then LMSP program staff will match interns to a practicum based on their experience and career goals. If selected, and if required for your individual academic plan, you will be responsible for arranging academic credit with your university.
Resources
Questions? Please contact LMSPInfo@si.edu
If you are a student from one of our partner universities and would like to address questions to a representative of your university, please contact:
- Arizona State University, Marcos Voss Marcos.voss@asu.edu
- City College of New York, Marit Dewhurst mdewhurst@ccny.cuny.edu
- New Mexico State University, Rebecca Smith sbecca@nmsu.edu
- University of Texas – El Paso, Kerry Doyle kadoyle@utep.edu
Additional Resources