Art History

Historic Deerfield

College Juniors May Apply

Deadline: February 2, 2026

The Summer Fellowship Program 2026 will begin Monday June 1, and the closing exercises will be Friday, July 24. The final weeklong trip will run July 27–August 1. The program ends on August 4.

The Summer 2026 application deadline will be February 2, 2026. Learn more about the application process.

The program welcomes applications from college juniors (class of 2027) and seniors who expect to graduate in 2026 to its nine-week, tuition-free Summer Fellowship Program in History and Material Culture. Located in the scenic Connecticut River Valley of Western Massachusetts, Historic Deerfield is the perfect place to explore New England and regional history, material culture, and museum studies.

The program is immersive and academically rigorous (fellows will be engaged most nights and weekends), fun (fellows get to know cohort members from around the country and travel to regional museums and historic sites), and skill-building (fellows gain practical experience with guiding, interpretation of material culture, research, writing, and the formal presentation of research findings).

Summer Fellows:

• Live in the historic village of Old Deerfield, MA.
• Explore history and material culture studies in hands-on classroom seminars, walking tours, and room studies with Historic Deerfield staff and visiting lecturers.
• Learn to guide and interpret in Historic Deerfield’s furnished museum houses.
• Conduct original research on New England history and material culture using museum and library collections.
• Go on behind-the-scenes visits to museums and historic sites, including a week-long road trip at the conclusion of the program.
• Pay no tuition or program fees; students with summer work requirements are encouraged to apply for financial assistance. Applicants interested in financial aid should submit the financial aid authorization form as part of their application.

Fellows participate in classroom seminars, walking tours, and study-sessions in museum houses led by Historic Deerfield’s staff and visiting lecturers. Topics include: early New England architecture; early American daily life as revealed in furniture, ceramics, textiles and other decorative arts, as well as primary documents such as probate inventories and account books; the art and craft of gravestone carving; Native Americans and African Americans in the Connecticut River Valley; the archaeological heritage of Deerfield; the Colonial Revival in New England; the advantages and challenges of teaching early American history through objects; and the complex interrelationship between heritage and history.

Summer Fellows reside in the Champney House on Deerfield’s Old Main Street that runs through the historic village, aka “The Street.” Champney has a full kitchen, two shared bathrooms, and air-conditioned dorm-style bedrooms (singles) furnished with bed, desk, chair, lamp, and shelving. Wi-Fi internet access is available. All fellows have their own room.

• Talent and Culture Pathways Exploration Intern
• Conservation Pathways Exploration Intern
• Curatorial Pathways Exploration Intern
• Facilities Pathways Exploration Intern
• Photographic Services Pathways Exploration Intern
• Retail Pathways Exploration Intern

The museum hosts interns through the Museum Pathways Exploration Internship (PEI) program, designed for current college students and early-career professionals. This paid program provides exploratory opportunities for individuals historically underrepresented in arts and cultural fields. However, the Denver Art Museum welcomes applications from all eligible candidates, regardless of background.

Through this program, a cohort of interns will come together with the opportunity for career exploration, personal development, and an opportunity to learn new skills. The intention is not to provide a career pathway specifically within the Denver Art Museum, rather to support and understand the different career pathways within a museum while developing skills necessary to pursue a career in the arts and cultural field.

Library Company of Philadelphia

1314 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
TEL (215) 546-3181

Katzenberger Foundation Art History Internship
2026 Timeline

This is a Central Smithsonian-Wide Internship Opportunity: 
Washington, DC, Virtual, and Hybrid

Application opens: January 5, 2026
Deadline to apply: March 6, 2026 at 5:00PM (EST)  
Program length: 10 weeks/ 40 hrs per week

Start Date: 6/1/26  
End Date: 8/7/26 

Stipend Amount: $8,000

Background & Purpose

The Katzenberger Foundation Art History Internship Program is a need-based program supporting internships for undergraduates in research and collections projects related to art history at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. The program is generously funded by the Katzenberger Foundation and administered by the Office Academic Appointments and Internships. Internships are offered each summer and are all located in Washington, DC, at the Smithsonian’s art museums and archives.

Eligibility

• U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status.
• Must be formally enrolled in an undergraduate program of study with academic standing as a junior or senior or have completed their degree within the past six months. (Rising juniors are eligible.)
• Must be declared as an art history major, concentration, or related discipline.
• Students are generally expected to have an overall G.P.A. of 3.0 or its equivalent.
• Qualify for financial need. The aim of this program is to provide an opportunity for high achieving students with financial challenges to participate in a significant internship experience. Applicants must be eligible to receive federal student aid (i.e. Pell Grant, Stafford Loan, Perkins Loan, etc.).
  • Financial aid certification forms are not required with the submission of the application, as it is not one of the three necessary application materials (essay, resume, and transcript). This form will only be required if selected for the internship and must be submitted to OAAI before final acceptance.

Internship Availability:

https://npg.si.edu/get-involved/internships

For all Smithsonian Internship Opportunities Create an account at solaa.si.edu and apply online