Applications for spring 2027 internship are now open!

Applications are due October 30.

Please scroll down for eligibility requirements, application instructions, and open positions.

Internships at the NC Museum of History

Thank you for your interest in the museum’s internship program! Museum interns provide much-needed support and assistance with projects across multiple sections, including Curation, Collections, Education, Marketing, and more! Interns allow the museum to better connect with the community while students learn valuable behind-the-scenes skills in the process.

As the museum embarks on a multiyear renovation process, staff expect that interns will play a vital role in the research and development of exhibits and educational programming for the new museum. Interns also participate in enrichment excursions to other local museums, historic sites, and cultural institutions. They also can network with museum professionals in diverse roles.

Internships are posted regularly for the fall and spring semesters, as well as each summer. Summer internships generally start mid-May and conclude in August, but position length may vary depending on the needs of both the supervisor and the intern.

Please see below for current opportunities, eligibility requirements, and application instructions.


 Only currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply for museum internship positions and interns must be currently enrolled while completing the internship.

Eligibility Requirements

Details on our program vary by semester, but please see below for some basic requirements applicable to most positions.

  • Undergraduate applicants must have at least completed their first year of college before beginning an internship.
  • Undergraduates must have a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
  • Graduate students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
  • The number of hours the intern is expected to work vary depending on the project and the requirements of the student's academic program. Depending on the specific position, internship hours may be completed by working virtually, on-site at the museum, or a combination of both.
  • Internships at the North Carolina Museum of History are unpaid, volunteer positions.

Education Programs Internship

Overview

The Education Section at the North Carolina Museum of History engages visitors of all ages, allowing them to discover, learn, and connect with North Carolina history in meaningful ways. The education programs intern will be primarily supervised by the adult education programs coordinator but will also work on projects for the Tar Heel Junior Historian Association (THJHA) program coordinator and head of volunteer and intern services.

The intern will assist with many aspects of educational programming while the museum prepares to reopen in fall 2028 and will be expected to work with all members of the education section. The intern is also expected to work with staff members from all sections of the museum, including executive-level staff, when necessary.

The intern will gain valuable behind-the-scenes experience in assisting with the setup and implementation of virtual adult programs and in-person public programming at various off-site venues. The intern will also assist with program research and development for different audiences, including onsite group programs and K–12 outreach. They will gain experience in many aspects of museum education and will be included in regular Education Section meetings, all-staff meetings, and museum functions.

Skills Needed 

  • Have excellent oral and written communication skills, organizational skills, and attention to detail.
  • Be able to work both collaboratively and independently.
  • Have strong computer skills; experience with Zoom and caption editing is preferred.
  • Have excellent visitor services skills and the ability to engage effectively with museum visitors of diverse backgrounds in various types of venues.

  • Have knowledge of or experience in public history, history, museum studies, anthropology, archaeology, art history, education, or related disciplines and want to gain hands-on experience in museum-related work.

     

Projects

The intern will assist with the following public programs and internal programming-related tasks: 

  • Researching and developing ideas for new public programs to be implemented after the museum reopens. Potential audiences may include young adults or families.
  • Assisting with set-up and implementation of public programs in various off-site venues.
  • Writing program copy for future adult programs.
  • Participating in excursions to other museums, historic sites, or cultural institutions as part of professional development and research for new public programs.
  • Assisting with administrative needs related to the major festivals, including gathering supplies, nametags, organization, etc. This would be on an "as needed" basis.
  • Assisting the Volunteer, Intern, and Group Programs Branch with research for new discovery tour programs.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Additional tasks with the Beyond the Exhibits Outreach Programming Branch include: 

  • Researching photos for THJHA publications.
  • Assisting with development of program materials related to THJHA, like the Annual Contest and Annual Convention.
  • Assisting in outreach office as necessary. Potential tasks include mailings and other administrative tasks.
  • Participating in excursions to other museums, historic sites, or cultural institutions as part of professional development and research for new public programs.
  • Assisting with administrative needs related to the major festivals, including gathering supplies, nametags, organization, etc. This would be on an "as needed" basis.
  • Assisting the Volunteer, Intern, and Group Programs Branch with research for new discovery tour programs.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Time Commitment

This internship is hybrid, about five to 10 hours per week, with certain duties performed remotely while others will be carried out on-site at the museum’s temporary office location in Raleigh. While the work schedule is flexible and dependent on the successful candidate’s academic requirements and availability, some evening and weekend availability is preferred. 

Graphic Design Internship

Overview

The Graphic Design team at the North Carolina Museum of History helps bring the museum’s stories, programs, exhibitions, and events to life through visual design. As part of the Communications and Public Engagement Section, the team creates a wide range of materials for audiences across the state.

Projects may include print and digital materials, social media graphics, educational resources, exhibition graphics, signage, publications, infographics, and marketing materials. The team also helps maintain the museum’s visual identity and brand across a variety of platforms.

The Graphic Design team supports two semiannual publications: Circa, the museum’s news and informational magazine, and Tar Heel Junior Historian, a publication for student members of the statewide Tar Heel Junior Historian Association. The team also creates materials for cultural community events, including the American Indian Heritage Celebration and African American Cultural Celebration.

The intern will work closely with the graphic design supervisor and museum designers, gaining hands-on experience while contributing to real projects for the museum and its audiences.

This internship provides an opportunity to see how graphic design works in a museum and communications environment. The intern will gain experience working on real projects, preparing files for production, applying brand standards, designing for different audiences and formats, and collaborating with professional designers. They will also learn more about the many ways design supports exhibitions, publications, education, marketing, events, and public engagement.

Skills Needed

This internship is designed for someone who is interested in building their graphic design skills and gaining experience in a professional creative environment.

We would love to hear from you if you:

  • Have experience with or are learning Adobe Creative Cloud applications, such as InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, or Adobe Express.
  • Are comfortable learning new software and design processes.
  • Are studying graphic design, visual communications, art, marketing, or a related field, or have a strong interest in graphic design.
  • Have some experience creating visual or graphic design projects through classes, school projects, work, volunteer experience, or personal projects.
  • Are interested in typography, layout, color, photography, branding, or visual storytelling.
  • Can take directions, ask questions, and incorporate feedback.
  • Are organized and able to manage multiple assignments with guidance.
  • Enjoy working both independently and as part of a creative team.
  • Are interested in using design to communicate information and connect people with history and culture.

The intern may assist with:

  • Creating layouts and graphics for print, digital, and social media.
  • Developing signage and other materials for museum programs and events.
  • Supporting magazine layout and visual design.
  • Creating infographics, diagrams, charts, and other informational graphics.
  • Formatting templates and other reusable design materials.
  • Helping develop creative concepts and visual ideas.
  • Preparing files for print and digital production.
  • Resizing and adapting existing graphics for different formats and platforms.
  • Organizing and preparing images and design files.
  • Applying the museum’s brand across different types of materials.
  • Participating in creative conversations and receiving feedback from experienced designers.

Time Commitment

This is a part-time, in-person internship based at the museum’s temporary office location in Raleigh.

Hours are flexible on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. The schedule will be determined based on the intern’s availability and the needs of the internship. Remote work may be possible for some projects.

The internship is designed to provide meaningful hands-on experience while allowing time for learning, questions, feedback, and professional development.

Additional Application Instructions

A portfolio is requested but not required as part of the application package. The portfolio can include class projects, personal work, or other examples of your design experience. You do not need to have professional design experience to apply for this position.

General Application Instructions:

To be considered for an internship, please submit a completed application form, resume, cover letter, and unofficial transcripts from all colleges/universities attended to Internship Coordinator Kathleen Gleditsch at Kathleen.Gleditsch@dncr.nc.gov. Any additional materials required for an application to a specific position should also be emailed to Kathleen. Incomplete application packages will not be considered.

Questions?

Contact Internship Coordinator Kathy Gleditsch at kathleen.gleditsch@dncr.nc.gov.