MFA Internships—Summer 2013

Internship opportunities at the Museum are available seasonally in the fall, spring, and summer in a broad range of disciplines including (but not limited to): curatorial, development, public relations, publications, intellectual property, museum education, retail operations, information technology, and human resources. All internships are unpaid.

Applications are being accepted now for summer 2013 internships listed at www.mfa.org/employment/open-internships as of Thursday, February 7, 2012. (Fall 2013 opportunities will be posted on or about July 29, 2013; no applications for fall internships will be accepted or considered before that time.) View current positions.

Application Procedures

Read this section, (including the 'Frequently Asked Questions'), carefully before submitting your application as some procedures have recently changed—especially note details regarding appiication deadlines. Applications not conforming to these posted procedures will not be processed or considered.

Email is the preferred method of applying, with all attachments in Microsoft Word format only. Applications should be emailed to: intern@mfa.org. Cover letters should be addressed to: Herbert Jones, Volunteer and Intern Programs Coordinator.

To apply for an internship, 

 1. Prepare a single MS Word document containing:

  • a cover letter (addressed  to Herbert Jones, Volunteer & Intern Coordinator), indicating:
    • the specific internship for which you are applying;
    • how your skills/experience qualify you for the internship;
    • how the named internship fits into your academic and/or career goals;
    • some of your related personal interests, and;
  • a current resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
    • *Only MS Word documents will be accepted.

2. Email the Word document (as an attachment) to: intern@mfa.org. Include your name and the title of the internship in the subject line of the email.

***A letter of recommendation (also in MS Word format) from an academic instructor or advisor or from a current/recent employer is strongly encouraged and may be included in the original cover letter/resume document. If submitted separately, the recommendation must also be in MS Word format, and should be e-mailed directly to intern@mfa.org. All recommendations submitted separately (whether sent by you or a third party) must include the applicant's full name in the subject heading of the e-mail.

***When applying for a position that requests a writing sample, please submit the sample as an additional attachment. (Only the writing sample may be submitted as a PDF file.)

(Note: Cover letters/resumes in formats other than MS Word will not be accepted - nor acknowledged.)

Important Information

All summer internships at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, except for The Lunder Summer Internships, are unpaid positions.

Applicants may apply for up to three internships per season.

When applying for multiple internships, you must submit a separate cover letter/resume combination for each internship, (i.e. only one internship title per cover letter.) However, you may attach a copy of the same letter of recommendation to each of your applications.

Please do not include the cover letter and resume in the body of your email; attach the combined cover letter/resume as a MS Word document.

The subject line of your email must include:

  • Your full name
  • The title of the internship for which you are applying
  • The season of the internship for which you are applying
  • (for example: Herbert Jones, Public Relations Department Internship, Summer 2013)

All properly formatted applications will be acknowledged via email within five business days of receipt by the MFA. Thereafter, only upon the direction of the host department, you will receive either an interview invitation or a letter advising that you are not a finalist for the internship in question. Those applicants selected for interviews will usually be contacted first via email. (Note: we do not confirm— neither via email nor phone inquiry—receipt of recommendations that arrive separately from the original application.)

Incomplete and/or incorrectly formatted (i.e., formats other than MS Word) applications will not be accepted nor will they be acknowledged.

Recommendations sent separately (i.e., by a third party) should be addressed to Herbert Jones, Volunteer & Intern Coordinator, and should be emailed to intern@mfa.org.   

If you choose to send your application by mail, please send to:
Herbert Jones, Volunteer & Intern Coordinator
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
465 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115

Frequently Asked Questions

May I complete an internship for course credit?

bookmarkYes. Please note that internship applicants are responsible for providing copies of the internship description to their advisors, and for making all appropriate arrangements with their schools to receive credit for internships. Hours vary and are flexible; however, a minimum of 12 hours per week is generally expected to receive course credit.

Who may apply for an internship?

bookmarkThe MFA accepts applications from undergraduate level college students who have completed their freshman year, recent graduates, and/or graduate students. Please read each description carefully for specific year/class requirements.

Do you accept international students?

bookmarkWe accept international students who possess a visa which allows them to volunteer. We encourage all international students to apply. Please note: international students are responsible for making all appropriate arrangements with their countries regarding permits and/or visas, as well as securing housing. The MFA does not sponsor international student interns.

Is there a deadline for summer internship applications?

bookmarkRecognizing that deparments are continually receiving applications, scheduling interviews, and even making decisions on a rolling basis, applicants should submit their properly formatted applications as soon as possible. It is our desire to make final decisions regarding summer internships no later than noon on Monday, April 22, 2013.

Will I receive a confirmation of receipt of my application materials?

bookmarkAll applicants will receive an email acknowledging receipt of their applications (i.e., their cover letter/resume combinations) within five business days of receipt by the MFA. Please be aware that we do not confirm—neither via email nor phone inquiry— receipt of recommendations received separately from the cover letter and resume.

Am I required to submit a letter of recommendation?

bookmarkSome departments or internships require (and rely strongly upon) recommendations from advisors, instructors, or employers; others may not. If a description lists a letter of recommendation as a requirement or qualification, please comply accordingly. Even if a recommendation is not listed as a requirement, submitting one can only strengthen your application and is therefore strongly urged. (If at all possible, it is best to submit the recommendation along with your cover letter/resume document.)

How will I know if I am selected for an interview?

bookmarkDue to the large number of applicants, we adhere to the following procedure: those applicants selected by the host department for an interview will be contacted initially via email to invite them to an interview. (Be sure to include your preferred email address and a daytime phone number in your cover letter and/or resume.) Applicants not selected for an interview will be notified via email that they are not a finalist as soon as possible once the host department makes that decision.

How do I know if an internship is still available?

bookmarkInternships remain posted throughout the interview period and are removed from the listing once they are filled. (As of Monday, April 22, only those internships with no finalists will remain posted.) Therefore early submission of applications is strongly encouraged. Please visit www.mfa.org/employment/open-internships often for updates to the listings.

Are internships at the MFA paid?

bookmarkExcept for The Lunder Summer Internships, (available only to qualified college students who are residents of the state of Maine), all summer 2013 internships at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, are unpaid positions.

How many hours per week do I need to commit to an internship?

bookmarkThe minimum hours vary from internship to internship. In general, an average of 12–20 hours per week is expected for summer internships, though some require 20-25 hours per week. Please see each internship description for its specific time requirement.

Are interns required to attend an orientation?

bookmarkYes, all accepted summer interns are required to attend an orientation. No intern may begin her/his internship before attending orientation. Persons selected as interns must plan to attend one of the following orientations: Wed, May 1, (10am or 6pm); Tues, May 28, (9am); Wed, June 5, (10am or 6pm); or Tues, June 11, (9am). Please arrange your schedule accordingly.

When do summer internships start?

bookmarkIn general summer internships begin in late May and continue through mid-August. Start and end dates for each internship will vary based on department schedules as well as the selected intern's schedule, and will be confirmed on an individual basis by the host department. All interns must attend an orientation before beginning their internship - on either Wed, May 1, (10am or 6pm); Tues, May 28, (9am); Wed, June 5, (10am or 6pm); or Tues, June 11, (9am).

When may I send in my application materials for fall 2013 internships?

bookmarkApplications for fall 2013 internships will not be accepted until we have officially posted the listing on www.mfa.org/employment/open-internships, on or about July 29, 2013. Fall internships will run from mid September through mid December 2013.

Is there housing for interns?

bookmarkAt this time the Museum does not offer housing to interns.