Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center Internships 2026 in USA

Applications are Open for the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center Internships in the USA for Students Interested in Museum Work, Research, and Cultural Representation.

Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center Internships 2026 in USA

Opportunity type:

Internship Programs

Funding Type:

Partially funded

Regions:

USA

Deadline:

2026-02-06

The Smithsonian’s Asian Pacific American Center (APAC) is offering a 10-week, cohort-based summer internship program in 2026. Applications will open on January 2, 2026, and close on February 6, 2026, with the program running from June 8 to August 14, 2026. The internship is designed to provide students with hands-on experience in museum work, professional development opportunities, and deeper engagement with Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander representation. Interns will work in person at the APAC office, part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., United States.

Eligibility

  • Current undergraduate sophomores, juniors, seniors, or recent graduates (within 15 months)
  • Minimum GPA: 3.0
  • Must be at least 18 years old
  • Open to all majors, including international students (visa support provided if selected)

Program Dates/Location

  • Applications Open: January 2, 2026
  • Application Deadline: February 6, 2026
  • Dates for Summer 2026: June 8–August 14, 2026 (10 weeks)
  • Location: Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center (Smithsonian Institution), Washington, D.C., USA

Program Benefits

  • Full-time internship, 35 hours/week
  • Weekly stipend: US $850 (summer cycle)
  • Professional development, cohort support, networking, mentorship, behind-the-scenes museum experience
  • Notably, no housing provided, but guidance offered for D.C. arrangements

Internship Role (Tracks & Responsibilities)

  • Education Track:
    • Research and develop museum education programming, assist in K-12 outreach, use digital platforms (Wikipedia, LearningLab), collaborate on education initiatives
  • Operations Track:
    • Research and support exhibitions, acquisitions, procurement documentation, assist with programming and logistics for exhibitions or future gallery installations
  • Curatorial/Archival Track (when available):
    • Work on archival or curatorial projects related to AANHPI collections and representation, including research, writing, program development

Required Documents

  • 3-page Personal Abstract (double-spaced, 12-pt Times New Roman)
  • Resume or CV
  • Unofficial (or official) academic transcripts
  • Academic Writing Sample (max 5 pages)
  • One Letter of Recommendation (submitted via SOLAA)

Application Process

  • Apply through Smithsonian’s SOLAA portal
  • Application timeline (example for 2026): Open January 2, 2026 → Deadline February 6, 2026 → Internship runs June 8–August 14, 2026
  • After submission → virtual interview → offers via email; notification typically ~8 weeks post deadline

For more details, please check the Internships at the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center page on the SOLAA website.

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