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Why Museum Programs are Great for Teens

Teens can benefit from museum programs in many ways. They'll have opportunities to delve deep into specific areas of interest and gain real-world experience beyond what they learn at school. Many of the programs are taught by established artists and educators, offering teens valuable insights and work experience.

Another aspect of museum programs that teens will enjoy is the chance to meet and interact with like-minded peers. Many of the programs encourage peer collaboration, and teens forge meaningful connections with people from different backgrounds since the participants often hail from all over NYC.

For college-bound teens, these museum internships on their college applications to show how they've explored their passions and pursued unique and challenging experiences.

The Whitney's Youth Insights programs introduce teens to a variety of art-making opportunities. Photo by author

Art & Design Museum Programs in NYC for Teens

Whitney Museum Youth Insights – Chelsea

Why we love it: Youth Insights (YI) is an after-school and summer program that connects New York City high school students to art and artists.
Grades: 9-12
Program type: Semester-long internship and summer programs
What teens learn: There are four YI programs: YI Artists, YI Arts Careers, YI Introductions, and YI Leaders. The entry program is YI Artists. Here, students learn art-making techniques and engage in discussions on contemporary issues that resonate with their experiences while building meaningful friendships. They also work with artists and educators, culminating in creating an original work of art for a final exhibition. Completing YI Artists grants priority for admission to YI Arts Careers. YI Introductions is geared toward English Language Learners.

Compensation: Free to apply and participate in YI Artists, Arts Careers, and Introductions. YI Leaders is a paid internship.
How to apply: Applications are due at the end of the summer for fall internships and at the end of December for spring internships. Check the Whitney's website for all current information.

The Met High School Internship – Upper West Side

Why we love it: This program allows students to connect with art, museums, and creatives as they develop professional skills, network, and gain work experience.
Grades: 10 and 11
Program type: Internship, approximately 2-4 hours per week from February through June. Summer internships are also available.
What teens learn: The High School Internship Program offers a mix of one-on-one and small-cohort opportunities to work with museum staff across a number of fields. Teens don't have to have an interest in the arts—they can explore work in editorial, marketing, social media, education, scientific research, conservation, and more. Teens are encouraged to find the intersection of their interests as they gain insights from peers and professionals.

Compensation: Teens receive a stipend for the time worked, commiserate with New York state minimum wage.
How to apply/register: Applications for spring are due Monday, October 27, 2025. A separate summer application period begins in February 2026.

Brooklyn Museum Teen Programs – Prospect Heights, Brooklyn

Why we love it: The Brooklyn Museum offers several different programs for teens who are interested in art, education, curation, and other aspects of museum work.
Grades: 9-12, varies by program
Program type: Semester and year-long internships, as well as summer programs, are available.
What teens learn: There are four programs for teens: Creative Practice, Teen Night Planning Committee, InterseXtions: Gender & Sexuality, and the Museum Apprentice Program. Depending on the program, teens explore art, education, activism, and museum careers while building their resumes.

Compensation: Teens are paid $16.50 per hour.
How to apply: Check the museum's website for applications and deadlines. In 2025, applications opened in July.

Apollo Theater Arts Administration/Technical Stage Production Internship – Harlem

Why we love it: The Apollo Theater Academy provides high school students with an introduction to the performing arts and entertainment fields through workshops, internships, apprenticeships, and events.
Grades: 11
Program type: Summer internship
What teens learn: The Arts Administration Internship explores the impact of arts administration on live and recorded productions at The Apollo. Students develop a concept for the signature summer event, Teen Takeover.

A separate Technical Stage Production Internship assigns students to work with members of The Apollo’s production crew, where they gain experience applying technical elements of theater such as lighting design, videography, audio engineering, carpentry, and production design to live and recorded stage productions.

Compensation: Students are paid $16.50 per hour
How to apply: Applications are open in the spring. Check the museum's website for applications and deadlines. In 2025, application deadlines were in early April.

Bronx Museum Teen Programs – Concourse, the Bronx

Why we love it: Twelve students are accepted into each cycle of the program and are paid to engage in art, culture, creative thinking, and collaboration.
Ages: 14-19
Program types: Fall, spring, and summer internships available
What teens learn: Through The Bronx Museum’s Teen Council and summer programs, teens have a chance to discuss ideas affecting youth today and then create original works focused on those issues. Interns have the chance to meet and interview contemporary artists, curate art exhibitions, and create and produce a zine. During the summer, participants focus on art-making techniques, and the experience culminates in an exhibition of original works from participants.

Compensation: Interns are paid $16.50 per hour.
How to apply: Check The Bronx Museum's website for applications and deadlines, which vary depending on the program.

Museum of Arts & Design Teen Programs – Upper West Side

Why we love it: Museum of Arts & Design (MAD) immerses teens in the visual arts and the professional world of museums.
Grades: 10 and 11
Program types: Internships, programs, and workshops
What teens learn: MAD has several teen internships, programs, and workshops. The Artslife program is a paid summer internship that combines art and design with leadership training, museum studies, and community engagement.

There's also a program during school holidays called the RECESS Intensive Program, where students learn about art and art history with other NYC teens, develop and lead peer-to-peer tours, and learn how museums work.

On select Friday afternoons, the Museum’s Artslab Teen Workshops connect students with an artist-in-residence for hands-on art-making. Students who have participated in Artslife and RECESS programs can also apply to join its Teen Council, which helps program its other teen-friendly events.

Compensation: Interns are paid $16.50 per hour.
How to apply: Check the museum's website for applications and deadlines. In 2025, the summer program application deadline was in late April.

Alley Pond interns get hands-on experience with a variety of NYC ecosystems. Photo courtesy of APEC

Science & Technology Museum Programs in NYC for Teens

Alley Pond Environmental Center Field Biology Internship – Oakland Gardens, Queens

Why we love it: This internship is geared toward high school students interested in field biology, sustainability, environmental science, biology, or other related fields.
Age: Must be at least 14 years old
Program type: Semester and summer internships
What teens learn: Field biology is the study of organisms in their natural environment. Students gain a foundation in research and experiment design. Interns visit and experience various ecosystems in Alley Pond Park and other parts of Queens. Students must complete a final presentation.

Cost: There is a $150 fee for those accepted into the program. Financial aid is available.
How to apply: Check the website for applications and rolling program deadlines.

American Museum of Natural History Teen Programs – Upper West Side

Why we love it: AMNH offers internships, hands-on science courses, and research opportunities.
Grades: 10 and 11
Program type: Courses and internships
What teens learn: The Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP) allows teens to conduct one year of scientific research with museum scientists. Students work with peers and scientist mentors twice each week throughout the school year for a total of four hours a week on a project that has never been done before.

In the Science Alliance High School Program, students can take classes in anthropology, astrophysics, conservation science, earth science, and evolutionary biology.

Compensation: There is no cost to apply to the SRMP. For the Alliance classes, the cost is $500-$1,000 each, depending on the length of the course.
How to register: Check the museum's website for applications and deadlines. For the SRMP, there are specific requirements and a detailed application process.

Wave Hill Youth Internships – Riverdale, the Bronx

Why we love it: One of our favorite public gardens offers teens several types of internships focused on art education, youth communities, and urban ecology.
Age: Must be at least 16 years old
Program type: Internships during the school year and summer.
What teens learn: The Art, Community, Education, and Science (ACES) is 13-month long internship for students interested in arts and science education. ACES interns assist with Family Art Projects, an inter-generational and multidisciplinary program for families to come together and make art inspired by nature at Wave Hill.

The Forest Project is a summer internship focused on ecological restoration and urban ecology. Interns gain hands-on field experience and participate in dynamic, field-based coursework.

Wave Hill’s Woodland Ecology Research Mentorship (WERM) is a 14-month program offering high school students a unique opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of ecology, and participate in hands-on fieldwork and authentic science research.

Compensation: Interns are paid $16.50 per hour
How to apply: Check Wave Hill's website for applications, which typically open in the winter for the following year's programs.

National Museum of Mathematics Integrators Program – Flatiron

Why we love it: The Integrators program offers teens a unique chance to improve interpersonal and communication skills, explore mathematical concepts, and learn valuable job skills.
Grades: 9-12
Program type: Volunteer program during the summer and school year.
What teens learn: MoMath Integrators interact with visitors and train with renowned mathematicians, professional educators, interpreters, and managers. Summer volunteers must commit to volunteering five, eight-hour days a week for a minimum of eight weeks. School-year volunteers must commit to one eight-hour day per week.
How to apply: Applications can be found on the website. In 2025, the summer deadline was April; school-year application deadline is in July.

New York Hall of Science Explainer Program – Flushing, Queens

Why we love it: Explainers help bring the NYSCI to life by interacting with the public and helping visitors understand the science behind the exhibits and demonstrations.
Grades: 9-12
Program type: Students must commit to a full year, including working over the summer.
What teens learn: Explainers engage audiences in STEM conversations, perform science demonstrations, and contribute to the development of museum exhibits and programming. Teens in the program acquire communication skills, deepen their knowledge of STEM topics and the scientific process, and gain experience with inquiry and teaching.

Cost: Explainers are compensated for their time.
How to apply: There are three rounds of hiring, so check the website for applications and deadlines.

History & Culture Museum Programs for Teens

New York Historical Society Student Historical Internship – Upper West Side

Why we love it: Students conduct in-depth research and share their scholarship through the production of creative digital projects.
Grades: 10-12
Program type: School-year and summer internships
What teens learn: Interns learn about the museum, library, digital humanities, and history fields, and work collaboratively with fellow students to develop their historical thinking, communication, and digital media skills. The program involves substantial research and writing, allowing interns to deepen their understanding of American history and the digital humanities through academically rigorous, hands-on work.

Compensation: Interns receive a $700 stipend for the school-year internship.
How to apply: Check the website for the application and details. In 2025, the school-year application closed in early October. Summer internship application details will be posted in February.

Museum of Jewish Heritage High School Apprenticeship Program – Battery Park City

Why we love it: The program gives high school students a behind-the-scenes look at what it is like to work in the museum and explore Jewish heritage.
Grades: 9-12; all applicants must attend a public school.
Program type: Summer Internship
What teens learn: Interns work during the summer in different museum departments and are introduced to the curatorial, educational, administrative, and operational sides of the museum.

Compensation: Interns are paid a stipend.
How to apply: Check the website for the application and deadlines. In 2025, the application deadline was mid-February.

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