Visual Arts Internships for High School Students
EC Finder currently lists 15 visual arts internships for high school students. Of these, 7 are free to participate in and 1 offers virtual participation. Examples include Asian Art Museum ArtSpeak Internship, Getty Museum Teen Gallery Guides, and Gnomon Digital Arts Summer Camp – Animation.
- 15
- listed
- 7
- free
- 1
- virtual
- 15
- with a listed deadline
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are visual arts internships for high school students?
- Visual Arts Internships for High School Students are curated extracurricular listings for high school students interested in visual arts. Each listing includes eligibility, cost, and deadline details where known, so you can compare options and find the right fit for your college application profile.
- Are any of these internships free?
- Yes — 7 of the 15 internships listed here are free to participate in.
- Can I participate virtually?
- Yes — 1 of the 15 internships listed here offer virtual or online participation.
- Are visual arts internships good for a college application?
- Yes — visual arts internships are a common way for high schoolers to show sustained interest and initiative in visual arts on college applications.
15 activities found·Browse by category
Asian Art Museum ArtSpeak Internship
Paid HS interns learn Asian art traditions, collaborate with local artists, interview museum staff on arts careers, and design/teach visitor art activities.
Getty Museum Teen Gallery Guides
Paid interns learn to research and lead gallery talks/tours at the Getty Center/Villa, building public speaking and art-history skills with museum professionals.
Gnomon Digital Arts Summer Camp – Animation
A five-day high school summer camp at Gnomon School of VFX, Games & Animation in North Hollywood where students (grades 10-12) learn 3D character animation and visual effects in Autodesk Maya from working industry artists.
Interlochen Arts Camp – Animation
A three-week residential program at Interlochen Center for the Arts (Michigan) where high schoolers (grades 9-12) create digital animated shorts using industry-standard software in the 26,000-square-foot DeRoy Center for Film Studies, ending in a public screening.
MSU Denver Art + Action Lab High School Internship
Paid internship at MSU Denver's Center for Visual Art that gives Denver-area high school students an inside look at careers across the arts (curation, installation, programming, education) through hands-on work alongside professional museum staff.
NYFA 3-Week 3D Animation Summer Camp for Teens
A three-week intensive at the New York Film Academy's Los Angeles campus where teens (ages 14-17) learn 3D animation fundamentals — drawing, storyboarding, sculpting, and character animation — from professional animators and VFX artists, with optional residential housing.
Perspectives Photo School – Youth Photography Program
A Bay Area photography school in Emeryville offering teens (ages 12-18) studio-based technical training plus field shoots across Bay Area locations like Golden Gate Park and Tilden Regional Park, with an advanced Photography Intensive + Exhibition track for building a portfolio.
Photosprouts Teen Photography Camp
Small-group teen photography camps (ages 12-19) in San Francisco and Palo Alto where all camera equipment (Canon R50 mirrorless, lenses) is provided; students shoot on location around the Bay Area and learn editing in Adobe Lightroom.
SFMOMA Paid Summer Internships
Paid summer internships at San Francisco Museum of Modern Art across departments like education, curatorial, and design; some roles suitable for older teens close to graduation.
Southern Exposure (SoEx) Internships
Internships in a nonprofit visual arts organization supporting exhibitions, education, and community art projects; strong exposure to curatorial and gallery operations.
Texas Photographic Society International Student Competition
An international student photography competition open to all current high school, middle, and elementary students, with six categories including Documentary/Photojournalism, Portraits, and Fine Art/Abstract. Winners receive a complimentary TPS student membership and recognition.
UNCSA Animation Summer Intensive
A rigorous introductory-to-advanced animation intensive at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, open to rising high school freshmen through incoming college freshmen, covering animation fundamentals and advanced technique.
USC School of Cinematic Arts Summer Program (Animation & Screenwriting Tracks)
A six-week pre-college summer program on USC's campus where students age 16+ choose hands-on cinematic storytelling courses in either animation/storyboarding or screenwriting, taught by industry professionals.
Youth Art Exchange – Teaching Assistant / Alumni Intern
Year-round or session-based paid roles where advanced teens assist teaching artists, support classes, and mentor younger students.
Youth Art Exchange (YAX) Summer Internship
Summer internship assisting teaching artists, supporting classes, and working with media like painting, collage, sculpture; strong focus on arts education and community engagement.
ECFinder provides links to outside extracurricular opportunities for informational purposes only. Students and families should research each program before applying. ECFinder does not operate or control the listed organizations and is not responsible for their actions or policies.