The Internship and Fellowship Program seeks to build pathways for historically underrepresented individuals to grow successful careers in the cultural sector.

Group of 14 male and female adults smiling, standing in front of the National Museum of African American History and Culture building, with the Washington Monument in the background.

2023 Robert F. Smith intern cohort.

Photo by Leah Jones for National Museum of African American History and Culture

As part of the Robert F. Smith Internship Program, the Museum selects and provides funding for interns located onsite with the Museum and offsite at select African American museums, art galleries and museums of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), cultural institutions and historic sites, or other related institutions with projects dedicated to the study and preservation of African American history and culture. All internship opportunities with this program focus on work related to digital imaging, media preservation, digital preservation of personal and community objects, digital content management, collections information management, recording and preserving oral histories, or digital filmmaking. Applications are no longer being accepted for Summer 2024 internships.

To volunteer as a future summer intern mentor, please fill out an interest form

The Robert F. Smith Applied Public History Fellowship for HBCU Graduates provides a two-year appointment to one individual at the Museum. The program is specialized for HBCU graduates pursuing careers in public history, museum management, outreach, and partnership building. The fellow works closely with the Community Curation program. 

A photograph of a person wearing black.

Orilonise Yarborough, 2022-2024

Orilonise C.D. Yarborough or Ori, (they/she) is a Black queer public historian, writer, curator and creative from Durham, North Carolina.
Read Story about Orilonise Yarborough, 2022-2024
A man holding a camera

Sterling Warren, 2020-2022

Sterling Warren is a media artist, curator and writer from Washington D.C.
Read Story about Sterling Warren, 2020-2022

Please sign up for the e-mail list to be notified of future opportunities.

Stay Connected

Receive updates about Robert F. Smith Internships and Fellowships.

Share this page