Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the internships offered at Getty and internships offered at other organizations in Los Angeles? May I apply to both?

The Getty Marrow Undergraduate Internship Program offers substantive, full-time work opportunities each summer at the Getty Center in Brentwood and Getty Villa in Malibu, in addition to other Los Angeles-area museums and visual arts organizations. You can apply to both, but there are different application methods for each. Please see below for additional details.

Internships at Getty:

These internships are offered in a variety of areas, including many of the following: Communications, Conservation, Curatorship, Digital Projects, Exhibitions/Collections Management, Library Collections/Photo Cataloguing, Museum Education, Philanthropy, Public Programs, and Publications. Students apply directly to Getty.

Internships at LA-area museums and visuals arts organizations:

These internships are offered at approximately 70 museums and visual arts organizations throughout Los Angeles County. Positions are offered in a variety of areas including the ones listed above. Students apply directly to participating organizations.

How many interns do you accept every summer?

Internships at Getty

Getty accepts a maximum of 25 interns (departments vary).

Internships at LA-area museums and visuals arts organizations:

There are approximately 80 LA-area internships.

Are the positions paid?

Yes, they are paid. The current stipend is $6,400 for the summer.

When are the internships?

Internships are for a 10-week consecutive work period between June and August. Exact dates vary by host institution.

Are these full-time positions?

Yes, interns can expect to work approximately 40 hours a week.

How is the internship program structured?

The structure of each internship depends on the department and the institution. Generally, internships focus on project-based work. In addition, there are two mandatory educational components of the internship:

• Arts Summit: This career day entails an artist keynote, presentations and panels by arts professionals providing an overview of their work and careers, professional development sessions, and networking opportunities.
• Learning Communities: These groups provide a structure for interns to meet and connect with one another, network with arts professionals, and learn about arts organizations in Los Angeles. In each Learning Community, supervisors and interns have the opportunity to co-create, invite, and host events benefiting interns.

Where is the program located?

Internships at Getty:

The internships are located either at the Getty Center in Brentwood or at the Getty Villa in Malibu.

Internships at LA-area museums and visuals arts organizations:

The external internships are located at various cultural institutions across Los Angeles County.

Is the program remote or hybrid?

The program returned to full-time, in-person participation for Summer 2022. Getty institutions will continue to closely monitor any changes regarding Covid-19.

Can I earn academic credit for this internship?

Yes, interns may receive academic credit. Please confer with your school’s career center for specific requirements.

Does the program provide housing or transportation?

No, the program does not provide housing or transportation.

Are there mentorship opportunities within the program?

Yes, each intern will be paired with a supervisor(s) who will oversee the intern’s professional development.

Is the program flexible regarding part-time work or vacation time?

The program is full-time for 10 consecutive weeks. Vacation or time off is not allowed, except for participation in program-related events. Interns are not required to make up sick time.

What are the long-term benefits of participating in the program?

This program offers professional development and connections with arts and museum professionals inside and outside the host organization, exposing you to a wide variety of visual arts-related job opportunities. You will also have the opportunity to meet alumni of the program who have made successful careers in the arts.

Where can I learn more about alumni from the program?

To commemorate the program’s 25th anniversary in 2017, the Getty Foundation released a report that features profiles of intern alumni working in the visual arts. In 2020, the Getty Foundation produced an Impact Report looking at how nearly 30 years of internships increased diversity in the visual arts in LA and beyond. To learn more about the intern experience, follow the #GettyMarrow conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

If I am not a United States citizen, am I still eligible to apply?

Yes, you may be eligible. Permanent residents (non-citizens authorized to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis—also known as a “green card” holders) are eligible. Students with DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival) status valid through the internship period are also eligible.

Do I have to be currently enrolled as a student to be eligible for an internship?

Yes, you must be currently enrolled as a full-time undergraduate in either a bachelor’s degree program or an associate’s degree program. Students must have completed at least one semester or two quarters of college by June. Students who graduated the semester or quarter immediately before the internship begins are also eligible.

I am enrolled in a second-degree program. Am I eligible?

No, students who are enrolled in a second BA or BS program are not eligible.

Do I need previous museum work experience or a background in the visual arts to apply?

No, you do not need previous museum work experience or a background in the visual arts to apply. Candidates are sought from all areas of undergraduate study.

I participated in the Getty Marrow Undergraduate Internship Program before. Can I participate again?

Yes, students are eligible to participate in the program multiple times but must intern at a different organization each summer.

How do I apply?

Internships at Getty:

Applicants are required to complete and submit the online Getty Marrow Undergraduate Internships application form (which includes uploading a Personal Statement; Transcript(s); and two Letters of Recommendation) by 5:00p.m. Pacific Standard Time on February 1.

Internships at LA-area museums and visuals arts organizations:

First, consult last year's sortable list of paid internships. A new list will go live in March and be updated as positions are filled. Once you find the position(s) you are interested in applying for, contact the representative indicated in the listing with your application materials, which include a cover letter and resume.

What is the timeline for the application process?

Internships at Getty:

• Early December: Applications open
• February 1: Application deadline
• Early April: Finalists will be contacted for interviews
• May: All applicants will be notified of the Getty Foundation’s decision

Internships at LA-area museums and visuals arts organizations:

The applications for the various external programs will open in March. All positions will be filled by May 1.

Should I submit additional materials with my application, such as writing samples, slides, or exhibition catalogues?

No. Additional materials will not be considered.

From whom should I request letters of recommendation?

Letters of recommendation should come from a past supervisor or former instructor whom you have worked with directly and can meaningfully comment on you as an employee or student. Recommendations must be on official letterhead and contain a signature. It is your responsibility to ensure that recommenders follow these criteria, and that they submit a letter by the deadline.

May I submit my application before the deadline?

Yes. You may submit your application before the deadline. However, organizations will not review your application until after the application deadline.

Do you conduct interviews before accepting applicants into the program?

Yes, hiring supervisors will contact finalists for interviews. You may interview for multiple positions for the Getty Marrow Undergraduate Internship Program. Due to the high volume of applications, we do not guarantee interviews for all applicants.

When can I expect to receive a notification of selection or declination?

Internships at Getty:

A first round of declinations will be issued in mid-March. Finalists will be contacted for interviews in early April. All applicants will be notified of the Getty Foundation's decision in May.

Internships at LA-area museums and visuals arts organizations:

Candidates will be contacted and interviewed by late April. Declinations will be issued by early May.

Is there a limit to how many Getty Marrow internships I can apply to?

No, there is no limit to the number of internship applications you submit. You may also have interviews with multiple Getty departments or multiple external organizations. Though you can be a finalist for several positions, you will only be selected for, and may only participate in, one internship position per summer.

If my application is successful, how many offers will I get?

Successful applicants will receive one internship offer. All positions will be filled by May 1.

I missed the deadline! Can I submit a late application?

Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept late applications. Materials received after the deadline will result in an incomplete application.

I still have more questions! Who can I ask?

For further inquiries, please call us at (310) 440-7320 or email us at summerinterns@getty.edu