Application Deadline: Friday, February 13, 2026, at 11:59PM.

Bartels interns at the Yale Center for British Art are part of a dynamic, cohort-based learning experience that connects students across the museum and to other cultural institutions on campus. In addition to their departmental placements, interns meet colleagues across the YCBA, get behind the scenes access to many departments, and build a network with fellow YCBA interns through weekly meetings. They also participate in the Intern Enrichment Series with interns at the Yale University Art Gallery. Bartels interns are an integral part of the YCBA, and we are committed to fostering long-term mentoring relationships that support their growth during the summer and beyond. 

The YCBA internship programs take place from June 8 to July 31, 2026. Staff holidays are observed on Friday, June 19 and Friday, July 3. Interns work 35 hours per week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Department Description:  

The Division of Public Engagement is responsible for developing the Yale Center for British Art’s educational mission and for advancing and implementing its public-centered vision. The Division encompasses the museum’s public-facing departments: Archives, Communications and Marketing, Design, Education, Reference Library and Photo Archives, Research, Study Room, and Visitor Services. Through family and access programs, guided tours, learning opportunities, marketing materials, and more, Public Engagement staff create and sustain connections between the museum and diverse audiences, ranging from Yale affiliates to the local New Haven community to national and international scholars and partners.

Position Description:

The Yale Center for British Art 50th Anniversary Summer Internship will contribute to multiple aspects of planning a major institutional milestone: the YCBA’s 50th anniversary year program (forthcoming in 2027). The intern will be supervised by the 50th anniversary’s project manager, in the Division of Public Engagement, and work with YCBA staff and New Haven Promise interns in departments across the Division and museum, such as Archives, Collections Information Access, and Communications.
The internship will support the project manager in developing events, print and online materials, and institutional partnerships for the anniversary year. The intern will acquire project management experience and sharpen communications, research, and organizational skills. Given the highly collaborative nature of the anniversary program, the intern will also leave the summer with a broad understanding of art museum operations.
Anniversary projects aim to share YCBA history and resources in new ways and deepen existing collaborations between the museum and the community. Work that the intern might contribute to includes, but is not limited to, the generation of image descriptions and web pages for special digital resources; the creation of texts for anniversary programs; and the production of 2027 tours, talks, and merchandise. The intern will also help with overall coordination of anniversary preparations, assisting the project manager in preparing schedules and timelines, and running cross-departmental meetings and working groups. 
This position will be of interest to students who wish to learn more about careers in the growing field of museum public engagement and/or gain practical experience overseeing and advancing large-scale institutional projects.