Jobs & Internships
Employment
Employment vacancy announcements are posted here when available. Find more opportunities on the Smithsonian’s Office Human Resources website.
You can also subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn to learn about future job openings.
We are currently hiring the following:
The Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage seeks a contract curator to lead research, relationship building, and conceptual development for Kazakhstan–Tucson exchange work and 2027 Smithsonian Folklife Festival programming. The contractor will contribute deep regional expertise and strong experience in collaborative, field-based research to lead the next phase of program development. Work should take place between March 2026 and February 2027. See the full request for quote and statement of work.
Quotes are due by 5 p.m. ET on Monday, February 9. Email questions and submissions to Sloane Keller (KellerSR@si.edu).
The Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage seeks a contract evaluator to design and implement a participatory, relationship-centered evaluation of its 2026 programs, which will be collaboratively presented in communities nationwide through November 2026. Services are required over a twelve-month period ending no later than March 30, 2027. Travel to selected locations and programs is required. See the full request for quote and statement of work.
Questions are due at noon ET on Monday, February 9. Quotes are due at 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 18. Email questions and submissions to Rebecca Fenton (FentonR@si.edu).
Internships
Every year, the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage involves over a hundred interns in our various activities. We offer internships year-round in various fields, including folklore, cultural anthropology, ethnomusicology, linguistics, museum studies, arts administration, graphic and web design, videography, marketing, social media, and library science. Most internships are in person in Washington, D.C., but a few can take place remotely.
Intern projects, conducted under the guidance of the Center’s professional staff, often focus on research and production for the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives, educational outreach, and cultural sustainability research and programs.
Interns are expected to work for at least sixteen hours per week for a duration of two to four months. Beginning in summer 2026, we offer stipends of at least $700/week to full-time interns. Transportation and housing compensation for interns is not available. Students in relevant fields may be able to arrange course credit through their college or university.
Some Areas of Internships
We welcome interns for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival year-round, although the bulk of the work is in the summer. In the fall, winter, and spring, interns assist with research and planning for the upcoming Festival’s programs—best suited for students in anthropology, ethnomusicology, and language studies as related to the program.
In the summer of 2026, internships revolve around supporting activities that mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Internship opportunities are available in curatorial research and planning, social media and public relations, web production, graphic design, foodways, visitor surveys, accessibility, technical support, and audiovisual documentation.
Summer internships will begin in late May or early June; specific start and end dates are negotiable. Interns will be expected to work weekends and, likely, the July Fourth holiday and should be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment amid large crowds of people.
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
An internship with Smithsonian Folkways Recordings offers a wide range of valuable and meaningful experiences in the recording industry and nonprofit arts administration, within the context of the world’s largest museum complex. Specific learning opportunities include the areas of online music education, marketing, and web and IT production.
Interns are expected to work for at least 100 hours, and ideally no less than ten hours per week. Some specific internships may require longer commitment to ensure a successful experience, both for the intern and for Folkways. In addition to honing specific skills, interns will meet regularly with their supervisors, work with other interns and other staff on team projects, and have access to a wide array of programming, as well as curatorial and professional experts across the institution.
Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
Interns in the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections assist with preserving, digitizing, and cataloging archives collections, creating finding aids for collections, creating web presentations on archival materials, and helping with other projects. During the summer, archives interns create and process audio, video, and photo documentation of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.
We particularly welcome students in library and information studies who want an opportunity to work in a folklife archive as part of their degree program. Applicants should have a knowledge of or interest in world folk music traditions, audio engineering, photography, Adobe Photoshop, web design, or library and archival work.
Folklife Storytellers Workshop
Storytellers—researchers, educators, writers, and visual communicators—are vital to world conversations on folklife and cultural heritage. The Folklife Storytellers Workshop offers a professional skill-building and exchange experience for students and recent graduates interested in producing multimedia content for Folklife Magazine, the Folklife Festival Blog, and social media channels.
Interns come from a variety of fields of study, degree levels, work backgrounds, and regions, enriching the work and creative experience as well as the Center’s content. Successful candidates are self-starters, expressive storytellers, and sensitive to issues of cultural representation. They will show demonstrated ability in their chosen storytelling genre. Although many articles are published in a bilingual format, the workshop is conducted in English and candidates should expect to write in English.
The internship runs from June through November 2026, with full-time in-person work during the summer months and part-time remote work in the fall. Interns collaborate on real-world projects that amplify diverse cultural voices and traditions. See the full internship description.
In 2026, the Folklife Marketplace offers two internship opportunities to assist with public programming in the Arts and Industries Building in Washington, D.C., in June and July. Both internships start remotely and then transition to on-site participation. See the full descriptions.
The Folklife Marketplace Community Engagement Intern gains hands-on learning in public-facing cultural programming, with an emphasis on how stories, objects, and making practices foster connection and dialogue. Emphasis is placed on understanding how materials, environments, and visitor flow are thoughtfully designed and maintained to ensure spaces remain welcoming, responsive, and ready for ongoing public engagement. The internship takes place from approximately February 17 to July 19.
The Folklife Marketplace Interactive Programming Intern gains broad exposure to community-based cultural programming within a dynamic public marketplace. Through engagement with artist-in-residence activities, workshops, the Making Space, and other public programs, the intern explores how scheduling, facilitation, and on-the-ground support create meaningful visitor experiences. The internship takes place from approximately March 1 to July 19.
How to Apply
To apply, visit SOLAA and create an account. After selecting Internship, specify the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage (please indicate the name of the specific internship in your essay). You will be required to upload supporting materials such as an essay, résumé, transcript, and letters of recommendation. Selected applicants will need to undergo a background check.
The submission deadline for summer internships is March 1. There are no deadlines for submitting applications for other seasons. The completed application is to be submitted at least six weeks before the start of the internship.If you have questions, please contact intern coordinator Arlene Reiniger at ReinigerA@si.edu.
