Job Details

Summer 2026 Public Relations Intern

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art in the United States and a thriving cultural center for the Bay Area. We cannot imagine life without art; it inspires and connects us every day. Now more than ever, these connections matter and are aligned with our values.

Inclusive: We strive to be a museum of many voices in dialogue.

Passionate: We believe working with art is more than a job or trusteeship - it's a way of life.

Brave: We are committed to approaching our work with courage and a sense of adventure, always ready to explore new perspectives.

Empathic: We aim to act like a person, not an institution.

SFMOMA is a place for the infinitely curious to explore, support, and experience the art of our time. We believe that modern and contemporary art can influence the way we think, view the world, and embrace the many voices and perspectives around us. We aspire to foster an environment that elicits joy, nurtures a sense of belonging and purposewhere difference is seen as a strength, and every one is appreciated for their whole self.

Full Time, 35 hours/week, Monday, June 15 - Friday, August 14, at least three days working onsite.

Communications Department Description

The Communications Department is comprised of the Public Relations and the Editorial teams. This internship joins the three-person Public Relations team, which works with colleagues across the broader department, division, and the institution as well as external stakeholders to expand visibility and build diverse audiences for the full range of museum activity. Focus areas include SFMOMA's exhibitions, permanent collections, acquisitions, education and community engagement programs, artists, staff, board leadership, museum store, philanthropy events, and partnerships, among other initiatives. The Public Relations team secures a significant and wide range of press coverage for the museum, generates press materials and staff and leadership talking points, facilitates interviews, as well as film and photography shoots, all helping tell and share the many stories of SFMOMA with the public.

Position Description

Inspired by the goal of promoting our exhibitions and programs to a broad audience, the Summer 2026 Public Relations intern will aid the Public Relations (PR) team in researching relevant media contacts, tracking and analyzing press coverage, and preparing and reviewing select communications for distribution to our press lists.

With guidance from the PR team, the Summer 2026 Public Relations intern's primary project will focus on researching and making strategic updates to the museum's database of journalists, editors, and media outlets who may have interest in covering SFMOMA's Fall 2026 surcharged exhibition RM x SFMOMA and Spring 2027 surcharged exhibition (to be announced). The Summer 2026 Public Relations intern will also have the opportunity to contribute to select press releases and/or media alerts and will help manage the PR Team's press highlights board (which displays key press clippings for SFMOMA's staff). The Summer 2026 intern will additionally be welcomed to a variety of department and division meetings and outings, including: PR team meetings to develop a sense of PR strategy and media relations at the museum, Communications Department meetings to gain an understanding of the Editorial and Public Relations planning processes and collaborations, and monthly Marketing and Communications (M+C) All Hands meetings to become familiar with the different roles and responsibilities of the wider division.

Project Plan

Over the 9-week program the PR Intern will:

• Weeks 1-3: Become familiar with SFMOMA, its building, collection, and programs; the M+C division responsibilities; the PR team priorities, schedule, and press list; explore the PR Team's main press list and Meltwater Database
• Weeks 4-6: Review exhibition materials related to SFMOMA's 2026-2027 surcharged exhibitions; begin conducting research on potential press targets; research comparable exhibitions and related press coverage; regularly update SFMOMA's press highlights board; review and/or contribute to select press releases and/or media alerts
• Weeks 7-8: Continue research on relevant media outlets and contacts; finalize recommendations to SFMOMA's press list
• Week 9: Work on final project and presentation

Educational Objectives

Develop a greater awareness of the current media landscape

Gain first-hand experience with public relations at an arts nonprofit, PR strategy and planning, effective communications and pitching to the media

Increase knowledge of a wide variety of media outlets, writers, and editors and hone a greater understanding of how to effectively reach a diverse range of audiences

Additional Internship Programming

The Summer 2026 Internship will offer 9-weeks of hands-on experience and mentorship along with weekly presentations and discussions with various departments in the museum, off-site educational visits within the Bay Area community, and access to various tours and events within the museum.

Requirements

Applicants must be currently enrolled in school or a recent graduate. The SFMOMA recognizes a graduation date within 6 months of the internship start date as a recent graduate. Bachelor's degree or minimum two years of education from an accredited college or university.

If you are a current employee of the SFMOMA applying for an internship, you must be a current student or a recent graduate, within 6 months of the internship start date.

Interest in the visual arts or museums, as well as working in the field of public relations or communications.

Demonstrated experience with research projects and attention to detail.

Knowledge of PC-based software including Microsoft Office applications.

Familiarity with press outlets and earned media platforms.

Good research skills and experience researching a variety of subjects, ideally including art forms, media and/or news coverage.

Excellent administrative and organizational skills.

Excellent interpersonal skills.

Ability to meet deadlines and maintain confidentiality.

Understanding of and interest in issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how they relate to the mission and work of a community-focused cultural organization.

Enthusiasm for handling a wide range of projects.

Experience working with databases desired but not essential

Must be able to inspect work visually.

$7,000 - $7,000 one-time

Pre-tax stipend paid out in a one-lump sum after start date

*TAX WITHHOLDING: For certain non-US residents and non-CA residents, any payments that constitute taxable income under U.S. tax law may be subject to up to 30% federal and 7% state tax withholding (or the current applicable rates), and so any payments you receive may be reduced accordingly. Please consult with your tax advisor regarding the tax treatment of your stipend from this internship.

Application Requirements

Intern application on SFMOMA job site

Resume, in PDF format

Cover letter stating the specific internship of interest, in PDF format

Describe the experience you bring, why you are interested in museum or nonprofit work, reasons for applying to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and your goals for the internship.

Two letters of recommendation from either a college professor or current/former employer, in PDF format

College/university transcript, in PDF format

Transcripts can be unofficial but must be legible

If you are currently enrolled in a master's or PhD program, please provide the transcript for your current program, not your undergraduate transcript

Writing sample, preferably related to the arts or culture

Application Deadline: February 28, 2026

Please note: You only need two letters of recommendation total, not separate letters for each internship. If you apply to multiple internships (up to three), simply inform your recommenders which positions you're applying for. We'll review the same two letters across all your applications.

Location: San Francisco, 151 3rd Street.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

SFMOMA is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. No person shall be discriminated