Current Award Recipient

Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) Internship Program

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) Internship Program is recognized with the 2026 CEIA Best Practices Award for its transformative approach to creating opportunities for the next generation of museum professionals.

At the heart of this best practice is the program’s centralized, equitable stipend model. Recognizing that unpaid or low-paid internships limit the talent pipeline to those with independent financial means, NMAAHC transitioned from disparate, department-funded models to a unified, museum-wide budget.

This initiative guarantees a consistent living‑wage stipend of $850 per week for full‑time interns and $425 per week for part‑time interns, regardless of their specific department or project. This shift ensures that all interns—whether in Curatorial, Conservation, Social Media, or Education—are valued equally for their contributions.

Beyond financial compensation, the program is distinguished by its holistic blueprint for professional development and enrichment. Interns engage in a structured 10‑ to 13‑week cohort experience that includes mentorship from world‑class scholars, technical skill‑building, and intern‑to‑intern peer learning sessions.

By combining measurable outcomes with a scalable funding model, the NMAAHC Internship Program demonstrates that meaningful, paid workplace‑based learning is not only essential for student success but also a sustainable institutional strategy. CEIA is proud to honor the Smithsonian’s NMAAHC Internship Program for its leadership in developing the next generation of museum professionals.