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Internships play a vital role in helping students prepare for a career in the arts.

Studying art offers an unparalleled opportunity to develop creative and critical thinking skills, and the right internship can enhance those abilities. The School of Art strongly encourages students to complete a professional internship while gaining course credit, and Knoxville – which houses a wealth of galleries, museums, art-centered organizations and businesses, and media production companies, many which are run or staffed by SOA alumni – provides a range of opportunities.  

In addition to the internships available locally, undergraduate internship and travel awards can help students to travel to art hubs such as Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago for positions. Our faculty members work closely with students to connect them with internships that are a good fit for their degree and professional goals.  

Scroll down to learn more about the types of internships that are available for School of Art students.  Current students can access the Internship Contract here:

Museums and Galleries.  

Art and art history students interested in pursuing careers at museums, galleries, and other art institutions have gained valuable experience interning locally at the UT McClung Museum of Natural History, the Mabry-Hazen House, and the Knoxville Museum of Art, among others. Students have also interned at prominent institutions outside of Tennessee, including the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.   

Within the School of Art, eligible work study students also have the the opportunity to take positions at the Ewing Gallery of Art + Architecture and Gallery 1010 in Downtown Knoxville, the only fully student-run, non-profit gallery in the state of Tennessee.

Learn more about internship opportunities for art history and museum and curatorial studies students:

Cinema Studies and Time-Based Art  

Time-based Art and Cinema Studies Students have interned at a range of companies across Tennessee and beyond, from Hollywood talent agencies to feature films to advertising and production companies. Such positions have helped lead students to careers in the film and television industry.  Eligible students can also secure positions at UT media outlets, such as the Daily Beacon and Tennessee Athletics. 

To learn more about interning and professional development as a Cinema Studies or Time-Based Art student, log onto the Canvas page below:

Visual art and design.   

Students interested in visual art, design, and arts administration, especially those pursuing a BA or BFA in Studio Art, will find plenty of internship opportunities in the Knoxville area.  Art students have interned at local organizations and businesses including artist collectives and printshops, the prestigious Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in nearby Gatlinburg, local muralists, and glassblowing and metalwork companies.  Eligible work study students with interest in printmaking are also able to work in the UT Letterpress Shop and Printmaking Studio, learning the valuable technical skills needed to run such spaces. 

Students interested in an internship in visual arts or design should contact art@utk.edu.  

Art Education. 

Students who earn a B.A. or B.F.A in Studio Art with a Minor in Art Education can go on to earn an MS in Art Education in just one year through UT’s College of Education, Health and Human Sciences. This professional post-baccalaureate program is designed to prepare students to work in diverse settings, to meet the needs of individual students, and to become leaders in the field of art education. Enrolled students complete one year of graduate coursework, while completing a year-long professional teaching internship at a local school, as part of the degree requirements.