Program Development and ExhibitsAt — Lambda Archives of San Diego
Join Lambda Archives of San Diego as an Exhibit Design & Programming Intern and transform archival collections into compelling public exhibitions. Working with our Head Archivist and Managing Director, you'll design visual narratives from LGBTQ+ historical materials, then develop the workshops, panels, and community programs that bring these stories to life. This hands-on role goes beyond exhibit design—you'll gain practical experience in curation, event planning, public history, and community engagement. Your work will directly impact how the San Diego-Tijuana region understands and preserves its LGBTQ+ heritage. Ideal for students interested in museum studies, public history, LGBTQ+ studies, graphic design, education, or nonprofit work.
Interns will develop practical skills across exhibition design, program development, and public history. You'll learn to research and interpret archival materials, design exhibit layouts, write compelling narratives and labels, and consider accessibility in public-facing displays. On the programming side, you'll gain experience planning and coordinating workshops, panels, and community events—managing everything from speaker recruitment to audience engagement strategies. Working directly with primary sources, you'll understand archival ethics and how archives function as community resources. Throughout the internship, you'll strengthen essential professional skills including project management, public speaking, stakeholder collaboration, social media promotion, and nonprofit operations. You'll leave with programming examples, plus transferable experience for careers in museums, archives, education, cultural organizations, and community engagement—and a deep understanding of how cultural institutions make history accessible and actionable.
Students will receive training from the Head Archivist and Managing Director focused on working in a queer community-based nonprofit. This includes hard and soft skills training aimed at supporting students through their internship.
There is no application process, but there will be a brief virtual meeting to get to know you, ask you some questions to determine what might interest you as part of your internship.
| Hours | Duration |
|---|---|
| 15 | hours per academic term |