Office of the Vice President for the Arts
SIPA – How to Apply
About
The Stanford Internship Program in the Arts (SIPA) provides opportunities to explore career pathways in arts organizations.
Students participate in 10-week arts administration internships in the United States. SIPA offers two program tracks:
Student Eligibility
- Open to current Stanford undergraduate students (freshman, sophomores, and juniors) from all academic disciplines.
- Priority will be given to students who have not previously participated in SIPA or the Lyric McHenry Community Arts Fellowship.
- Co-terms and graduating seniors are not eligible for either track.
- Students are only eligible for one Stanford-funded summer experiential learning opportunity during the 2024-25 academic year (inclusive of summer).
- If students choose to participate in either track of SIPA, they will not be eligible for another Stanford-sponsored full-time funding opportunity (e.g., another Cardinal Quarter opportunity, Global Studies Internship Program, Undergraduate Research Major Grants, Chappell Lougee, VPA Senior Grant, full-time departmental and faculty research grants, Beagle II Award, etc.).
- Part-time opportunities (such as an Undergraduate Research Small Grant or another on-campus part-time internship) may be feasible for some SIPA pre-arranged, on campus internships. Contact program staff to discuss eligibility.
Key Dates
SIPA is only available for Summer 2025 internships. Students interested in internship stipends during the academic year may be eligible for funding through the Haas Center’s Cardinal Quarter or Community Service Work-Study programs.
Info Sessions
- January 16, 2025: Internships in the Arts Info Session
Application Timeline
- December 2024: Application opens
- February 20, 2025 @ 11:59pm (Pacific): Deadline for pre-arranged internships
- mid March 2025: Semi-finalist interviews take place for selected candidates.
- late March 2025: Pre-arranged internship finalists notified. Students will have up to 48 hours to accept/decline an offer.
- March 17, 2025 @ 11:59pm (Pacific): Deadline for self-designed internships
- Completed Host Organization Questionnaire forms are also due by this deadline!
- mid April: Semi-finalist interviews may take place for selected candidates.
- late April: Self-designed internship finalists notified. Students will have up to 48 hours to accept/decline an offer.
- May 2025: All Students complete online orientation via Canvas.
- late May 2025: Stipends paid via Student Financial Services.
- June/July 2025: Internships begin
- August/September 2025: Internships end
Participant Expectations
Participants in both pre-arranged and self-designed internships are expected to complete the following program steps:
- Complete the self-paced orientation in Canvas during Spring Quarter
- Follow all policies and practices relating to domestic travel for Cardinal Quarter programs.
- Stay in contact with SIPA program staff via email during the summer.
- Develop learning goals that will be shared with your internship supervisor during the first week of your placement.
- Complete weekly reflection assignments in Canvas, as well as the midpoint self-evaluation/social media post, final self-evaluation, and donor thank you letter.
Stipends
All students accepted into SIPA receive a stipend to help support basic living expenses during the internship.
Summer 2025 Rates:
- Pre-arranged (part-time): Participants receive a base stipend of $4,000, plus additional need-based aid up to $1,500.
- Self-designed (full-time): Participants receive a base stipend of $8,000, plus additional need-based aid up to $1,500.
Stipends are paid once students complete all pre-participation requirements including the orientation content in Canvas.
Disability Accomodations
If you need a disability-related accommodation and/or need to receive any internship information/application in alternate format, please contact the Diversity & Access Office at, at phone: (650) 725-0326 or email: disability.access@stanford.edu.
Track A: Pre-Arranged Internships
Students participate in a 10-week, part-time placement with one of Stanford’s arts institutions, such as: Stanford Live/Frost Amphitheater, Cantor Arts Center, the Anderson Collection, or with a faculty artist. All SIPA participants receive funding to support living costs during the 10-week internship. Summer interns are responsible for securing their own housing for the duration of the internship.
Apply for a Pre-Arranged Internship
Track B: Self-Designed Internships
Students design and secure an internship with an off-campus arts organization that aligns with your unique interests. If accepted into SIPA, students will receive funding to help support basic living costs during their 10 week, full-time internship. Students are responsible for securing their own housing for the duration of the internship.
Internship Requirements
- You must secure your self-designed internship prior to submitting your SIPA funding application. Visit our Application Resources page for tips on finding a meaningful internship experience.
- All internships must be full-time (32-35 hours/week) and last 8-10 weeks during the summer.
- Internship must take place at a qualifying host organization.
- Internship is in the field of arts administration
- Arts administration captures a variety of administrative and support roles that facilitate artistic and cultural expression. Typically arts administrators work in organizations of all sizes but they can also be found as freelancers, in collectives, consultancies, government, and more. Arts administrators come from a variety of backgrounds including (but not limited to) practicing artists, business, arts scholars, public policy, education, community organizing, and technology.
- Arts administration can also referred to as arts management, arts leadership, cultural management, cultural policy, and the creative industries.
- Students are still eligible for a SIPA stipend even if their host organization has already committed to provide a an hourly wage, stipend, or other form of compensation.
Host Organization Eligibility
All proposed host organizations for SIPA must meet all of the eligibility criteria. You can use this guide to determine your organization's eligibility. For additional questions about organizational eligibility contact program staff.
If your potential host organization has questions about the program please direct them to our host organization info page. Your organization contact can also reach out to our program staff for additional information.
Apply for a Self-Designed Internship
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