Office of the Vice President for the Arts
SIPA – Self-Designed Internships
About
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 (35-40 hours/week) and last 10 weeks during the summer.
- Internship must take place at a qualifying host organization.
- Internship is in the field of arts administration
- 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 app to determine your organization's eligibility.
For additional questions about organizational eligibility contact program staff. Include as many details/specifics as possible.
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.
Arts Focus
Host organizations are typically arts or cultural organizations. Placements will be considered at other types of organizations (e.g. government, health, legal, community development) as long as the proposed project is centered on the arts.Â
Located in the United States
The organization must have a headquarters located in the United States. The internship workplace must also be located in the United States.Â
- Students interested in global internship opportunities should explore opportunities for self-designed placements through the Global Studies internship program or the Lyric McHenry Community Arts Fellowship (CAF).
Supervisor Reqirement
All interns must have a supervisor/ at their host organization. The supervisor must be a staff member of the organization who is a full-time employee.
- Volunteers are not eligible to act as internship supervisors.
- The supervisor may not be the fellow’s family member, and the host organization cannot be owned or run by the fellow’s family member.
Other Eligibility Criteria
- Political-related opportunities: SIPA funding cannot be used for work with political campaigns or partisan organizations (including any official party work).
- Research-related opportunities: Research-focused opportunities will not be considered. For grants supporting research, please explore the grants offered through Undergraduate Research.
- Stanford-based opportunities: A goal of Cardinal Quarter-affiliated is for students to get away from campus, and to engage in the community with an established community partner. Opportunities based at Stanford do not qualify for the SIPA self-designed track.
- Fees for placement/sending organizations: SIPA funds cannot be used to pay fees to third-party placement organizations or volunteer sending organizations.Â
- Faith-based organizations: Working with a faith-based organization can be supported by SIPA, but the organization must be inclusive in who they serve, non-proselytizing and nonpartisan.Â
- Safety: Although Stanford is providing funding for a internship or has recommended a student for a internship, Stanford’s evaluation of the internship has been limited to the merits of the student’s internship application. Stanford Arts staff do not necessarily have direct experience with, nor do we professionally endorse, partner organizations. Among other things, Stanford is not in the position to evaluate, and therefore has not evaluated, whether the internship will take place in a safe and secure environment. Stanford is not responsible for matters that are beyond its control, and cannot warrant the safety or convenience of the circumstances under which the student will be traveling, living or working. Students are solely responsible for evaluating the safety of the environment in which they will be traveling and/or working and for taking appropriate precautions to safeguard their health and personal belongings.
Participant Expectations
Participants in both pre-arranged and self-designed internships are expected to complete the following program steps:
- Spring Quarter
- Complete the self-paced orientation during Spring Quarter.
- Develop learning goals that will be shared with your internship supervisor during the first week of your placement.
- Summer Quarter
- Stay in contact with SIPA program staff via email during the summer.
- Complete weekly reflection assignments and required reports, including: the midpoint self-evaluation/social media post, final self-evaluation, and donor thank you letter.
How to Apply
Applications are only accepted through SOLO and include the following:
- Basic applicant info (Name, SUID#, Stanford email, major/program)
- Personal statement (as a PDF)
- What are your learning goals for participating in SIPA?
- Why do you want to intern at this specific organization? What elements of the organization's mission/activities particularly resonate with you?
- What skills/experiences can you offer the organization?
- Resume (as a PDF)
- Unofficial transcript (as PDF)
- One (1) Host Organization Questionnaire, to be completed individual representing your proposed host organization who can answer questions pertaining to the organization and your proposed internship experience. The questionnaire is submitted online via SOLO.
- Name and contact information of one (1) professional reference. Your reference provider can be a Stanford faculty, academic staff, professional staff member, or a work/internship supervisor (current or former). Your reference does not need to submit anything as part of your application. Program staff will let you know if there is a need to contact your reference.
Applications are not considered complete until all materials have been received. Please make sure to communicate deadlines with your host organization.
Visit the Application Resources page for additional tips!
Stipends
All students accepted into SIPA receive a stipend to help support basic living expenses during the internship.
Summer 2026 Rates:
- 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.
Student athletes should confirm the impact of any awarded stipend on their athletic eligibility by contacting the Compliance Services Office prior to accepting a SIPA internship stipend.
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.
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