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
- 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.
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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