Stanford Internship Program in the Arts (SIPA) Summer 2026: Pre-Arranged Internships
The Stanford Internship Program in the Arts (SIPA) provides opportunities to explore career pathways in arts organizations. SIPA is part of Cardinal Quarter, a campus-wide experiential learning initiative.
How It Works: Pre-Arranged Internships
Students participate in a 10-week, part-time placement with one of Stanford’s arts institutions. If accepted into SIPA, students will receive a stipend. (Need-based financial aid is available.) Students are responsible for securing their own housing for the duration of the internship. This option is an excellent entry point into the world of arts administration and college-level internships.
Summer 2026 opportunities include placements at:
Visit our website for details regarding internship eligibility, position descriptions, and application requirements.
Interested in designing your own off-campus internship experience? Click here to learn more about SIPA's track for self-designed internships.
- Learn about what it takes to run an arts organization in the United States
- Discover a variety of career pathways connected to the arts
- Deepen your engagement with Stanford's arts institutions
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Open to current Stanford undergraduate frosh, 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 SIPA pre-arranged internships.
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Students are only eligible for one Stanford-funded summer experiential learning opportunity during the 2025-26 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) are only allowed for pre-arranged internships. Both your SIPA supervisor and Small Grant mentor must agree to your participation in both programs.
- Travel Reservations Requirement: SIPA recipients are required to utilize Stanford Travel, a centralized booking program, when booking air fare, hotels, or rental cars for their internship experiences.
Funding
All students accepted into SIPA receive a stipend to help support basic living expenses during the internship.
- Pre-arranged, part-time: Participants receive a base stipend of $4,800, 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. For international students: Stipend will be paid through Stanford. Contact the Bechtel Center to review any additional paperwork/authorizations that may be required in order to participate.
Related Stanford Opportunities
Independent Projects: SIPA's focus is on arts administration and working with organizations. If you are interested in pursuing a community or independent project (such as making a film, apprenticing with an artist, pursuing a writing project, developing community artwork, etc.) you are encouraged to explore the following Stanford opportunities:
