Marketing and Communications: Public Relations Intern

Sfmoma • San Francisco, CA

29d • $7,000 - $7,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Inspired by the goal of promoting our exhibitions and programs to a broad audience, the Summer 2026 Public Relations intern will aid the Public Relations (PR) team in researching relevant media contacts, tracking and analyzing press coverage, and preparing and reviewing select communications for distribution to our press lists. With guidance from the PR team, the Summer 2026 Public Relations intern’s primary project will focus on researching and making strategic updates to the museum’s database of journalists, editors, and media outlets who may have interest in covering SFMOMA’s Fall 2026 surcharged exhibition RM x SFMOMA and Spring 2027 surcharged exhibition (to be announced). The Summer 2026 Public Relations intern will also have the opportunity to contribute to select press releases and/or media alerts and will help manage the PR Team’s press highlights board (which displays key press clippings for SFMOMA’s staff). The Summer 2026 intern will additionally be welcomed to a variety of department and division meetings and outings, including: PR team meetings to develop a sense of PR strategy and media relations at the museum, Communications Department meetings to gain an understanding of the Editorial and Public Relations planning processes and collaborations, and monthly Marketing and Communications (M+C) All Hands meetings to become familiar with the different roles and responsibilities of the wider division. Project Plan Over the 9-week program the PR Intern will: · Weeks 1-3: Become familiar with SFMOMA, its building, collection, and programs; the M+C division responsibilities; the PR team priorities, schedule, and press list; explore the PR Team’s main press list and Meltwater Database · Weeks 4-6: Review exhibition materials related to SFMOMA’s 2026-2027 surcharged exhibitions; begin conducting research on potential press targets; research comparable exhibitions and related press coverage; regularly update SFMOMA’s press highlights board; review and/or contribute to select press releases and/or media alerts · Weeks 7-8: Continue research on relevant media outlets and contacts; finalize recommendations to SFMOMA’s press list · Week 9: Work on final project and presentation Educational Objectives · Develop a greater awareness of the current media landscape · Gain first-hand experience with public relations at an arts nonprofit, PR strategy and planning, effective communications and pitching to the media · Increase knowledge of a wide variety of media outlets, writers, and editors and hone a greater understanding of how to effectively reach a diverse range of audiences Additional Internship Programming The Summer 2026 Internship will offer 9-weeks of hands-on experience and mentorship along with weekly presentations and discussions with various departments in the museum, off-site educational visits within the Bay Area community, and access to various tours and events within the museum.

Requirements

• Applicants must be currently enrolled in school or a recent graduate. The SFMOMA recognizes a graduation date within 6 months of the internship start date as a recent graduate. Bachelor’s degree or minimum two years of education from an accredited college or university.
• If you are a current employee of the SFMOMA applying for an internship, you must be a current student or a recent graduate, within 6 months of the internship start date.
• Interest in the visual arts or museums, as well as working in the field of public relations or communications.
• Demonstrated experience with research projects and attention to detail.
• Knowledge of PC-based software including Microsoft Office applications.
• Familiarity with press outlets and earned media platforms.
• Good research skills and experience researching a variety of subjects, ideally including art forms, media and/or news coverage
• Excellent administrative and organizational skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to meet deadlines and maintain confidentiality.
• Understanding of and interest in issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how they relate to the mission and work of a community-focused cultural organization.
• Enthusiasm for handling a wide range of projects.
• Must be able to inspect work visually.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with databases desired but not essential

Responsibilities

• Aid the Public Relations (PR) team in researching relevant media contacts
• Track and analyze press coverage
• Prepare and review select communications for distribution to our press lists
• Research and make strategic updates to the museum’s database of journalists, editors, and media outlets
• Contribute to select press releases and/or media alerts
• Help manage the PR Team’s press highlights board

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees