The north carolina department of natural and cultural resources (dncr) will expand access to museum careers by facilitating up to 40 paid internship opportunities across dncr venues

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources $1,024,655 on September 1, 2026, under the 21st Century Museum Professional Program (CFDA 45.032) to expand access to museum careers by facilitating up to 40 paid internship opportunities across the department's 100 venues.

Interns will be recruited from students pursuing trade skills, information technology, business, natural sciences, and STEAM majors, as well as museum studies. Internship positions will span exhibit fabrication, virtual reality and artificial intelligence development, GIS technology, museum maintenance, and education. All interns will complete structured onboarding, develop three defined technical competencies, participate in weekly mentorship activities, complete a capstone project, and engage in professional development sessions. The program aims to strengthen the talent pipeline for cultural institutions and support North Carolina's competitive labor market.

Performance of the award is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, with a period of performance from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2028. The 21st Century Museum Professional Program supports projects that build career pathways, strengthen professional networks, and identify effective workforce education and training practices in the museum field.

For the project, dncr will recruit interns with various trade skills, as well as those studying information technology, business, natural sciences and other steam (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) majors, as well as museum studies. Internship positions will be placed throughout dncr's 100 venues, in areas such as exhibit fabrication, virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) development, GIS tech, museum maintenance, and education. All interns will complete structured onboarding, develop three defined technical competencies, participate in weekly mentorship activities, complete a capstone project, and engage in professional development sessions. By providing students with internships offering applied experience in museum-based positions, the program will strengthen the talent pipeline for cultural institutions and support north carolina's competitive labor market.