Internships | Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans

The Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans provides internship opportunities for students studying, or interested in, historic preservation, architecture, history, communications, archives, nonprofit administration, fundraising or related fields. Internships directly support PRC’s mission to preserve New Orleans’ historic architecture, neighborhoods and cultural identity through collaboration, empowerment and service to our community.

Standard PRC internships require a minimum commitment of 60 hours. Some program-specific internships may require additional hours.

Advocacy & Education Department

The Advocacy & Education Department advocates for pro-preservation policy at the local, state and federal levels and provides educational programming and resources for all ages, including hands-on classes, workshops and public school curricula.

Available Internships

Please see Patty Gay internship below.

Communications Department

The Communications Department produces PRC’s award-winning print magazine, Preservation in Print, maintains PRC’s website and manages the organization’s social media channels.

Available Internships

Two fall internships are available for undergraduate or graduate students. PRC is actively seeking funding to underwrite these internships; at this time, the positions are unpaid.

DIGITAL ARCHIVES & PHOTO PRESERVATION INTERN (Communications Dept.)

The Communications Department is seeking a Digital Archives & Photo Preservation Intern. This role is ideal for a highly organized student who is curious about history, preservation, photography and the behind-the-scenes work of protecting cultural memory.

The intern will help PRC begin a major long-term effort to digitize historic photographs and slides from its collections. This is important work — and it is also detail-heavy, repetitive and patient work. The right candidate will understand that preserving history often means careful, methodical effort and will take pride in helping make PRC’s visual history more usable, searchable and protected for the future.

The intern will work primarily with the Director of Communications and may also collaborate with the Web & Social Media Manager when digitized material has storytelling or social media value.

What you’ll do

Prepare photographs and slides for digitization
Scan materials according to PRC workflow and naming conventions
Organize digital files and folders
Enter basic descriptive metadata into a spreadsheet or archive system
Perform quality control checks to ensure files are complete, legible and correctly labeled
Help identify especially compelling images that could support PRC storytelling, exhibitions or social content
Track progress on the project and help maintain an orderly digitization workflow

What we’re looking for

Extremely detail-oriented and dependable
Comfortable with repetitive, process-driven work
Organized with digital files and basic computer tasks
Able to handle historic materials carefully and respectfully
Interest in preservation, history, archives, photography, libraries, museums or research is a plus
Previous archive experience is not required

What you’ll gain

Experience contributing to the preservation of New Orleans history
Hands-on experience with digitization and archival workflow
Exposure to metadata, file organization and preservation practices
A real-world understanding of how historic collections become accessible for future use

SOCIAL MEDIA & CONTENT INTERN (Communications Dept.)

The Communications Department is seeking a Social Media & Content Intern for fall 2026. This role is for someone who lives online in the best way: someone who understands what makes people stop scrolling, what feels stale, what feels native to Instagram and TikTok, and how to translate a mission into content people actually want to watch, engage with and share.

The intern will support PRC’s Web & Social Media Manager and Communications team with short-form content, platform research, social copy and trend-informed creative ideas. This is a great opportunity for a student who wants real experience in social media, digital storytelling and mission-driven marketing.

What you’ll do

Help brainstorm and pitch content ideas for Instagram, TikTok and emerging platforms
Assist with short-form video planning, caption writing and posting support
Research trends, audio, formats and content styles that fit PRC’s voice and mission
Help create story slides, Reels support materials and simple content assets
Monitor comments, engagement and platform activity as assigned
Pull simple performance insights on what worked, what didn’t and what PRC should try next
Support content capture at PRC events or in-office moments when needed

What we’re looking for

Deep familiarity with Instagram, TikTok and internet culture
Strong writing instincts and a good ear for tone
Interest in short-form video, storytelling and social trends
Comfortable using a smartphone for photo and video capture
Basic experience with Canva, CapCut or similar editing tools is a plus
Interest in New Orleans culture, architecture, nonprofits or preservation is a plus
Able to take direction, stay organized and work within a brand voice

What you’ll gain

A closer look at how communications, storytelling and advocacy work together
Hands-on nonprofit social media experience
Portfolio-worthy work tied to a real organization and mission
Experience with content strategy, platform thinking and performance review

Easements Department

The Easements Department manages PRC’s preservation easement program. A preservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement that gives PRC the right to prevent changes that would compromise the historic integrity of a building in perpetuity.

Available Internships

2026 FALL INTERNSHIP

A preservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement that protects a historic, archaeological, or culturally significant property in perpetuity. The Easement Program Intern assists the Preservation Resource Center (PRC) in monitoring and inspecting over 140 properties where the organization currently holds easements. Inspection reports on properties where easements are held must be filed every 12 to 18 months to ensure compliance with federal tax incentives for conservation easements and restrictions outlined in the legal agreement, Act of Donation. The monitoring process involves on-site inspections done from the street. The internship provides hands-on experience in documenting property conditions, preparing reports and letters for property owners, and understanding the legal and administrative responsibilities of an easement-holding organization. Interns gain insight into architectural styles, historic neighborhoods, and the preservation and maintenance of historic properties, while also developing an understanding of federal tax incentives and the legal framework of preservation easements.
Requirements:

Research and become familiar with the purpose and restrictions associated with preservation easements and the Internal Revenue Code 170(h).
Read and understand completely the legal agreement, Act of Donation, and the responsibilities of the PRC as an easement-holding organization.
Conduct property inspections, document conditions, and prepare reports for property owners.

Executive Department

The Executive Department supports projects, initiatives and administrative work associated with the PRC Executive Director’s office.

Available Internships

NO FALL INTERNSHIPS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

Save Our Cemeteries Department

Save Our Cemeteries Department preserves New Orleans cemeteries through restoration, education and guided cemetery tours.

Available Internships

SAVE OUR CEMETERIES FALL INTERN

One fall internship is available for an undergraduate or graduate student. PRC is actively seeking funding to underwrite this internship; at this time, the position is unpaid.

This intern will research and write about individual tombs, exploring the history of the people buried there, their impact on New Orleans history and how their stories connect to the cemetery and the city at large. The intern will conduct research, write and present findings to PRC staff and tour guides to help create new tour stops that tell diverse stories.

There is also potential for the intern’s work to support online articles, Preservation in Print features or the development of a broader narrative or tour.

Advancement Department

The Advancement Department manages PRC’s fundraising, events and membership programs.

Available Internships

ADVANCEMENT DEPARTMENT FALL INTERN

One fall internship is available for an undergraduate or graduate student. PRC is actively seeking funding to underwrite this internship; at this time, the position is unpaid.

The Advancement Department is seeking a fall intern to support an important data project stemming from PRC’s 2025 acquisition of Save Our Cemeteries. The work involves carefully integrating Save Our Cemeteries’ constituent database into PRC’s system — a manual process that requires strong attention to detail because of the meaningful overlap between the two audiences.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone interested in nonprofit work. Database literacy is one of the most practical and in-demand skills in the sector, and hands-on experience with constituent management systems is a genuine advantage when applying for entry-level positions. The intern will leave with a tangible contribution to a project that matters and a skill set that opens doors.

PRC’s Patty Gay Internship

The Patty Gay Internship Program at PRC, made possible through the generous support of the Clein Lemann Esperanza Foundation, is a paid work opportunity that engages students in the field of preservation by providing in-depth, meaningful, real-world experience and introducing them to the many facets of professional preservation practice.

Learn More & apply for the Fall 2026 Patty Gay Internship

Patty Gay Internship – Fall 2026

The Preservation Resource Center (PRC) is seeking a Patty Gay Education Programs Intern to help expand preservation education opportunities for K–12 students in New Orleans public schools.

The PRC preserves New Orleans’ historic architecture, neighborhoods, and cultural identity through collaboration, empowerment, and service to our community. Our education programs introduce students to the city’s built environment while fostering curiosity, civic pride, and an understanding of why preservation matters.

This internship offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the development of meaningful educational programming while gaining hands-on experience in curriculum design, nonprofit program development, community outreach, and preservation education.

Responsibilities

Working under the supervision of the Associate Director of Education Programs, the intern will help lay the groundwork for expanding PRC’s school programming by:

Developing lesson plans, classroom activities, and educational materials for K–12 audiences
Customizing existing programs to meet the needs of individual partner schools and teachers
Researching curriculum standards and identifying opportunities to align programming with classroom learning
Conducting outreach to schools and educators to support partnership development
Assisting with the creation of systems, resources, and operational processes that support long-term program growth
Supporting program evaluation and documentation as needed
Participating in regular meetings, mentorship opportunities, and presentations as part of the Patty Gay Internship Program

Qualifications

Ideal candidates are current graduate students with a background and interest in one or more of the following:

Historic preservation
Education or curriculum development
Public history
Architecture, planning, or urban studies
Museum studies
Nonprofit management
Communications or community engagement

Successful applicants will be organized, curious, collaborative, and excited about helping connect young people with New Orleans’ history and neighborhoods. Strong writing, research, and communication skills are preferred.

What You’ll Gain

This internship provides meaningful experience in:

Educational program design
Curriculum development
Community partnerships and outreach
Nonprofit operations
Historic preservation and public engagement

Interns also receive mentorship through the Patty Gay Internship Program and have the opportunity to present their work to PRC staff and preservation professionals.