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.
No Available Internships
We are no longer accepting applications for the Fall 2026 Patty Gay Internship. Please check back in January 2027.
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.
No Available Internships
NO FALL INTERNSHIPS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
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.
No Available Internships
NO FALL INTERNSHIPS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
Executive Department
The Executive Department supports projects, initiatives and administrative work associated with the PRC Executive Director’s office.
No 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.
No Available Internships
NO FALL INTERNSHIPS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
Advancement Department
The Advancement Department manages PRC’s fundraising, events and membership programs.
No Available Internships
NO FALL INTERNSHIPS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
St. Louis Cathedral Restoration Internship
Internship Opportunity
The Preservation Resource Center (PRC) in partnership with Ryan Gootee General Contractors, Holly & Smith Architects, and the Archdiocese of New Orleans is seeking a graduate-level intern to document the restoration of the iconic St. Louis Cathedral. This internship offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to closely follow the restoration of one of the nation’s most significant historic landmarks while creating an educational archive of the project through photography, videography, writing, and digital storytelling. Through this internship, students will gain firsthand experience documenting preservation in action while working alongside architects, contractors, preservation professionals, and craftspeople involved in a major historic restoration.
Learn More & apply for the St. Louis Cathedral Restoration Internship
Responsibilities
Working under the supervision of the PRC’s Advocacy & Education and Communications departments, the intern will:
- Document the restoration of St. Louis Cathedral through photography, videography, writing, and other multimedia storytelling
- Attend site visits throughout the restoration process to capture the progress of the project and significant preservation milestones
- Research the history of the cathedral, historic building materials, restoration techniques, and preservation best practices
- Interview architects, contractors, craftspeople, preservation professionals, and other project partners
- Assist in creating educational content that helps the public understand the restoration process and the importance of historic preservation
- Organize and maintain digital files, photographs, video footage, and project documentation for PRC’s educational archive
- Prepare draft articles, captions, research summaries, and other content that may be adapted for Preservation in Print, PRC’s website, social media, and future educational programming
- Present work to PRC staff and project partners at the conclusion of each semester
Qualifications
Ideal candidates are graduate students with a background or strong interest in one or more of the following:
- Historic preservation
- Architecture
- Architectural history
- Public history
- Journalism or communications
- Photography or videography
- Documentary filmmaking
- Museum studies
- Library or archival studies
- Urban planning
- Storytelling or digital media
Successful applicants will be curious, organized, self-motivated, and comfortable working independently while collaborating with a variety of professionals. Strong writing, research, photography, communication, and organizational skills are preferred. Experience with photography, video production, Adobe Creative Suite or similar editing software is helpful but not required.
Internship Details
- Internship term: January–May
- Minimum of 100 hours per semester (200 hours total)
- $2,000 stipend per semester ($4,000 total)
- Work will take place at the PRC offices, partner organization offices, and at the St.
- Louis Cathedral restoration site in the French Quarter
What You’ll Gain
This internship provides meaningful experience in:
- Preservation documentation
- Architectural photography and videography
- Historic preservation practices
- Documentary storytelling
- Research and writing
- Public history
- Multimedia content creation
- Working alongside architects, contractors, conservators, and preservation professionals
- Nonprofit communications and educational programming
The intern will also develop a professional portfolio of writing, photography, video, and documentary materials while receiving mentorship from PRC staff and project partners.
A Rare Opportunity
Major restoration projects of this scale are exceptionally uncommon. Over the course of the internship, the selected student will witness and document the careful restoration of one of New Orleans’ most recognizable landmarks and one of the oldest continuously operating Catholic cathedrals in the United States.
The documentation created through this internship will become part of a lasting educational archive that helps future preservation professionals—and the public—better understand how historic buildings are conserved for generations to come.
Interested candidates should apply via the form at the bottom of this page.
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.
We are no longer accepting applications for the Fall 2026 Patty Gay Internship. Please check back in January 2027.
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