The Association of Art Museum Directors is calling on members to offer paid internships, making it the second association in recent months to adopt the policy.

AAMD's board of trustees adopted a resolution Thursday saying museums should pay interns unless special circumstances apply, such as students who cannot receive pay as part of their requirements for course credit. The resolution was the result of several years of discussions surrounding labor and equity issues in museums, the group said in a statement.

"Internships are an important gateway for those seeking careers in art museums, providing incredible opportunities for hands-on experience in many aspects of an institution's operations," said Jill Medvedow, co-chair of AAMD's professional issues committee. "Yet by failing to pay interns, we ensure that these experiences are only really accessible to those who already financially secure and, often, people who have established career networks available to them."

AAMD launched its own paid internship program last year at 10 participating museums. The group said it recognizes the different capacities of museums to implement the policy in the near future. "However, addressing access and opportunity is essential to creating diverse, equitable, accessible and inclusive art museums."

The PR Council—which represents many of the nation's largest public relations firms—adopted a similar policy in May. The association also plans to add the requirement to its code of ethics.

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