Organizer Information
421 Arts Campus is an independent cultural institution and creative platform in Abu Dhabi, UAE, supporting artists and creative practitioners through exhibitions, residencies, public programming, professional development, and community initiatives. Its programs engage disciplines including visual arts, design, architecture, film, new media, literary arts, and performance. The Graduate Internship Program provides emerging creative professionals with hands-on experience in the operations and development of a contemporary cultural institution.
Title & Description
Winter/Spring 2027 Graduate Internship Program
The 421 Graduate Internship Program offers early-career development and professional training for emerging creative professionals and individuals interested in arts and culture. The five-month, on-site program immerses four selected interns in the day-to-day operations of 421 Arts Campus, with participants working within one of four areas: Marketing and Communications, Exhibition Design and Special Projects, Public Programs and Community Engagement, or Capability Building Programs.
Interns will gain practical experience in cultural administration, project coordination, communications, exhibition development, programming, research, and artist engagement. Participants will also attend talks, lectures, workshops, critiques, and seminars with cultural professionals and are expected to propose a personal project connected to their internship department.
The Role Overview
- Program: Graduate Internship Program
- Contract Type: Full-time, five-month internship
- Period: January–June 2027
- Selected Participants: 4
- Work Format: On-site
- Compensation: Paid; in accordance with UAE labor law and policies
- Reporting: Depending on the department, interns work with relevant 421 managers and senior team members
- Age: Applicants must be over 21
- Experience Level: Recent graduates / emerging creative professionals
Position & Tasks
Applicants may select one of four internship areas:
- Marketing and Communications: Developing communications strategies, creating narratives, coordinating with PR, social media and website partners, reviewing content, researching, and managing project timelines.
- Exhibition Design and Special Projects: Supporting exhibition concepts, design proposals, renderings, construction and installation, while collaborating with exhibition designers, curators, artists, and institutional teams.
- Public Programs and Community Engagement: Developing seasonal programming, conducting outreach, coordinating with artists, curators and scholars, and supporting the logistical and curatorial delivery of public programs.
- Capability Building Programs: Supporting open calls and selection processes, coordinating artist-development programs, liaising with artists and mentors, managing schedules and documentation, and researching future initiatives.
Categories
- Visual Art
- Art Administration
- Curatorial Practice
- Exhibition Design
- Architecture & Design
- Art History
- Museum Studies
- Cultural Programming
- Communications & Marketing
- Community Engagement
- Artist Development
Eligibility
Open to all nationalities who are UAE residents. Applicants must be over 21 and should be recent graduates of a bachelor's or master's program, recent graduates within 12 months of graduation, or arts professionals with equivalent work experience.
Program Benefits
Selected interns receive paid professional experience within a contemporary cultural institution, hands-on involvement in exhibitions and programs, networking opportunities within the regional contemporary art scene, structured mentorship, workshops, critiques, seminars, and opportunities to work directly with artists and creative practitioners. Each intern also develops and pitches a personal project that can be supported and realized by the 421 team.
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 16 October 2026
- Program Start: January 2027
- Program Period: January–June 2027
- Duration: Five months
Location
421 Arts Campus, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Additional Details
Applicants should select the department that best matches their professional interests and relevant skills. Depending on the specialization, desirable qualifications may include knowledge of contemporary art, research and organizational skills, proficiency in Microsoft Office and digital collaboration tools, and strong English and/or Arabic communication skills. Exhibition Design applicants may additionally benefit from CAD, Adobe Suite, 3D modeling, architecture, interior, or exhibition-design experience.