Article by Arteria

Student internships are a period of practical learning and gaining experience in a specific profession by students. They do not receive any payment for participating in the internship however gain the opportunity to acquire theoretical and practical knowledge related to the functioning of cultural institutions.

Internships allow students to broaden their knowledge by solving practical issues and getting to know their possible future employers, their needs and requirements. Internships are mandatory in many fields of study. Students are obliged to find an institution/ company that will accept them as student intern.

The “Internships in Cultural Institutions” project, organised by the Polish National Centre of Culture, brings together those institutions, helping with organising them, as well as to prepare studies on, among other things, the impact of participation in the program on the professional path of interns and the effectiveness of the work of cultural institutions.

The program aims in developing the skills of individual thinking while working as a team. To give a sense of responsibility for the task and satisfaction from its completion; to introduce into the environment of employees of the cultural sector and to teach multitasking, which has to be faced when organising social and stage activities, as well as promotion, administration and finance- typical for public institutions.

Student internships are offered by many cultural institutions, e.g. museums, galleries, philharmonics, theatres, or the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. It is worth to mention, that the students themselves can indicate a specific cultural institution, a non-governmental organisation or a company running a business related to the discussed sector in which they would like to do their internship.