Creative Internships in New York, Chicago & Los Angeles with ABI

Name: Creative Internships in New York, Chicago & Los Angeles with ABI
Brand: ArtBound Initiative
SKU: 166003
Rating: 4.89 (73 reviews)

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4.89 Rating

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Location

United States of America
- New York
- Chicago
- Los Angeles

Industry

Advertising Art History Arts Communications Design Fashion Design Film Journalism Marketing Media Relations Music Performing Arts Photography +3

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Program Details

Timeframe

Academic Year Fall Spring Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round

Housing

Apartment

Language

English

Age Min.

Pricing

Starting Price

3250

Price Details

The program fee includes:

1. Internship Placement: an internship tailored to your career goals.
2. Personalized Coaching: career development workshop, revising your resume and portfolio.
3. Travel Support: We take care of your visa, insurance and housing. We also offer on-site support.
4. The Network: Join an international community. Attend our curated events and meet participants, alumni and creative professionals.

What's Included

Activities Travel Insurance Visa

What's Not Included

Accommodation Airfare

Last Updated: Sep 18, 2023

Last Reviewed: May 19, 2024

Wish List

102 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

The ArtBound Initiative (ABI) program connects students and recent graduates with key players in the New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles creative industries. ABI will help you secure your perfect internship and coordinate all travel logistics (including housing, internship visa, insurance, and more).

What types of internships do we offer?

Studio Art (for painters, photographers, ceramists, printmakers, sculptors), Arts Administration, Communications, Marketing, Social Media, Graphic Design, Producing, Exhibitions and Curation, Public Relations, Special Events, Public Programs, Education, Development, and more.

Who will you work with?

Artists, arts foundations, performing arts organizations, galleries, advertising agencies, design studios, film production companies, creative studios, and more.

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Video and Photos

ArtBound Initiative New York internships

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Program Highlights

Intern in New York/Chicago/Los Angeles and get matched with the best company based on your career goals.
Join an international community of creative professionals
Become an insider in New York/Chicago/Los Angeles: We will send you the best events, venues and Instagram accounts to follow.

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Program Reviews

4.89 Rating

based on 73 reviews

Leave a Review

Rating Spread Intern

5 rating 89.04%
4 rating 10.96%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Growth 4.9
Support 4.95
Fun 4.7
Housing 4.45
Safety 4.85

Good for Students, Building your resume

Showing 25 - 32 of 73 reviews

I applied to ArtBound in 2019 and it has turned out to be the best decision I have ever made. I would say ABI helped me the most with making my dreams a reality. I got a valuable lesson about self-presentation in the creative industry and I have made connections all over the world!
I interned for a creative marketing agency that works with high-end companies such as Hublot, Shiseido, Ivy Park, and Tory Burch. My main tasks were to come up with campaign concepts and rebranding. The projects varied every week, which kept the internship exciting.

Pros

lots of events like concerts, fashion shows, exhibitions etc.
international students interning for with the programme
great professional experience for the resume

Cons

expensive cost living in New York City

Artbound Initiative helped me get an internship with Seliger Studio, world-renowned photographer Mark Seliger’s photo studio in New York City. I can already tell that I will look back on this internship as the break-through start of my career. I’ve learned more in the past five months than I did during almost the entirety of my film degree, I’ve made remarkable connections, and I’ve gotten the opportunity to get an up-close look at what my dream career would look like on a day-to-day basis.

I was originally placed as a production intern, during which I assisted Mark’s executive producer with call sheets, scheduling, billing, researching/presenting creative concepts, and other production logistics. I also got to work as a production assistant on set during photoshoots, which was a great opportunity to observe and learn from Mark’s process! After 4 months as a production intern, I was given the opportunity to switch to a photo
Internship, which is the position I currently hold. As an aspiring photographer and
creative director, I’ve been thrilled with the opportunity to work more closely with Mark in
the photo and creative process. On a day-to-day basis, I work directly under Mark’s first assistant in creating lighting plans for shoots, organizing creative treatments, testing equipment, assisting Mark on set, and much more.

Without Artbound Initiative, I would have had no idea that internships with Seliger Studio even existed. Artbound has put me in touch with all of the right people, truly kickstarting the beginning of my career and allowing me to move to New York. I’ve so appreciated the caring, personal support they have provided me throughout this whole process, encouraging me to reach for opportunities that I would have never thought possible for myself. The confidence I have gained in my own abilities, as well as my career, in the past year is in large part due to the coaching, support, and opportunities provided by Artbound– for that, I couldn’t be more grateful!

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?

I was pretty terrified walking into the studio on my first day-- I knew that the studio would be a high-stress, high-pressure environment, and I still couldn't comprehend that I had gotten an internship with one of the most successful and admired photographers alive. However, the coaching and preparation that Artbound provided helped me through the stressful moments of learning the ropes in my first few weeks, and before I knew it I was loving every moment of learning in such a fast-paced creative environment.

I found Artbound Initiative after a year of unsatisfying college and was in a process of reevaluating. They connected me with companies and experiences that higher education couldn't and helped me to find a foothold and gain experience in an extremely tough and competitive industry. I would recommend this program for those looking to either relocate to a major city with strong artistic roots or those living there already needing to find a foot in the door. However, if the locations and cities don't interest you I would recommend finding a way in elsewhere. This is absolutely not a bad reflection of ABI only a reflection of the creative industry and that the connections you build in one place may stay in one place even after you leave. Overall it was a great and reflective experience for me, I'm glad I did it.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?

I made connections through my internship at Relix and began working at The Capitol Theatre as a gimbal and camera operator where I would be running across stage live streaming the show. The first time I walked up from the backstage and looked out at the huge crowd my mind went blank. I had always been behind the camera and this was the reason why, I have a lot of stress about being in front of that many people. Although we had a lengthy amount of time before the show started I felt like it was 60 seconds and then all of a sudden I had a camera strapped to me, a headset on my ears, and was running across the stage pointing a camera at members of the Grateful Dead with a sold out crowd below me. It was about 5 minutes into the show when my director was complimenting my use of angles that I began to overcome my fear. I realized that really not many people were looking at me and that it truly was just me, and the camera on stage.

A brilliant and advantageous program that will give your career a jump start! You truly can get so much out of the ArtBound program in both your career and self growth. The program provides you with amazing opportunities that are otherwise extremely challenging to secure, or even be considered for, and sets each participant up with a great network of support and friendship. I interned in New York City and am now looking to extend my stay with full time employment and many connections that ArtBound helped to establish.

When I started with ABI I did not expect half as much as what was given to me during the program. I landed an internship with a top creative agency through them and throughout this, the ABI team were so patient and supportive in all facets of the process. I truly believe that this program is 100% worth it because they really care about the well-being of all of the participants as well as trying to ensure that your experience is one for the books. Their accommodation and attentiveness to me personally was unmatched. I got the experience of a lifetime at the agency I worked for gaining skills and networking with some pretty incredible and talented people in the industry and that’s only a small piece of what ABI offers.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

Go in with an open and curious mind. There is so much to learn and explore and your going to meet some pretty cool people along the way.

I did a marketing internship in Fall 2021 where I found a great environment to learn how the marketing world works. In 4 months, I learned how to pitch a winning deck to clients, what 'creative strategy' really consists of, what things I need to learn to reach my dream position, and many more. I was able to develop the confidence needed to succeed in NY as well. One piece of advice for interns is that ABI can't do it all, be assertive and take initiative to get the most out of your experience.

This experience taught me a lot about the creative industry in New York and helped me prepare for my career as a designer. I gained a lot of skills and made some great connections with fellow participants in different fields within the industry. In addition, I was able to build my resume and get another job at the end of this first internship with a leading creative agency in New York. The ABI team provided constant support and encouragement throughout the whole experience and made it very enjoyable.

ArtBound Initiative secured an internship for me, in my field, in a foreign country during a pandemic – that alone speaks volumes to their care for each of their program participants and the dedication to the experience they offer. I loved having a program coordinator on the ground in London so I at least new one person when I made my move. The communication with the entire ArtBound team is consistent and reliable, I always had someone to reach out to with any questions. The support of this team is incredible and they gave me every tool to succeed in my placement!

What was your funniest moment?

I loved participating in the Indie Label Market with my team! We set up a booth with the other labels and sold our merchandise to our fans as well as socialized with the other companies. It was so fun to have some face to face interaction with our fans and a great way to be a part of the local music scene!

Loved experiencing a local music festival!

Questions & Answers

Is the internship paid?

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Do you have any internships for Design?

Hi Jana-Aimée, Yes, we do offer internships in design. We can find you an internship that fits your career goals, at a great company, in the specialization of your choice. We'd be happy to advise you on the best design internships that are available for you - feel free to contact us at info@artboundinitiative.com or you can visit our website (https://www.artboundinitiative.com/) and fill out our...

By ArtBound Initiative on November 5, 2020

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I'm enrolled at the Art Academy of Cincinnati to earn my BFA. I chose ArtBound Initiative because a few people from my school had gone through them and had really good experiences. I was also considering another Study Abroad program, but chose ArtBound Initiative because I decided I wanted to spend my summer working towards being an artist than just as a student.

ArtBound Initiative, as the name suggests, is a program centered around the arts and works to connect young and emerging artists into the creative fields which are generally very insular. I felt that this program would allow me to access opportunities I would have difficulty finding otherwise.

I chose to go through the 8-week New York program ArtBound Initiative offers, because at the time that I was applying, I hadn't been in school long enough to be eligible for the Berlin or Hong Kong programs they offer. I really wanted to go through and have this experience so I went to New York for the summer. ArtBound Initiatives offers an 8-week and 12-week internships. I chose to be in New York for eight weeks due to familial concerns, but upon reflection, I would highly recommend going for the full 12 weeks.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

My university had directed me to ArtBound Initiative and provided me with information concerning how to earn college credit over the time I was to spend in the program.

The ArtBound Initiative representatives were very hands-on in helping me organize the portfolio and resumé that I was to submit to them and that they would then be passing on to my potential internship placements. ArtBound Initiative also provided counseling sessions that helped narrow down what kind of internship I was going to have. These sessions enabled me to realize that I wanted to work with a studio artist with them in their studio.

ArtBound Initiative offers many different internship placements so I felt that the counseling sessions were very helpful. Through them, we were able to customize the experience to what I wanted and thought was best for me. ArtBound connected me with two studio artists who I was going to be working with, giving me their contact information. I contacted the artists, discussing the logistics of the internship, and then debriefed ArtBound about what was decided.

ArtBound Initiative also assisted me in finding housing for the summer. The representative sent me a few listings of apartments that were available near where my internship sites were, and I went through them and decided what would work best for me and my budget.

I went through the New York program and thought about how to get there as well as how I was going to get around the city during my stay, and how I was going to eat. Because I'm from Ohio, I drove into the city with a family member who helped me move into my apartment and then left.

For me, the process of traveling to and from the city was relatively painless. The day after I arrived in the city, I met with an ArtBound Initiative representative who debriefed me on New York City life in general and some of the events that they were organizing throughout the summer.

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What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Have a good idea of what you want to get out of your internship, but also feel free to go and explore everything that's going on in the city you are in. Going for 12 weeks gives you more time to really get involved with your internship and the city.

I spent the first two to three weeks in New York getting used to the pace of the city and the artists I was working with. After that, I was able to have a lot of fun and find some really interesting things and meet some really great people.

Also, don't be afraid. Go full boar, jumping straight into the thick of things, and see what happens. For me, this meant trying to go to gallery openings every night there was one, and talking to the people there, or going to an event and stay after things start to wind down a bit just to see what happens next.

Part of not being afraid is going and getting lost in the city (which I did multiple times). Getting lost is honestly the best thing you can do because it’s during these times I found the most interesting things and learned the most about the city. I remember one time, I got lost to the point of tears, but I did find my way back and was surprised by the general goodwill of people.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

The average day/week looks different for every participant. My days/weeks involved a combination of studio work (like preparing canvas, mixing paints, and taping off edges), administrative work (organizing project files, sending out emails, organizing contact information, and researching grant and residency opportunities), along with doing some legwork and trying to find new clients and galleries for the artists I was working with. This is what I did, but a friend I made in the ArtBound program had a different experience with what she was doing because she took an internship that was more involved on the arts administration side of things.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear in life is heights, so I didn't wander over to the edges of roofs on tall buildings and look over the side.

Kidding aside, going into the internship, I was afraid of having to talk to people I didn't know and going to work with the artists I was placed with in their studios. An artist’s studio is a personal place where an artist formulates his/her ideas. Walking into a studio is like walking into someone else's mind, and that's a hard thing for me to do because I don't know if I'm welcomed there or not, and I wanted to be an asset to the artists, not an impediment.

Part of me overcoming my fear of being a nuisance was just jumping right in and getting the work done that I was assigned to do and trying to stay busy so that things ran smoothly and progress was made. I tried my best, and I think it worked out alright because the artists and I got along.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Bio

After Studying Graphic Design and Communication Design at Suffolk Community College and Glasgow School of Art, Ena began her Berlin internship through ArtBound Initiative in January 2018. Upon completing her internship with the gallery, Bernheimer Contemporary, she has decided to make Berlin a more permanent home. Ena has now become involved in ArtBound Initiative as a Program Advisor, introducing the program to incoming participants.

What is your favorite travel memory?

One of my favorite travel memories was studying Water color painting in Thailand. My old teacher was a retired professional Thai Dancer and he taught me to paint through movements and rhythm in a way I had never learned before. He combined smiling and laughter and integrated them flawless with craftsmanship and seriousness.

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How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

My personal and professional growth since I began working for ArtBound Initiative has been leaps and Bounds. We are a close nit team, even though we are spread across the world. The founder inspires confidence in all of us and goes out of her way to connect with us. I found that since I have joined ABI I am more focused, more dedicated and more passionate about the work i do then I have been in a long time This is because of the great services we provide our participants and the hard work of the team.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

I am still new to the team, so I do not have a story yet from a return student, but I do have a favorite memory of the current participants. A great part of ABI is that we will all meet up occasionally for dinner and more. One day we all got together for a light dinner and then went to an outdoor movie together. We were able to discuss the cinematography as well as all the different artist techniques and plot falls while laughing over popcorn. It was both informative and fun for all of us.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

For this question its not if I could... because I already have. Just before I became the program Advisor, I was placed in an internship in Berlin through ArtBound Initiatives Berlin program. It was exciting to experience another art capital first hand as a local. ArtBound initiative made that happen for me and made my transition into Berlin's Art-scene and lifestyle seamless.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

The support you get from the company is genuine. What makes this company unique is their dedication to their participants. The founder is active and supportive with every participant and employee. We purposely keep our numbers small so we can guarantee that each participant gets the time, resources, and support they deserve to launch their career. And we continue to support and connect them after they are finished with the program.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Our dedication and our Global reach is one of the biggest factors to our success as a company. I have mentioned our dedication to our participants in a previous question but we are also dedicated to maintaining strong connections with the companies we pair our students with. We are always looking for and connecting with top tier companies and actively maintaining our connections, for our current and potential participants. Day in and day out, country by country we do the leg work, to insure their success.

Jana Nowack

Program Coordinator

Laura Bennegadi

Co-Founder and CEO

About ArtBound Initiative

ArtBound Initiative is dedicated to emerging creative professionals. Our mission is to encourage connections between participants, industry leaders and global companies. Strengthened by our network of over 250 companies, ABI provides the opportunity for personalized work experiences in highly insular industries. Placements are currently available...