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: 4.88 (77 reviews)

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4.88 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: Apr 15, 2025

Wish List

117 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

4.88 Rating

based on 77 reviews

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Rating Spread Intern

5 rating 88.31%
4 rating 11.69%
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 9 - 16 of 77 reviews

Being part of ABI helped me to excel my skills in the entertainment industry, all my knowledge gained in college and coaching sessions that ABI gave me helped me to feel more confident during my internship. ABI program is sucha great opportunity to begin your path as creatives. The coordinators are very supportive and are always happy helped.

My coordinator, Jason, has been such a great help for me. I feel more confident now and excited to gain more experience. This experience will be a 10/10 for me.

Pros

Moving abroad helps you to open more your mind.
Getting out of your comfort zone helps your creative mind feel more active.
Meeting new people is always fun.

Cons

Being separated from your family so long is hard.
The begin is always difficult, but you'll never know if you don't try it.
Being alone in a big city makes you feel lonely sometimes

Interning in New York City has always been a dream for me and turned out to be something I will never forget. I met some incredible people and learnt so much about myself and what I want out of a career. Having the support of the ABI network was what really made this experience stand out as I was able to meet people from all over the world who I could explore the city and complete my internship journey with. This program really helped me to explore the industry and see what I was capable of, particularly as someone who often suffers from imposter syndrome.

Pros

Friendships Made
The endless experiences in the city
Career development

Cons

Expensive
Work wasn't always as exciting as it could be
Required a lot of effort to network in the beginning

for my international internship, I always wanted to work in LA. I applied for multiple internships myself but never got invited. this was until I came across ABI. ABI not only guarantees an internship in your preferred country/city, but they also help with everything beforehand. from resume building to personal meetings on how to act for your meeting. The costs are a bit steep but for the experience, it is 100% worth it. my time in LA was nothing short of amazing and a life experience. def reccoment

Pros

Amazing experiences
valuable knowledge learned

Cons

very expensive!!!

Applying for the ArtBound Initiative program was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The coaching, on-boarding and constant support from the ABI team was truly invaluable and has helped me so much in establishing my brand as a creative.
The company i interned for in New York was amazing and I had the best experience. I had the opportunity to work with and meet so many amazing people, and create industry connections that I will have throughout my career.

This program is 100% worth it and I think anyone who is thinking about applying absolutely should! The ArtBound Initiative team is supportive and reliable, and are there to help you with anything you need to succeed during your time.

Pros

Amazing coaching experience and support from ABI
Constant industry and fashion related events to attend
Career growth and real industry connections

Cons

New York is super expensive so budgeting is important!

Artbound Initiative is ideal for anyone who is looking to expand their resume or gain industry relevant experience, especially if you don't have anything prior to doing Artbound. Also, if one of their locations is somewhere you'd be interested in exploring for a little or living in, I would strongly recommend it. During my internship, I met many different creative people form all over the world, which is hard to do without anywhere else. I felt like the program definitely gave me a leg up and gave me the confidence I need to be a successful designer!

Pros

great connections
felt very supported

Cons

hard to work another job during internship
long hours

Artbound helped me grow exponentially in both my knowledge and comfortability in the industry. They opened doors for me in incredible ways and have given me amazing opportunities moving forward in my career. I always felt like I had support and if I was ever lost someone was there to guide me! I am now moving forward into my career feeling more confident than ever, and the internship I landed through this program has the potential of becoming a full-time job! Couldn’t thank this program enough!!

Pros

Experience
Knowledge
Growth

I stumbled upon the ArtBound Initiative program while looking for an American internship opportunity in the field of marketing and branding. With the help of ABI I was able to reach that goal and work for an advertising agency in New York during 6 months.

I recommend the ABI program to anyone who has the same ambition and would like to have access to a network of creatives. ABI guarantees an internship and their team helps you in every step of the process, from creating an original and professional résumé to the visa application and housing accommodation. The ABI coordinators are very competent and check up on you once in a while to see how the internship is going.

You need to be aware that the program is expensive and that most proposed internships are unpaid. This is one negative aspect of the program and should be different for future participants. At the same time, the ArtBound Initiative program made it possible for me to enter the world of advertising and start learning all the basics in the capital of this industry.

Thanks to ABI I further developed my professional skills and work experience while also getting to meet other participants and work together with great colleagues.

I am so thankful I found Artbound! I found it through social media and just took a leap of faith. It was everything it said it was and more. I was placed in NYC with an amazing internship that helped me grow in my skills. I had an amazing group of friends by the end of my 3 months there and I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world. Artbound was there every step of the way to help me get the most from this opportunity. If you’re worried about Artbound initiative because you haven’t heard much about them, don’t be. Artbound truly is amazing!

Pros

Gaining hands on experience
Meeting other interns/people from all over the world
Moving to a new city

Cons

Can be expensive if you don’t budget well

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...

Program Details

Pricing

Program Highlights

Alumni Interviews

Elena Kay Herren

Why did you choose this program?

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

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

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

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

Staff Interviews

Ena - Meghan Lefeber

Bio

What is your favorite travel memory?

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

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

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

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

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