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 41 - 48 of 77 reviews

I had an amazing summer with ABI. As this was my first internship, ABI helped guide me through the entire process and made sure I was matched with a company that properly fit the experiences I was looking for. It was extremely valuable for me as I've been able to learn so much, especially given the circumstances with Covid. Without ABI, I would be entering the professional world nervous and a little lost but the team made sure I was prepared and confident for the summer. I am so thankful for everyone at ABI and a great internship opportunity!

Had a fantastic time with ABI cultivating skills as a professional, making connections, and learning in a professional environment how to improve as a creative. Program did a great job of preparing me with the skills I needed as an intern. It was great getting to intern in New York in particular, great place both to visit and connect with others. ABI had a lot of great programs and events for members to get together and see the city. Would highly recommend this program to anyone looking to enter the creative industry.

Art Bound Initiative was able to gain me an internship with a marketing agency. The internship was rewarding because I worked with and gained feedback from professionals. I was able to learn from coworkers about the differences between the marketing industry compared to the movie and television industry for a motion design artist. My coworkers also helped me learn new skills and tools with Photoshop to create work for clients. Overall, I worked hard to complete work for the agency and was able to gain great connections for future opportunities in the marketing industry.

ABI provides international students a chance to get an internship/ job at a location you desire. It was hard finding an internship that accepted an international student like me because a lot of companies often reject international students when they hear about us because of various reasons. ABI allowed me to intern at a NYC company and was helpful throughout the interviewing process. They helped me a lot with my resume as well. Each of the staff is so nice and really wants the best for everyone who joins this program !

Through consistent support and the network of ABI, I got to experience my dream of living in New York City! They helped provide internship placement, visa support, and provided housing! I gained industry experience and learned a lot about my own skills and what the industry expects from fresh graduates. I've met friends that are going to be part of my life forever. I've always dreamt of living in New York City and working for a creative company, ABI helped me achieve this dream! I felt supported and I feel like I can connect with all other alumni in the ABI network!

Artbound Initiative was an incredible experience that I am so grateful I was able to do. ABI helped me at a time when I felt like I was at a fork in the road, trying to decide what I wanted to do. ABI was able to guide me to the career I am currently pursuing, and help show me specific tools to help me retain the momentum I built. I feel like I left the program having succeeded with all of my goals, and found sustainable techniques to keep growing and developing, both personally and professionally. I also did the program during the COVID-19 pandemic, so the additional challenges I faced with the remote work environment, limited access to activities, and overall mental health concerns were issues ABI supported me with. Moving to New York City hoping for a career in theatre (at a time when Broadway was shut down) felt like an impossible feat, but because of ABI, I was able to complete an internship with new connections, additional work experience in my field, and a clear path to keep pursuing my dreams. I felt like ABI was always there to help if I needed it, but also there to remind me of the importance of my goals and never forget where I am trying to go. The social aspects of ABI were also amazing - I feel like I truly entered a worldwide family, and feel confident that the friends I have made will be friends for life. Artbound Initiative and the whole ABI team are truly inspiring, hardworking, and caring individuals who genuinely want to do what they can to help us succeed. I am so grateful I am now an ABI Alumni and can further learn and pursue my dream career with the skills and experiences ABI, and New York City, gave me.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

Take advantage of every opportunity! Moving to a new place is scary and uncomfortable, but it is always worth it. Trust your instincts and the ABI people around you. Take your old supervisor out to coffee to talk about their career goals; go for that meal with your fellow intern after work; don't be afraid to ask your boss a clarifying question or for some constructive criticism. This experience is entirely for you and you will regret not seizing every opportunity. So be excited, be brave, and enjoy every moment!

Although they asked for my undergrad school, I did the internship after my graduate degree which I received from The New School. ABI gives you the rare opportunity to assist you in ways most schools don't. The resources and networking you gain from ABI, for me, is irreplaceable. I wouldn't have gotten this great start in my career right after graduating from college without ArtBound Initiative. The networking and coaching calls not only impacted my career it impacted my confidence and I'm forever grateful.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

Please travel. Traveling is so important. You will learn so much about yourself.

After working in the fashion industry for a few years, I was re-evaluating my values and wanted a career change. It was a difficult situation as an international student, but thanks to personal mentorship and guidance by Laura and Ginda, I was introduced to strategy positions and the diversity of NYC-based agencies. I'm so grateful that even during this tumultuous year, ABI did their best to connect me with PI&C - a creative agency focused on brand empathy and values. It was an amazing position that allowed every day to be a learning experience, and I'm so excited for my future at the company! Additionally, the New York ABI crew was so welcoming (s/o Gerardo!) and I've made so many new creative and inspiring friends for life! If you are an aspiring creative who sees themselves thriving in New York, ABI will exceed all your expectations!

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

Going into a a new creative field and career was very nerve-racking and I constantly questioned my abilities, but I just took it day by day and used all my past experiences and skills I learned at school and my previous jobs and it was such an amazing and insightful experience!

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...