Goal
"Summer Internship" (CUMT4103) is one of the required capstone courses in BA Programme in Cultural Management as a partial fulfillment of the major programme. Students can choose either CUMT4103 or "Research Project" (CUMT4102) as the culmination of the undergraduate experience to be taken in their final year. With the mission of nurturing a generation of insightful cultural practitioners, the internship provides students an opportunity to understand what life is in cultural institutions and how they operate and thrive through working with practitioners. The formal mentoring and performance feedback facilitate students to apply theory to practice, and build network for their future career development.
Features
The internship normally starts in early June and lasts for eight weeks, subject to the schedule of individual organizations. Organizations invited to host interns are diversified, including renowned cultural and artistic institutes, charitable arts organizations, non-profit cultural organizations, and "Big Nine" performing arts groups.
Organizations that hosted interns last year included:
| • | Arts With Disabled Association Hong Kong | • | City Contemporary Dance Company |
| • | Community Culture Concern | • | Hong Kong Dance Company |
| • | House of Stories | • | Lumenvisum |
| • | Make a Difference Institute | • | Ming Ri Institute for Arts Education |
| • | Spicy Fish Cultural Production Ltd | • | St James' Settlement, Community Development Service |
| • | The Conservancy Centre for Heritage | • | The Neighborhood and Worker's Service Centre (Worker Literature Awards) |
| • | Tin Shui Wai Community Development Network | • | Jao Tsung-I Academy |
| • | YWCA |
Past interns were provided meaningful work and learning experiences. They worked on tasks such as organizing and promoting cultural activities, conducting research and executing projects. Some organizations delegated the tasks of planning public performances and exhibitions to interns.
Some of the highlights of the projects undertaken by students were:
| 1. | Students were assigned to plan, implement, and perform in drama performances and activities for children and the general public in Mingri Institute for Arts Education; |
| 2. | Students participated in the documentation of archives of YWCA, which has over 50 years of history. A public presentation to practitioners was held thereafter; |
| 3. | In the City Contemporary Dance Company, students assisted in organizing a grand show named "365 ways of doing and undoing orientalism"; |
| 4. | Hong Kong Dance Company offered the interns opportunities to work in different departments in order to gain a wider exposure. |
To provide students timely guidance, a mentor or supervisor was assigned to them by the host organizations. The Programme also designated a teacher to coach students throughout the internship and to deal with special cases when necessary. Sharing sessions facilitating the reflection of their learning were arranged before, during and after the internship.
Teacher's Feedback – by Ms Fanny Cheung, Coordinator of the Internship
"After all, it is heartening to receive the positive feedback on students' performance from host organizations, and students' efforts were fully recognized. I would like to advise students to treasure this internship opportunity. By actively participating in and contributing to the internship, students will find the experience interesting, enjoyable and fruitful."
Ms Chan, Wai Yan Doris, Year 3
Internship Organization: Hong Kong Contemporary Dance Company
| "I believe practical experience in cultural management is as important as textbook learning. I was grateful for being an intern in City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC) and involved in the show named "365 ways of doing and undoing orientalism". It gave me an opportunity to put my previous years of learning into real life practice. Beyond my expectation, Marketing Department had to undertake a number of small different tasks in order to promote a contemporary dance programme successfully. This was something that I haven't learnt from books. Apart from the main performance, we had to organize different additional activities, such as pre-show talks, after-show cocktails and backstage tours to attract more audiences. I was excited to co-organize and manage such a programme as a crewmember of CCDC. Being a layman in contemporary dance and professional stage management, I learnt and received so much from this internship experience." |  Ms Doris Chan before the backdrop of "365 ways of doing and undoing orientalism" |
Mr Chu Kai Fung Chris, Year 3
Internship Organization: Make a Difference Institute
"The Bachelor of Arts Programme in Cultural Management offers internship opportunities for students to put theories into practice and contribute to society. In the 3-month internship, what excited me most was the strong passion and enthusiasm for culture and arts promotion exhibited by my colleagues. They inspired me to think of my own goals and direction. Moreover, this internship programme widened my social network. This was an interesting and valuable experience to meet people from different walks of life. The internship is significant if I develop my career in creative industry or cultural art."
