Graduate Internship Program 2026

Applications are now closed.
Deadline: November 1, 2025.

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The 421 Graduate Internship Program offers early career development support and professional development opportunities for emerging creative professionals from diverse backgrounds. The program takes place on-site, and offers selected participants the opportunity to be immersed in a cultural center's operations across various departments with a targeted focus on a specific field. 

Interns can choose to apply for the following departments: Communications and Marketing, Learning Initiatives and Programs, Exhibition Design and Special Projects, and Public Programs and Community Engagement. 

Depending on the selected area of focus as well as 421’s needs, interns will work with the Public Programs and Community Engagement Manager, Learning Initiatives and Programs Manager, Exhibitions Design Manager, or Communications and Marketing Manager. The Internship Program also features talks and lectures with industry leaders and cultural experts. 

Selected participants will also be expected to pitch a personal project in line with the department they are interning in to the larger 421 team. This proposal is then realized and supported by the 421 team. 2020 internship cohort members Sreerag Jyothish and Aya Afaneh proposed a Teen Studios pilot that is currently being realized and implemented at 421 as the Teens Program. 

 

Internship structure: 

  • The internship runs for six months, from January to June, 2026. 4 applicants are accepted every six months. 
  • Applicants will be expected to work full-time.  
  • This is a paid opportunity that adheres to the UAE’s labor law and policies. 
  • To be eligible for the program, applicants must have recently graduated from a higher education program. Bachelor’s and Master’s graduates are welcome to apply. 


Interns will leave the program having gained: 

An in-depth understanding of the logistics, operations, and budget management of 421’s exhibitions, public programs, communications, or educational programs. 

First-hand experience of how cultural institutions operate on a day-to-day basis, specifically administration, communication, project coordination, exhibition, and program design. 

Networking opportunities in the contemporary art scene within the region; hands-on involvement in exhibition planning and execution; assistance in research and curation; working directly with creative practitioners; educational and community outreach; and more. An opportunity to engage with the 421 team through a structured mentorship model, and a learning-focused approach to the exhibition operations through workshops, crits, and seminars.



Applications are only accepted through Submittable. Apply through this link. Application deadline is November 1, 2025. 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

How many interns will be chosen?
Four interns will be chosen to be enrolled in the program.

 

Is this applicable to international residents?

Open to all nationalities that are UAE residents.

 

What is the internship program duration?
The program will run for six months.

 

Will the selected interns work from 421’s space?
The internship program will take place on-site.

 

When can interested applicants start applying, and how?
The full application, including all supplemental materials, must be submitted online here. The applications will be accepted until November 1, 2025.


When will the Internship program start?
The internship program will start in January 2026.