Program Components and Timeframe

The internship is a course (undergrads – CA 306 and 406 / graduates – CA 827) for students to gain academic credit towards their degree requirements.

Internships are professional development opportunities to gain experience with professional artists and art organizations. A student typically completes 8-12 hours/week for the duration of the internship to complete a minimum of 80 or 120 hours working alongside a site supervisor. Students are required to participate in the Canvas course for CA 306 or CA 406 to prepare them for the transition to the workplace and to critically reflect on their learning. Students also participate in a site visit and complete a final internship report.

Eligibility Requirements

To participate in the Internship, you must: Be able to personally and financially commit to 8-12 hours/week for the length of the internship (exact hours and schedule vary according to the needs of the organization and capacity of the student); be a current SFU student in at least 3rd year.

NOTE: As of Fall 2024, CA 304 Professional Practices is a prerequisite for registration in CA 306 or CA 406. In some cases, this prerequisite may be waived by the Professional Development Coordinator.

How to apply

Log in to myExperience with your SFU ID and password. Once logged in, select the Experiential Learning module from the left-hand side and apply to “SCA - School for the Contemporary Arts” and wait to be approved to view available internship positions for the upcoming semester. Approval will be granted within one or two business days. Once you have been approved, you can view internships by using the advanced search in the Job Postings module and filtering by Position Type to Contemporary Arts Internship and by Term Posted to the upcoming semester (eg. Spring 2025). Upload documents (resume and cover letter) and submit your application for internships by the stated deadline. After the internship application deadline has passed, your application will be forwarded to the organization and they may contact you directly to set up an interview. Please allow 1-2 weeks to hear back from an organization. If you receive an offer from an organization to intern with them, you need to contact the Professional Development Coordinator, who will draw up an agreement and register you in the appropriate course number.

I am a Student

The Internship in Contemporary Arts offers undergraduate and graduate students in the School for the Contemporary Arts opportunities to develop their skills and expand their knowledge of the local arts community with part-time, typically uncompensated positions that offer meaningful career-related experience within their artistic discipline. These internships provide diverse opportunities to creatively integrate what students have been studying in the classroom through fun and practical learning experiences with local arts organizations while receiving credits towards their degree.

I am a Community Partner

The Internship in Contemporary Arts helps you find part-time, uncompensated support for your arts company or collective through a commitment to engaging and mentoring emerging artists currently studying at the undergraduate and graduate levels at the School in diverse and interdisciplinary practices. Our motivated and talented students come from diverse backgrounds, talents and interests but are unified by a serious commitment to their work. Our students have skills to assist on special projects, events and daily tasks in exchange for a rich hands-on learning experience to help them hone their skills and prepare for their future careers.

Find out more HERE.

Career Advising Resources

In addition to the Internship in Contemporary Arts, the PD Coordinator can provide one-on-one advising to assist with career exploration, work search strategies, resume building and cover letter writing. Feel free to contact the PD Coordinator to set up an appointment.