University of the Arts Singapore students get chance to gain work experience with Arts House Limited – Media coverage

Elisha Tushara, Correspondent

Students from the University of the Arts Singapore (UAS) will have the opportunity to go on paid internships and undertake project work under a tie-up with the institution’s first industry partner, Arts House Limited (AHL).

Under this partnership, 12 UAS students can apply every year for the next three years, for positions in, among others, festival and event programming and venue management, which are available across AHL’s different departments.

They can sign up via UAS’ new career and internship portal, which will be launched in January 2025.

UAS is a private university, formed by an alliance between the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Nafa) and Lasalle College of the Arts.

AHL – a not-for-profit organisation – is the venue manager for six arts spaces, including Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall.

All bachelor’s and master’s degree programme students from Lasalle and Nafa will be eligible to apply for the full-time work experience programmes, which will run for 10 weeks, from May to August each year.

Students will be given a minimum monthly allowance of $800 and must complete at least 400 hours in these programmes.

Other than festival and event programming and venue management, internship and work opportunities will also include areas like marketing and communications, and partnership development within AHL.

These include working on events like the Singapore Writers Festival in November 2025, working with centre heads to enhance front-of-house operations, and developing innovative campaigns to increase audience reach and engagement on AHL’s social media and digital platforms.

An AHL spokeswoman said that upon completion of their internship and work opportunities, students can apply for available full-time positions in the organisation and will be considered for potential roles.

Speaking at the signing of the memorandum of understanding between AHL and UAS at the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall on Oct 21, the university’s vice-chancellor Kwok Kian Woon said this initiative will offer students real-world opportunities that extend beyond the classroom.

He added that through internships and work attachments, students will gain invaluable exposure to critical areas like event programming, arts management and venue operations.

Said Professor Kwok: “These experiences empower our students with practical insights that shape their professional growth. By working alongside seasoned professionals at AHL, they are encouraged to take ownership of their learning journeys, preparing them for impactful roles in the local arts scene.”

A UAS spokeswoman said both founding members of UAS – Lasalle and Nafa – have, in the past, established partnerships and agreements with various organisations to offer internship programmes and project work opportunities.

She added that UAS is committed to expanding these opportunities by forging new collaborations across a broad spectrum of industries.

Miss Sharafah Malihah, 22, is currently pursuing a degree in arts management with Lasalle, UAS. The second-year student is looking forward to a programming internship in 2025, where she can work with seasoned professionals on AHL events like the Singapore International Festival of Arts. She said newcomers to the local arts scene with no prior work experience lack the necessary understanding of how the arts landscape works.

“So, learning from people who are already in the scene, getting all this new information, and also contributing, I think that’s the whole purpose of internships,” she said. “That information exchange is so valuable, and will allow me to really step into the scene confidently once I graduate.”

Ms Sharon Tan, AHL’s executive director, said the internships and project work opportunities will set students up for successful careers in the arts, by providing them with the necessary skills, practical industry experience and opportunities to connect with the wider local arts community.

“Through immersive internships and projects with AHL, students gain valuable insights and experiences relevant to their future careers in the arts,” said Ms Tan, adding that students will also benefit from the mentorship with AHL’s arts professionals and practitioners.

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