Unresolved issues: students’ perceptions of internships in arts and cultural management

Abstract

Based on 76 open-ended survey comments from arts and cultural management students, this study used content analysis to identify and describe unresolved issues with internships. The data revealed issues of concern including financial challenges, cultural organizations’ commitment, intern satisfaction, and distinguishing between graduate and undergraduate internship criteria and expectations. Identifying and describing students’ perceptions of these issues alert the field that improvement in these areas could lead to enhanced internship satisfaction and professional development for arts and cultural management students.