Intern Culture launched our work around unpaid internships in the arts. It is a review of reports, guidelines and the law around internships launched in May 2012, and a debate in October 2012.
Literature review
In May 2012, Artquest published Intern Culture, a literature review of 23 reports, guidelines and policy documents since 2008. The review brings together the research and guidance from 23 reports on internships in the visual arts since 2008. These sometimes conflicting and contradictory guides have served to inform – and confuse – organisations looking to hire interns, as well as interns themselves, leaving low-paid workers vulnerable to exploitation and unaware of their rights, and organisations in danger of breaking national minimum wage legislation.
It aims to provide interns with information on their rights, and organisations seeking interns an understanding of the legal context within which they operate. It also seeks to open a debate on the moral implications of endorsing and encouraging free labour in the visual arts, often supplied by those who can least afford it. It is our view that much-vaunted and well-funded programmes to encourage diversity in the arts can’t succeed without a sea-change in how the arts operate, are valued, and might be accessed by everyone, regardless of their social or cultural background.
The reports in this literature review have been written by Government, public funders, think tanks, industry bodies and artist-led groups.
The report includes:
- The historical context of internships – coming from the legal and medical professions, where a period of free labour is balanced by high future incomes
- Best practice guidelines collated from a variety of sources
- An exploration of the critical differences between social mobility and social justice
- The business and legal cases for paying interns
- Potential enforcement remedies for interns who have been exploited
- The spread and take-up of paid and unpaid internships
Intern Culture was researched and written by Dr. Sophie Hope and Dr. Joanna Figiel.
You can also read summaries of the 23 reports referenced in the review (445kb, PDF).
Debate
To celebrate the launch of Intern Culture and extend the conversation, we chaired a debate at The Showroom during The Grand Domestic Revolution GOES ON on Wednesday 17 October 2012, encouraging artists, arts professionals and representatives of art organisations to participate with their experience and opinions.
Taking part in the debate were Dr. Sophie Hope, Sarah Rowles, and Tracey Smith, a former intern at Peckham Space.
At the end of the debate action points to promote change were compiled by the audience. Artquest worked with partners on these actions to effect change in the visual arts throughout 2013.
- Propose and seek agreement on a sector-wide definition of high-quality internships.
- Work with HEIs to understand the relationships between of internships, work placements and professional development, and the value of each.
- Raise awareness amongst interns as to their legal rights, and amongst organisations as to the law around working practices.
- Provide resources to promote confident negotiation amongst interns to ensure a high-quality, tailored and accessible experience.
- Promote an understanding that internships are useful access routes into the sector, and are not just for graduates.
- Provide more forums for those involved in internships to meet and discuss issues.
Researcher Jessica Benson-Egglenton also attended, using the debate as a basis for material to add to Artquest’s resources for interns.