Organisation: National Pavilion UAE
Location: Venice, Italy, with preparatory training in the UAE
Internship duration: One month, with availability to travel for up to 40 days required
Exhibition dates: 8 May–21 November 2027
Application deadline: 16 October 2026
Eligibility: Emiratis and long-term UAE residents aged 21 and above
About the Internship
The Venice Internship offers students and young professionals the opportunity to spend one month in Venice, gaining hands-on experience in the daily operation of the National Pavilion UAE during the 20th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia.
The programme is open to Emiratis and long-term residents of the UAE with an interest or background in art, architecture, communications, design, diplomacy, politics, international affairs or representing the UAE on a major international platform.
To date, the National Pavilion UAE has worked with more than 300 interns, many of whom have subsequently pursued careers in the arts.
The Programme
The internship begins with an educational training programme in the UAE ahead of the one-month placement at the National Pavilion UAE in Venice.
Delivered in partnership with leading cultural institutions, the preparatory programme is designed to help interns engage confidently with the exhibition’s content and develop relevant professional skills. It includes:
- Artist talks.
- Visitor facilitation and protocol workshops.
- Educational studio visits.
- Guided cultural tours.
- Activities encouraging dialogue, study and professional development.
To encourage cultural exchange and deepen the interns’ experience of Venice, participants from the UAE will work alongside Italian interns selected from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and IUAV University of Venice.
Internship Activities
Selected interns will gain practical experience across several aspects of exhibition management.
Guest Services
Interns will help manage the pavilion during public opening hours, support visitors and journalists, assist with press requirements and guided tours, and act as representatives of the UAE.
Exhibition Management
Interns will help maintain the pavilion and ensure its equipment remains in working order. Tasks may include completing condition reports, managing exhibition inventory and ensuring that exhibition collateral is replenished and kept in good condition.
Communications Support
Interns will work together to document visitor feedback and may contribute to social media documentation of the internship experience. Participation in social media documentation is optional but offers an opportunity to develop relevant skills.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be Emirati or have lived in the UAE consecutively for more than six years.
- Be aged 21 or above at the time of the internship.
- Be a student or graduate of a bachelor’s programme in art, architecture or a related subject, such as communications, design, politics or international affairs.
- Be fluent in English.
- Be available to travel for up to 40 days.
- Be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before travelling.
- Be available to attend all mandatory training sessions in the UAE before the internship in Venice.
Participation in the preparatory training is compulsory. Failure to attend the required sessions will result in termination from the programme.
About the International Architecture Exhibition
The 20th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia will take place from 8 May to 21 November 2027.
The National Pavilion UAE’s Venice Internship allows participants to experience the exhibition as both a major cultural event and a platform for professional development.
