ASHK Internships

Alumni Sharing

The Asia Society Hong Kong Center internship program provides university students with the opportunity to gain real life experience in a global non-profit setting. We provide the chance for interns to work alongside experienced professionals in areas such as curation, arts & culture and business & policy programs, education, finance, human resources, marketing and communications, development, and visitor experience. Our internships include hands-on, exciting and fulfilling projects that help build teamwork, communication and social skills.

Hear more below from our current and recent interns on their experience with us!

Allie Mickle (March – May 2024)
(Gallery and Exhibitions Department, Gallery and Exhibitions Visiting Fellow)

I work in the Gallery and Exhibitions department, which manages artwork on-site at the center, organizes exhibitions in the Chantal Miller Gallery and coordinates related programming. What I learnt the most from the team is about the best practices in artwork handling and installation.

ASHK's mission is cross-disciplinary, concerned with policy, business, education, arts and culture, which presents exciting opportunities and challenges for collaboration and engagement between Asia and the world at multiple levels.

Prior to my time at ASHK this spring, I had the opportunity to visit last May and learn more about ongoing curatorial projects. I also have visited the Asia Society Museum in New York, and it has been enjoyable to find connections between the two sites and their local contexts. I have really enjoyed collaborating with the gallery team and gaining exposure to the rich contemporary art scene in Hong Kong.

Ana Lam (March – May 2024)
(Gallery and Exhibitions Department, Gallery and Exhibitions Intern)

I worked in the gallery and exhibition department, I focused mostly on the Wilfredo Lam exhibition. As a newcomer to the art industry, I learned basic curatorial skills and gained knowledge in art project management. I faced challenges in understanding industry dynamics and practices, but successfully overcame them.

The Asia Society Hong Kong Center (ASHK) is a renowned and vibrant institution that serves as a hub for cultural, educational, and intellectual exchange. The center's visually stunning architecture adds to its appeal. ASHK is particularly impressive in its diverse range of events, including exhibitions and film screenings, which contribute to enriching the cultural landscape of Hong Kong. These events challenge the perception that Hong Kong lacks cultural offerings, providing a platform for individuals to enhance their quality of life through cultural experiences.

Asia Society meant so much to me as it marks my first internship experience. I am grateful for the invaluable opportunity it provided to expand my understanding of the art industry and collaborate with outstanding artists and curators. Throughout my time at ASHK, I have particularly cherished the process of organizing exhibitions. However, it was the installation of art pieces in the gallery that left the strongest impression on me. Witnessing the transformation of a space into a captivating showcase of artwork was truly inspiring.

Ian Lo (February - April 2024)
(Communications Department, Communications Intern)

I work in the Communications Department. I help with preparing press releases, organizing media lists, proposing outreach strategies, and liaising with external parties. I have gained many skills working there such as how to plan large events, how to get information quickly, and how to negotiate with external parties. A challenge I faced was being proactive. I had to learn how to constantly pitch and talk with other parties and drive the solution forward. I am thankful for the valuable life skills I learned during my time here and the unparalleled opportunities it gave me to challenge myself and contribute to the cultural enrichment of Hong Kong.

This former explosives magazine was restored to a place of cultural enrichment, academia, geopolitical discussion, and intellectual exchange. Asia Society Hong Kong exists to promote engagement, not just locally, but with Asia and the world to not only understand each other better but to also navigate our shared future in a better world. I think this mission is so meaningful as I believe Asia will be the heart of our future world.

I have been coming here since the opening of the heritage site in 2012. The many talks, programs, and events held here bring back many of my cherished memories. During my time here, I enjoyed Art Month the most. We opened a new exhibition and brought a world-renowned orchestra to Hong Kong to perform. The whole team and I were working hard but I enjoyed the grind. I got to talk to many influential people and really dive into the customer-facing duties.

Gin Lo (March – June 2024)
(Galley and Exhibitions Department, Gallery and Exhibitions Intern)

I work in the gallery and exhibitions department where I assisted in exhibition curation and gallery operation. I gained a deeper understanding of the preparation stage of an exhibition. One of the challenges I often faced is striking a balance between translating the exhibition material and ensuring it is accessible to a wide range of audiences. However, it is a challenge I gladly embraced, as I find immense satisfaction in making complex concepts easy to grasp for all.

I would say ASHK is a place for the inheritance of culture and history. By revitalizing Former Magazine A into a professional gallery, visitors can enjoy the exhibition and appreciate the heritage at the same time. I always felt touched when the visitors were amazed by the combination of heritage and a modern gallery.

I enjoy assisting in exhibition curation because I have always been captivated by the unique curation process that brings artworks to life. As a passionate individual, I am continually inspired by the diverse range of exhibitions I encounter. I firmly believe that the role of a curator is instrumental in enhancing the impact of artworks, elevating them to new levels of significance and meaning.

Jessie Tam (March - August 2023)
The University of Hong Kong

I joined this internship through my university nomination, and I am grateful for this opportunity to intern at an international organization to work on communications. Working with the communication team here at Asia Society, I’ve been able to gain hands on experience on creating engaging social media posts, video editing and research to promote various events. The team is also welcoming, answering any questions I may have about my duties. I’ve learnt that good and effective work requires great effort and cooperation and I have much to improve upon.

Frank Wong (February – June 2023)
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Working as an intern in Asia Society has been a rare opportunity for me to step out of my comfort zone. During my internship, I worked in the Events & Visitor Service. My main task was to help the team with the coordination, paperwork and execution of events. I also have to learn how to plan and organize an event.

The best thing about interning with the Events team was that I got to work on different types of events. However, language and communication skills were the biggest challenges I faced during my internship. Therefore, I found different ways to improve my language skills in my free time and try to be more confident in communicating with others at work. It was a great opportunity to improve myself.

This internship has also helped me to gain different knowledge about event operations, which has been very useful for my future career. During the internship, I had many shortcomings in my work, but my colleagues and supervisors were very patient in giving me different suggestions. I would like to express my gratitude to the supervisors and colleagues who gave me opportunities and suggestions, these suggestions have changed my work attitude and will be very useful for my life.

Jenny Wong (January – May 2023)
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

My internship at the Asia Society Hong Kong Center was an extremely rewarding experience. The team was welcoming and supportive, and I felt like a valued member from the very beginning. Working with the program team, I had the opportunity to work on a variety of programs, including arts and culture, and business and policy. This not only allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the operation of a non-profit organization but also to develop my skills and gain practical experience in program management. As a result, I gained valuable insights into the workings of a non-profit organization and the impact of its programs on the broader community.

Additionally, I was fortunate to be involved in one of ASHK’s major programs, the Annual Gala Dinner 2023, in February. This provided a valuable opportunity for me to meet people from different sectors and groups, broadening my horizons and expanding my network. Through this experience, I gained a deeper appreciation for the impact of ASHK’s work and its mission to promote understanding and collaboration among the peoples of Asia and the world.

Thank you to the team at ASHK for providing me with an unforgettable internship experience!

Trinity Cheng (January – April 2023)
Lingnan University

Reflecting on my internship at the Asia Society Hong Kong Center, I am grateful for the valuable experience and opportunities that it has provided me in pursuing my career goal of working in the arts. Specifically, I gained hands-on experience in exhibition design and curation as well as conducting docent tours to engaging with visitors and sharing my knowledge about the artwork. Working with the Asia Society Gallery team, I was involved in different tasks on documenting exhibition installations, conducting research, and writing creative social media posts to engage with our guests on different platforms. Additionally, I have had the opportunity to work as a docent which allowed me to communicate with the visitors and apply the learning practice theories I learned for conducting interactive docent tours. The more I devote to the internship program, the more skills I gained.

Jasmine Lam (January – April 2023)
Lingnan University

I wish to be a curator to create shows or exhibitions that bring meaning to visitors. The internship at ASHK it helped me to get a better understanding of the operation of the gallery. Through my time at ASHK, I saw how it involved the community, such as engaging the local community and creating public art. What surprised me about working t ASHK is the diversity of the audience group and how ASHK is trying to involve students from different grades in coming to visit their exhibitions.

KONG Hoi-Lam (October 2022 – January 2023)
Lingnan University

I am grateful for working in the gallery team that gave me the chance to participate in curating exhibitions and maintaining the public artworks in ASHK. My duties include assisting in the gallery and ceremony, researching for the exhibits and artists, guiding mini art tours, etc. These taught me how to introduce artworks textually and orally and enhanced my planning, communication and teamwork skills. The Chantal Miller Gallery is unique and potential. It is amazing to see how two distinct exhibitions were presented and connected to the space. The working environment, a beautiful heritage site surrounded by nature and skyscrapers, is awesome too.

NG Siu-Tao (October 2022 – January 2023)
Lingnan University

I am glad to have joined the internship as it has taught me things outside the university and inspired me. I never had a chance to experience working inside a gallery, and I could never imagine such a heavy load of work behind an exhibition, from initiating a theme to bringing all the magic to life. I am specifically grateful for having the opportunity to be a docent and had a great time reviewing the guides, practicing, and guiding tours. My interests in art exhibitions have been further stimulated along with the knowledge gained. I am truly thankful for the chances in participating eye-opening events and I definitely have no regrets about joining the gallery team.

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