Internship Art Operations & Projects
Key Skills
Job Description
Internship – Art Operations & Projects At DRIFT, we're looking for an Art Operations Intern to join our team. Full-time · Amsterdam Are you passionate about the intersection of art, technology and operations? Do you enjoy bringing structure to complex projects, coordinating people and information, and making sure things actually get done? DRIFT is looking for an organised and hands-on Art Operations Intern to support the team responsible for keeping our artworks operational, documented and maintained around the world. As part of Art Operations, you'll get a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to manage complex artworks after they leave our studio from installations and maintenance to technical documentation, museum coordination and long-term artwork care. If you are naturally organised, digitally savvy and interested in both the creative and technical sides of art, we would love to hear from you. A Day in the Life of an Art Operations Intern As an Art Operations Intern, you will support the coordination and organisation behind DRIFT's artworks, installations and maintenance activities. You'll work closely with colleagues across Art Operations, Production, Development, Maintenance and other teams, helping to keep projects, documentation and maintenance activities organised and moving forward. No two days are the same. One day you might be helping coordinate an upcoming artwork installation or maintenance trip; the next, you could be setting up workflows, preparing technical documentation or following up on actions from a project meeting with clients. In addition, you will be: Assisting with the planning and coordination of artwork installations and maintenance trips Communicating with clients, institutions, and teams within the Studio Supporting the setup and implementation of our CMMS (maintenance management) platform Entering and organising data and helping prepare daily maintenance rounds and automated preventive maintenance tasks following staff training Joining project and operational meetings, taking minutes, translating discussions into clear actions and following up with internal stakeholders Coordinating with different departments on larger project deliverables, such as completion reports, production documentation and artwork technical reviews Contributing data and insights to museum and artwork optimisation reviews Helping improve workflows and creating structure across files, documentation and operational processes We would love it if you: Are currently studying or have recently graduated in Management, Museum Studies, Operations, Business Studies, Industrial Design, or a related field Are naturally organised and enjoy creating structure, improving workflows and turning complex information into clear checklists and actions Are digitally confident and comfortable working with Google Workspace and project or maintenance management platforms such as Asana, Airtable, UpKeep or similar tools Are comfortable working with spreadsheets and technical documentation and have an interest in understanding technical drawings Have an interest in the technical side of artworks and are eager to learn how complex installations are operated and maintained Have strong communication skills and feel comfortable coordinating tasks and following up with different people and departments Have a proactive, hands-on and problem-solving mindset Can work independently while also enjoying collaboration within a multidisciplinary team Have an excellent command of the English language Are eligible to work in the Netherlands with a valid visa or permit (hard requirement) What you can expect from us Internship allowance Hands-on experience at the intersection of art, technology and operations The opportunity to learn the full lifecycle of complex artworks Opportunities to develop your skills in project coordination, artwork operations and technical documentation Travel allowance if you live outside Amsterdam Regular company days and staff social meet-ups A creative and dynamic multidisciplinary team where your contribution matters A unique working environment where art, creativity and technology come together Do you want to join our team as our new Art Operations Intern? Apply now.
Core Responsibilities
The intern will support the coordination of artwork installations, maintenance activities, and technical documentation. They will also assist in managing workflows, data entry, and communication between internal teams and clients.
Requirements
Candidates should be currently studying or recently graduated in a field like Management, Museum Studies, or Industrial Design. Strong organizational skills, digital proficiency, and the ability to work in the Netherlands are required.
Benefits
- Internship allowance
- Travel allowance
- Company days
- Staff social meet-ups
About DRIFT
Industry: Artists and Writers
Company size: 11-50 employees
Dutch artists Lonneke Gordijn (1980) and Ralph Nauta (1978) founded studio DRIFT in 2007. With a multi-disciplinary team of 40, they work on experiential sculptures, installations and performances. DRIFT manifests the phenomena and hidden properties of nature with the use of technology in order to learn from the Earth’s underlying mechanisms and to re-establish our connection to it. With both depth and simplicity, DRIFT’s works of art illuminate parallels between man-made and natural structures through deconstructive, interactive, and innovative processes. DRIFT works bring people, space and nature on to the same frequency, uniting audiences with experiences that inspire a reconnection to our planet. Their work has been exhibited at Milwaukee Art Museum (2025), Palazzo Strozzi (2024), LUMA Foundation (2024), Central Park New York (2023), Centre Pompidou (2022), The Shed NYC (2021); Stedelijk Museum (2018); Art Basel (2017, 2021) Victoria & Albert Museum (2009, 2015) amongst others. DRIFT is represented by Pace Gallery, Carpenters Workshop Gallery and Creative Artists Agency (CAA).