Reflection

My internship with the Public Relations team at Art Basel was one of the most meaningful experiences during my time in HKU’s Master of Arts in Literary and Cultural Studies (MALCS). Working at the world-famous art company gave me an opportunity not only to learn the operation of the art industry, but also to broaden my horizons by participating in the world’s leading international art fair—Art Basel 2026!

During the internship, I supported the PR team with a range of communication tasks and administrative duties. I assisted with updating gallery press images for Art Basel Hong Kong and Art Basel Basel, organizing media-related materials, and handling daily coordination before and during the fair. My responsibilities helped me understand how public relations not only promotes individual artworks, but also builds broader cultural narratives of a city for global audiences.

One of the most memorable parts of the experience was building rapport with global media at the Media Center during the show. Throughout the process, I transformed myself into a professional and active member of Art Basel. I gradually became more active in communicating with colleagues and media partners, responding to problems promptly, and engaging with internal and external stakeholders to facilitate collaboration. This shift—from bystander to insider—became the most valuable part of the internship.

The internship also connected closely with what I had been studying in MALCS. My coursework cultivated my critical perspective towards Art Basel, art production and the whole art industry, enabling me to maintain objective and reflective thinking towards my everyday work. It deepened my understanding of how cultural institutions balance artistic vision with audience engagement to function in a capitalist city.

I am grateful to both the MALCS programme and Art Basel for this opportunity, and I am delighted to have my classmates take this journey together. This experience had significant meaning for both my future career development and my personal growth!

One of the most memorable parts of the experience was building rapport with global media at the Media Center during the show. Throughout the process, I transformed myself into a professional and active member of Art Basel.