Arts Intern – Lagos, Nigeria

Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Opportunity type: Fixed-term internship
Duration: 12 months
Pay band: Not applicable

About the opportunity

The British Council builds connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the English language.

We are seeking an organised, proactive and detail-oriented Arts Intern to support the delivery of our Arts programme in Nigeria. This opportunity is suited to a recent graduate who is interested in developing practical experience in arts administration, programme coordination, events, communications and stakeholder engagement.

Working alongside the Arts team, you will contribute to the coordination of projects and events, management of applications and participant information, preparation of programme documentation, monitoring and reporting, and communications activities. You will gain exposure to professional working practices while supporting the effective and timely delivery of programme activities.

What you will do

As an Arts Intern, your responsibilities will include:

• Programme and project support: Assist with the coordination of arts projects, programmes and events, including maintaining schedules, trackers, action logs and project records.

• Application and participant administration: Organise and update application and participant information, check records for accuracy, identify discrepancies and maintain orderly documentation.

• Selection-process administration: Prepare working lists and supporting documents, maintain version control and assist with the accurate administration of selection activities in accordance with approved processes.

• Events and logistics: Support event planning and delivery, including coordinating venues, travel, accommodation, suppliers, materials, guest arrangements and participant communications.

• Stakeholder communication: Assist with routine correspondence and follow-up with colleagues, artists, applicants, participants, partners and suppliers.

• Monitoring and reporting: Collect and validate programme information, maintain supporting evidence and assist with monitoring, evaluation and reporting activities.

• Marketing and communications: Help prepare approved digital content, update content calendars, create basic visual materials and support post-event communications.

• Documentation and compliance: Maintain programme files and records, support the collation of required documents and follow applicable data protection, safeguarding and organisational procedures.

• Administrative and procurement support: Assist with routine purchasing documentation, supplier records, requests and approval tracking, escalating matters to the responsible colleagues where necessary.

• Team collaboration: Participate in relevant meetings, record actions, provide progress updates and suggest practical improvements to administrative processes.

You may also be asked to undertake other reasonable administrative tasks consistent with the purpose of the internship.

About you

We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic about arts and culture, comfortable working with information and administrative processes, and keen to learn in a collaborative environment.

Essential requirements

• A graduate-level qualification, with graduation within the last two years.

• Experience supporting projects, programmes, events or administrative activities.

• Ability to organise, check and maintain information using spreadsheets, trackers or databases.

• Strong attention to detail and the ability to maintain accurate records.

• Good written and spoken English, including the ability to draft routine professional correspondence.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams, or comparable workplace tools.

• Good organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and follow up outstanding actions.

• A collaborative approach and the ability to communicate professionally with colleagues and external stakeholders.

• An understanding of confidentiality, data protection and the importance of raising safeguarding or compliance concerns appropriately.

Desirable experience

• Exposure to arts, culture, film, the creative industries, education or international cultural relations.

• Experience supporting applications, assessments, selection processes or participant administration.

• Familiarity with monitoring and evaluation, data collection, reporting or digital analytics.

• Exposure to event logistics, supplier coordination, procurement documentation or contract administration.

• Experience using Canva or similar tools to prepare basic visual materials or digital content.

Skills and behaviours

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Planning, organisation and effective time management.

• Clear communication and professional stakeholder engagement.

• Confidence using digital tools and handling data accurately.

• Problem-solving, sound judgement and willingness to seek guidance when needed.

• A commitment to continuous learning, collaboration and inclusive ways of working.

You should also be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the British Council's values: Open and Committed, Expert and Inclusive, Optimistic and Bold.

What you can expect from the internship

This 12-month internship offers an opportunity to:

• Gain practical experience in arts programme administration and delivery.

• Develop organisational, communication, data-management and coordination skills.

• Learn about event delivery, stakeholder engagement, monitoring and reporting.

• Work collaboratively with colleagues supporting arts and cultural relations in Nigeria.

• Build professional experience relevant to future opportunities in arts, culture, programme administration and related fields.

Important information about the nature of this opportunity

This is a fixed-term internship for a period of 12 months. It is not a permanent position or an offer of full-time employment.

The internship is intended to provide structured practical experience and professional development while supporting the activities of the Arts team. It does not create any entitlement or expectation of employment beyond the agreed internship period.

Completion of the internship does not guarantee an offer of employment, a permanent position, an extension or any other engagement with the British Council. Any future opportunity would be subject to a separate recruitment or engagement process, the availability of an appropriate opportunity, applicable organisational policies and approvals, and the relevant eligibility requirements.

The internship will conclude at the end of the agreed period unless otherwise formally agreed in writing in accordance with applicable requirements and organisational policy.

Location and eligibility

The internship is based in Lagos, Nigeria.

Applicants must ensure that they have the legal right to live and undertake the internship in Nigeria for the duration of the opportunity. Any visa or work-authorisation support should not be assumed and would be subject to the British Council's applicable policies and confirmation of availability.

The successful candidate will be subject to the relevant British Council screening and background-check requirements.

Our commitment

The British Council is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from candidates with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives who share an interest in arts and culture and a commitment to working collaboratively and responsibly.

If you are a recent graduate looking to develop practical experience while contributing to arts and cultural programmes in Nigeria, we encourage you to apply.