Six Franklin Switzerland students have begun a professional internship experience at LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura, one of Switzerland’s leading cultural institutions.
Throughout June, James Jiang, Valeriia Holovina, Aiyah Morsi, Kisakyake Mwandenga, Francesca Azcarate, and Liliia Khudiieva will work alongside LAC professionals across Production, Brand and Institutional Identity, Digital Media and Communication, and Hospitality and Audience Experience, contributing to the operations of the Lugano Dance Project while gaining firsthand industry experience.
Integrated into Franklin’s interdisciplinary experiential-learning course INT 498, the initiative offers students the opportunity to spend two intensive weeks working directly within one of Switzerland’s leading cultural institutions. Participants from the United States, Ukraine, Tanzania, and China, representing academic fields including Communication, Visual Arts, Business, and Marketing, will contribute to a variety of departments across LAC, gaining firsthand exposure to the inner workings of a major international arts organization.
Throughout the internship, students will work alongside professionals in areas such as Production, Brand and Institutional Identity, Digital Media and Communication, and Hospitality and Audience Experience. By participating in the daily operations of the Lugano Dance Project, they will gain practical experience while developing a deeper understanding of how cultural institutions create, communicate, and deliver artistic programming to diverse audiences.
The internship reflects Franklin Switzerland’s commitment to experiential education, connecting academic study with meaningful professional opportunities. Rather than learning exclusively through lectures and coursework, students are encouraged to engage directly with organizations, industries, and communities, applying classroom knowledge in real-world settings.
Beyond their departmental placements, students will participate in meetings with LAC leadership, workshops with choreographers and dance professionals, and conversations focused on arts management, creativity, communication, and cultural diplomacy. These experiences provide valuable insights into the interdisciplinary nature of contemporary cultural institutions and the many professional pathways that support them.
Following the professional placement, students will return to Franklin for an additional two weeks of seminar-based academic work. Through discussion, presentations, and reflective projects, they will critically analyze their experiences and explore broader themes related to performing arts, audience engagement, communication strategies, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The FUS–LAC Dance Project Internship Program represents another example of Franklin’s strong partnerships with leading organizations in Switzerland and beyond. By creating opportunities that combine academic learning with professional practice, Franklin helps students build practical skills, expand their professional networks, and graduate with experiences that prepare them for success in a global workplace.
The FUS–LAC Dance Project Internship Program is made possible through the generous support of the KHR McNeely Family Foundation.