This post is part of our Internship Spotlight series. For this installment, Museology Communications and Marketing Assistant Marcela Velandia (’25) spoke with Yanyue Guan (’25) about her internship experience at the China Cultural Relics Information Consulting Center.
What organization did you intern with and what you did in your internship?
During the summer, I returned to China and interned at the China Cultural Relics Information Consulting Center (CCRICC). During my internship, I participated in a collaborative project between CCRICC and American Hantian TV. The project involved organizing an exhibition of traditional Chinese culture and art at the FOX Theater in San Bernardino, California.
In this project, I was responsible for drafting and refining the exhibition design proposal, including layout design, artifact selection, implementation methods, visitor flow, audience interaction, cultural merchandise, and drafting the budget. The exhibition was eventually titled Splendor of the Grottoes: The Artistic Heritage of Millennia-old Stone Carvings and Murals. It featured content focusing on the origins of Buddhism’s introduction to China, highlighting the Kizil Caves, the Yungang Grottoes from the Northern Wei Dynasty, the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang from the Tang Dynasty, and the Dazu Rock Carvings from the Song Dynasty, presented along a timeline of Buddhism’s development in China.
What learning goals did you have going into the internship?
- Apply knowledge gained in the classroom related to exhibition development.
- Collaborate with the team on the Fox Theater project and deliver a complete exhibition curatorial proposal.
- Understand the components of exhibition curation in China through participation in curatorial projects.
What did you end up learning from your internship? Did you fulfill your original learning goals? Were there any unexpected takeaways or learning moments?
Of course, I fully achieved my original learning goals, and the experience was incredibly inspiring and educational for me. First, I learned that exhibition planning requires curators to consider so many factors, which I didn’t fully realize during my classes. From layout design to visitor experience and the selection of exhibition content, I now see how important it is to pay attention to every detail. Additionally, since Buddhism has such a long history in China, ensuring historical accuracy in the exhibition content was essential.
I also gained deeper insights into working with different teams and handling negotiations, especially regarding budget and resource allocation. When it came to final discussions with Hantian TV’s leadership about the investment proportion, I rewrote my email four or five times. Overall, this experience helped me develop my project management skills and gave me more confidence in managing complex tasks.
What did you enjoy most about this internship?
One thing I enjoyed most during the internship was meeting many renowned experts, scholars, and entrepreneurs in the Chinese museum industry. For example, I had the opportunity to meet the CEO of Meet You Museum, which is a highly popular art museum chain in China. They have five locations across the country and host both domestic and international exhibitions, including “The Eternal Mystery of Mummies,” “Meet Monet,” and the “Meet Ancient Shu – Sanxingdui Immersive Light and Shadow Art Exhibition.” During my internship, I was fortunate to attend their meetings and learn about their vision for founding Meet You Museum and their plans for future development. This experience has only strengthened my passion for the museum field.
Is there anything you wish you had done differently in your internship? Do you have any recommendations for students looking into internships now?
During my internship, I believe I fully committed myself in many areas, but looking back, I wish I had been more proactive in exploring more ideas and possibilities with my team. Everyone has their own preferences and style, and I found myself sometimes sticking to familiar approaches. I hope in the future I can push myself to try different methods and perspectives.
For students looking for internship opportunities, my advice is to keep an open mind and not limit yourself to one type of internship. Each experience has its unique value and can help you develop different skills and knowledge. For example, the internships I did during my undergraduate years varied in tasks, but I learned something valuable from each one and gradually discovered where my true interests lie.
Additionally, time management and self-planning are crucial, especially in part-time or remote internships. Maintaining regular contact with your mentor and team, while seeking feedback consistently, helps you grow quickly and ensures you get the most out of the internship.
So in conclusion, I would like to say: when you feel lost, try exploring different internship opportunities in different fields to better understand your interests and career direction.
What’s next? How did this internship relate to your career goals, interests, and/or plans, and how has it impacted those goals, interests, and/or plans?
I am currently participating in a remote internship at Mission Garden in Tucson, Arizona, focusing on exhibition design. Specifically, I am working on designing a multi-sensory, interactive youth garden for children aged 3-10. This internship has not only allowed me to apply the theoretical knowledge I’ve learned in class but also provided a valuable opportunity to explore how to engage young audiences through design. I have always been dedicated to studying and practicing museum exhibition design, and these part-time internships have helped me accumulate hands-on experience, laying a solid foundation for future full-time roles.
Through this internship, I have deepened my understanding of how interactive elements can spark children’s curiosity and foster their interest in learning. This experience is crucial for my future development in museum design and informal education and has further solidified my career goal of creating educational and interactive experiences for audiences of all ages in museum exhibitions.