Arts Council England (ACE) and Creative and Cultural Skills (CCS), the industry's sector skills council, have announced the publication of a new guide on arts internships.

Internships in the arts - a guide for arts organisations outlines how to develop high-quality and mutually beneficial opportunities, while also setting out legal obligations.

The guide has issued recommendations for successful schemes, which include a fair, open and transparent recruitment process and the provision of "meaningful experiences".

Among the legal obligations listed in the guide for organisations offering internships is the need to ensure that arts groups operate according to the National Minimum Wage Act.

ACE chief executive Alan Davey said: "We firmly believe that arts and culture will benefit from the new ideas and perspectives presented by a workforce drawn from all sectors of society.

"Well-planned, paid internships have a role to play in bringing about this change by helping people from all backgrounds gain experience of working in the arts."

CCS joint chief executive Catherine Large added: "We have long been committed to opening up entry routes into the creative and cultural industries - the sector can only grow if it has access to the widest pool of talent."

Details: www.artscouncil.org.uk

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