McMullan Arts Leadership Internship, Prints and Drawings

Position Summary

The department of Prints and Drawings at the Art Institute of Chicago is excited to invite current undergraduate students, graduate students, and/or recent graduates to apply for their McMullan Arts Leadership internship position. In this position, the intern will receive training on identifying print and drawing techniques, the care and handling of works on paper, collection database software, object-based research, and museum policy issues such as ethics and security. The intern will have the opportunity to work with curators on individual research projects and in the context of the regular operation of the department study room, the Jean and Steven Goldman Study Center.

About the Role

Located in the Art Institute’s Michigan Avenue building, the Jean and Steven Goldman Study Center houses the museum’s collection of works on paper. The collection includes over 60,000 prints, drawings, artist portfolios and books. Within the study center is the Glore Print Study Room which is open to the public by appointment. Visitors are allowed to request works in advance and view them in the study room under the supervision of curatorial staff. The study room also houses a library of catalogues raisonnés, exhibition catalogues and reference books.

Responsibilities

• Complete research projects as assigned by curators
• Auxiliary the study room manager in preparing the study room for visitors
• Facilitate daily operations of the Prints and Drawings study room
• Safely move art objects to and from their home locations
• Support the work of Prints and Drawings staff as needed
• Attend weekly check-ins with the position’s mentors: the Study Room Manager and Collection Assistant and the Rothman Family Curator
• Attend intern cohort professional development programs and museum practice seminars

Qualifications

• Undergraduate or graduate student; recent graduates (within one year of graduation) will also be considered
• Applicants must be based in the Chicagoland area and/or attending school in the Chicagoland area over the course of the internship term
• Major or focus in art history, studio art, museum studies, or a related field
• Demonstrated interest in Prints and Drawings as a curatorial field and area of study
• Enthusiasm for engaging with researchers and scholars across the field of Prints and Drawings
• Eagerness to learn collection software systems
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite and Google Suite
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
• Ability to be open-minded and work collaboratively with colleagues across the museum
• Detailed mindset and demonstrated organizational skills
• Ability to multitask and be flexible when appropriate

Pay & Benefits

Hiring Range: $17.50/hour (Maximum 14 hours per week, for a total of up to 448 hours over the course of the internship.) This position is not benefits eligible.

Schedule

This is a part-time, 32-week position for a currently enrolled or recently graduated undergraduate or graduate student. The intern will work 14 hours per week, for a total of up to 448 hours over the course of the internship. Work days will occur between Monday–Friday; the start date and schedule will be determined upon agreement with the candidate and the host department.

Application Instructions

You must upload all of the requested materials below (resume and essay responses) into only one pdf document and list your last name and “AY 26-27” in the title of the file (example: [LAST NAME]_AY 26-27.pdf.) Please upload your materials where asked in the online application. PLEASE NOTE: You will not be considered if any requested application element is missing. To Apply For This Internship, Tell Us Your Story. We Want To Understand Who You Are, What Motivates You, How You Think, And Where You’re Coming From. Please Submit The Following Materials Resume Short Essays: Instead of a cover letter, please respond to the following questions in short essays (no more than 300 words per essay.) We encourage you to provide specific examples to support your answers or to illustrate your ideas: What about this job description interests you the most? With the mission of the McMullan Arts Leadership intern program in mind, what perspectives might you bring to this role that you think museums need more of? How do you envision this opportunity helping you towards your professional goals? DEADLINE: The deadline to submit an application to this position is Monday, July 27 at 11:59 pm CDT. We will not accept late applications. Selected applicants will be asked to interview via video call approximately two weeks after deadline passes.