Are you a meticulous researcher who is passionate about American Art? Does the idea of being exposed to the inner workings of a large art museum excite you? If so, then the department of American Art invites you to apply for their Summer 2020 Emerging Art Leaders Internship.

The Department of American Art features an outstanding collection—with over 1,000 paintings and sculptures from the 18th century to 1950 and nearly 2,500 decorative art objects from the 17th century to present. Strengths include over 400 works of modern art from the Alfred Stieglitz Collection given to the museum by Georgia O’Keeffe, significant works by Frederic Remington and George Inness, notable furniture and silver from the colonial period through the modern era, and one the world’s finest selections of American folk art. In addition to important and iconic paintings by Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, Mary Cassatt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Grant Wood, and Edward Hopper, the collection contains works by Diego Rivera, Gabriel Orozco, Rufino Tamayo, and other distinguished Latin American artists.

As an intern, you will work alongside museum professionals in this dynamic department to conduct research on the permanent collection and upcoming exhibitions. You will also provide crucial assistance with cataloging, database management, and administrative tasks, all the while gaining fundamental skills for any curatorial or collection management career.

INTERNSHIP OUTCOMES

• Mentor relationships with field practitioners
• Peer-to-peer relationships with fellow interns
• Exposure to working with a collection of paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, and furniture, including observing how objects are stored, moved, and installed/de-installed in the galleries
• Primary and secondary source research skills for cataloguing works of art and conducting provenance research
• Label writing skills and familiarity with a large museum’s interdepartmental editorial process
• Exposure to major installation and exhibition planning
• Experience working with a digital collection database and organizing and developing physical curatorial object files

 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct research on works in the permanent collection as well as new acquisitions, including provenance, publication, and exhibition histories
• Conduct research related to upcoming exhibitions, including an upcoming Georgia O’Keeffe exhibition, and/or publications as needed by curators
• Draft short interpretive texts for publication on the museum’s website and in-gallery wall labels
• Work closely with Collection and Exhibitions Manager on cataloging and inventory of permanent collection
• Work with museum’s CITI collection database
• Perform other administrative tasks as needed

 

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Undergraduate or graduate student located in the Chicago metropolitan area who has completed at least one academic year of post-high school study; recent graduates (within one year of graduation) will also be considered
• Demonstrated enthusiasm for the discipline of art history, particularly American Art
• Excellent organizational skills with a meticulous attention to detail
• Advanced research and writing skills
• Committed to the goal of promoting inclusive, pluralistic museums

Preferred

• Major or previous coursework in art history, cultural studies, or closely-related field.

 

About the Emerging Art Leaders Internship

The Emerging Art Leaders Internship is open to all qualified candidates with individuals from groups historically underrepresented in the arts museum field particularly encouraged to apply. Priority will be given to those who demonstrate commitment to the goal of promoting inclusive, pluralistic museums.

This internship is part of a museum-wide effort to provide students from diverse backgrounds, including those underrepresented in the museum field, the opportunity to gain experience, career awareness, networks, skills that will together position them to succeed as future art museum leaders. Those selected join an intern cohort and have access to a range of programs to support their development in addition to their specific departmental placement. Mentorship is provided throughout the intern experience. Interns are also encouraged to remain connected to the museum and to other interns as part of an alumni network.

This project is made possible, in part, through the Diversifying Art Museum Leadership Initiative (DAMLI), funded by the Walton Family Foundation and Ford Foundation. Additional funding for DAMLI is provided by the James and Madeleine McMullan Family Foundation.

 

APPLICATION

Application must include the following materials:

• Resume
• Cover letter that also includes answers to the following questions:
  • What you hope to gain from this internship experience
  • What you will contribute to this internship
  • What challenge(s) or barrier(s) you face (personal, cultural, socioeconomic, educational, etc.) as you consider pursuing a career in the arts, and how this internship might play a role in helping to surmount those obstacles
• List of relevant coursework completed

Please combine all application materials into a single PDF for upload.

 

PRIORITY DEADLINE

For fullest consideration, applications should be submitted by Monday, March 16, 2020 at 5:00 pm CST.

 

Intern Information:

Length of Program: Summer Term (300 hours, June-August)

College Credit: Available

Compensation: Paid

The Art Institute of Chicago requires all applicants to complete an online application to be considered for employment.  60 minutes are allotted for applicants to complete the employment application. The application will automatically time out after 60 minutes. If you are unable to submit the completed application at this time, please choose the “Save for Later” option to avoid losing the information you have entered so far.

The Art Institute of Chicago is an equal opportunity, equal access employer fully committed to achieving a diverse and inclusive workplace.