The Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago shares its singular collections with our city and the world. We collect, care for, and interpret works of art across time, cultures, geographies, and identities, centering the vision of artists and makers. We recognize that all art is made in a particular context, demanding continual, dynamic reconsideration in the present. We are a place of gathering; we foster the exchange of ideas and inspire an expansive, inclusive understanding of human creativity.

Position Summary

This internship offers the opportunity to gain experience in and knowledge of the field of museum publishing and exposure to art museum work more broadly. In the department of Publishing, the intern will learn about the rigorous, multifaceted editorial process that informs the creation of the Art Institute’s printed and digital publications, from gallery labels to exhibition and collection catalogues. The intern will work closely with the Editorial Director and editors on a variety of projects.

The intern will assist with the ongoing Label Assessment Project, a joint effort by the departments of Publishing and Interpretation to audit all permanent collection labels in the museum for accessibility, content, and design. Through work on this project the intern will gain familiarity with the museum’s collection, understand the challenges of presenting this material to the museum’s diverse audience, and learn about editing and interpretation in an art museum context.

Due to the cross-institutional nature of our work, the intern will also have the opportunity to collaborate with curators; designers; interpretation and imaging staff; freelancers (including indexers, translators, and proofreaders); and other personnel.

Position qualifications

We seek motivated and committed individuals who are interested in a career in editorial work, museum publishing, and the museum field.

Excellent writing, grammar, analytical reading, and editorial skills are important, as is an interest in art history or a related discipline.

Experience in an editorial, publishing, and/or museum setting is helpful but not required. Familiarity with the Chicago Manual of Style, book design, and editing software (such as InDesign) is valued but not essential.

Eligibility

This internship is supported by the Master of Arts Program in the Humanities (MAPH) at University of Chicago. Only current students of that program are eligible for this internship.

Hours and compensation

This is a MAPH-sponsored internship. The intern will work for a total of 250 hours. The internship will start in early June 2024 and continue through mid-August 2024 for 25 hours per week over the course of 10 weeks. The weekly work schedule will be determined once a candidate is selected.

To apply

Please submit a short statement of interest, a résumé, and a short writing sample.

Closing Statement

The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, veteran status or citizenship. The Institute complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at apply_help@artic.edu.