McMullan Arts Leadership Internship, Provenance Research

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. We are a place of gathering and learning, committed to fostering an inclusive understanding of human creativity.

Position Summary

The Art Institute of Chicago is excited to offer a McMullan Arts Leadership intern position in the department of Provenance Research

The intern will join the Provenance Research department in an initiative to uncover and document the journey of artworks and to research the stories of the art dealers and collectors who shaped the collection.

This internship comprises two parts: first, transferring provenance information from archival documents into the collection database; and second, conducting focused research on a lesser-known dealer or collector whose history will be shared in a web article.

By reviewing archival records and adding provenance information to the database, the intern’s contributions will enable researchers and visitors to connect with the stories behind the objects in our collection. In so doing, the intern will develop a deep understanding of the dealers and collectors who shaped the Art Institute’s collections, enabling them to select a suitable topic for their research project and article.

The intern will join a museum-wide intern cohort and have access to a range of programs to support their development in addition to their placement in Provenance Research. Mentorship is provided throughout the experience, and connections with an intern alumni network will be established.

Duration of Position: 32 weeks / September 2026 (start date anytime during the week of September 21–25) through April 2027 (end date anytime during the week of April 26–April 30).

McMullan Arts Leadership Internship Program Goals

The McMullan Arts Leadership internship program is part of a museum-wide effort to provide students the opportunity to gain experience, career awareness, networks, and skills that will position them to thrive as future art museum leaders.

This program specifically aims to support students who encounter economic challenges when considering a career in the arts. Aligned with this goal, we aim to help shape a diverse group of leaders whose actions are informed by a wide range of perspectives, varying career paths, and values inspired by their own lived experiences. 

Internship Outcomes

In this position, the intern will have the opportunity to:

• Gain familiarity with provenance-related archival documentation;
• Build experience with museum collection management systems;
• Gain a better understanding of the Art Institute’s history of collecting;
• Develop provenance and archival research skills;
• Communicate provenance research to the public;
• Develop mentor relationships with field practitioners;
• Build peer-to-peer relationships with fellow interns.

Responsibilities

With guidance from the position’s mentors, the intern will:

• Review archival documentation relevant to the provenance of objects in the Art Institute's permanent collection;
• If the provenance in the archival documentation is not reflected in the collection management database, transfer this information to a spreadsheet to be used to update the record;
• Identify a collector or art dealer who is currently under-researched, and whose history can be researched through archival documentation in Chicago and publications available in the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries;
• Write a blog post about the research placement and the art dealer or collector chosen (800 words);
• Participate in and contribute to the weekly meetings of the Provenance Research department;
• 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;
• Willingness to connect with others;
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills;
• Detail-oriented mindset and demonstrated organizational skills; ability to multitask and flexibly prioritize when appropriate;
• Possesses an interest in:
  • The Art Institute’s collection and how art dealers and collectors contributed to its creation
  • Reviewing archival documents, such as receipts or ledgers;
  • Learning about museum documentation practices;
  • Researching a specific dealer and collector, using resources available in the archives and library;
  • Sharing this research with the Art Institute’s audiences through online publications. 

Compensation & 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.

• Job Classification: Hourly
• Employment Category: Intern

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.

Hourlong virtual and in-person intern professional development programs will be scheduled throughout the internship term that the student is strongly encouraged to attend. These programs will occur during the week; we ask that the intern make this part of their internship schedule.

Format: The internship will be fully onsite. Due to onsite necessity, applicants based or attending school in the Chicagoland area during the internship timeframe will be prioritized. Internet access and appropriate technology will be necessary to complete this internship; technological accommodations will be provided by the Art Institute of Chicago based on necessity.

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 invited to participate in a video interview approximately two weeks after the application deadline.

Accessibility

If you are a job seeker with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to apply for one of our jobs, you will find the contact information to request the appropriate accommodation by visiting the following page:

Accessibility Accommodation for Applicants

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals compliant with federal and state laws. 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.