McMullan Arts Leadership Internship, Provenance Research

Art Institute of Chicago • Chicago, IL

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Art Institute of Chicago is offering a McMullan Arts Leadership internship in the Provenance Research department. The intern will focus on uncovering and documenting the journey of artworks and researching the stories of art dealers and collectors who shaped the collection. This internship involves transferring provenance information from archival documents into the collection database and conducting focused research on a lesser-known dealer or collector, culminating in a web article. The intern's contributions will enhance researcher and visitor understanding of the objects' histories. The intern will also join a museum-wide cohort with access to development programs, mentorship, and an alumni network.

Requirements

• 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Benefits

• Mentorship is provided throughout the experience
• Connections with an intern alumni network will be established
• Access to a range of programs to support their development
• Technological accommodations will be provided by the Art Institute of Chicago based on necessity.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: Associate degree