University of Chicago Divinity School — Provenance Research Internship

Art Institute of Chicago•Chicago, IL

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Art Institute of Chicago invites applications for an internship within the Provenance Research department focused on the collecting history of religious objects. The intern will engage in a systematic review of archival records across different collecting areas. The primary objective is to transfer provenance information from these records into the museum’s collection database. In so doing, the intern will develop a deep understanding of the collectors and dealers who shaped the Art Institute’s collection. Building on this foundational work, the intern will carry out in-depth provenance research into a specific object of their choosing. This second phase of the internship will result in a web 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.

Requirements

Undergraduate or graduate student; recent graduates (within one year of graduation) will also be considered
Due to onsite necessity, 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 be flexibly prioritize when appropriate
Possesses an interest in: Religious objects or objects that speak to religious issues
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