McMullan Arts Leadership Intern (Ancient Egyptian Art)
Introduction
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
McMullan Arts Leadership Internship, Arts of Africa — Ancient Egyptian Art (Summer 2023)
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Art Institute of Chicago’s Arts of Africa department is excited to offer a McMullan Arts Leadership intern position to work specifically with ancient Egyptian art.
In collaboration with the associate curator of ancient Egyptian art and with the support of the Arts of Africa (AA) chair, the ancient Egyptian art intern will assist with the final preparation of the manuscript for a new ancient Egyptian art catalogue. The intern will be responsible for fact checking basic information—such as dimensions and publication histories—presented in the manuscript, which features approximately 115 objects from the permanent collection. In addition to reading catalogue entries in manuscript form, this may include handling artifacts, updating information in the museum’s database, and working with library resources. The intern will also gain experience with object-focused writing for museum audiences.
The Arts of Africa department encompasses intricate masks, statuary, jewelry, beadwork, textiles, carved reliefs, and stone and ceramic vessels, reflecting over 5,000 years of the continent’s great diversity and complexity. The works in the collection attest to the creativity and aesthetic sensibilities of African artists and their patrons, showcasing the cultural, geographical, and historical expanse of Africa. The ancient Egyptian collection is made up of works produced in the Nile Valley between approximately 3,500 BCE and 150 CE.
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 Arts of Africa. Mentorship is provided throughout the experience and connections with an intern alumni network will be established.
Goals of the McMullan Arts Leadership Internship Program
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:
- Become familiar with the inner workings of a curatorial department and the work of a curator;
- Work with curatorial staff to prepare a museum catalogue;
- Learn collection management software;
- Conduct object-based research;
- Gain experience writing and publishing web-based content;
- Develop strong communication and organizational skills;
- Develop mentor relationships with field practitioners;
- Build peer-to-peer relationships with fellow interns.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Verify tombstone data (such as measurements and materials) for select artworks in collaboration with department staff
- Confirm provenance information and publication histories for select artworks by consulting paper object files, archival documents, and library resources
- Update database records and object files
- Write content about ancient Egyptian works in the collection for the museum’s website under the guidance of the curator and building upon information in the unpublished catalogue
- Attend weekly check-ins with the position’s mentor: the associate curator of ancient Egyptian art
- Attend weekly Arts of Africa department meetings
- Attend intern cohort professional development programs and museum practice seminars
QUALIFICATIONS:
Required:
- Upper-level undergraduate student, graduate student, or recent graduate (within one year of graduation)
- Due to onsite necessity, applicants must be based in the Chicagoland area for the summer and/or attending school in the Chicagoland area
- Willingness to learn museum-specific database systems
- Ability to independently work on archival and/or library-based research projects
- Proficiency in Microsoft Suite and Google Suite
- Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
- Ability to be open-minded and work collaboratively with colleagues across the museum
- Detail-oriented mindset and demonstrated organizational skills; ability to multitask and flexibly prioritize when appropriate
Preferred:
- Coursework in ancient studies or archaeology, or related experiences
- Awareness of and/or curiosity about art museum culture and current events in the field
APPLICATION
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:
- Résumé
- In lieu of a traditional cover letter, please respond to the following questions in short essays (no more than 300 words per answer.) 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?
To apply: Visit artic.edu/careers to find job posting and apply online. Upload all materials into one pdf document and list your last name and “Summer 2023” in the title of the file (example: [LAST NAME]_Summer2023.pdf.) The application will close on February 28, 2023 at 10:00 PM CDT. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early application is suggested. Selected applicants will be asked to interview via video call.
INTERNSHIP INFORMATION
Duration of Program: 10 weeks / June 2023 (start date anytime during the week of June 5–June 9) through August 2023 (end date anytime during the week of August 7–August 11)
Compensation: Paid / $16.32/hr / full-time / Temporary
Schedule: This is a full-time, 10-week position for a currently enrolled or recently graduated undergraduate or graduate student. The intern will work up to 30 hours per week, for a total of up to 300 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 on select Fridays mornings at 10:00 AM CDT unless otherwise noted; we ask that the intern make this part of their internship schedule.
Format: The internship will be a hybrid of onsite and remote work days. Due to onsite necessity, applicants based or attending school in the Chicagoland area during the internship timeframe will be prioritized. All museum staff, interns, and fellows are required to provide a COVID-19 vaccine attestation upon acceptance of the position. Internet access and appropriate technology will be necessary to complete this internship, but technological accommodations can be provided by the Art Institute of Chicago based on necessity.
Number of openings: 1