McMullan Arts Leadership Intern - Textiles
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
The Art Institute of Chicago’s Textiles department is excited to offer a McMullan Arts Leadership intern position to work within collection management. The goal of the internship is to expose the student to key aspects of collections management work and preventive conservation through a hands-on learning approach.
The Textiles department at the Art Institute of Chicago collects and exhibits works that represent the global, historical and contemporary range of creativity and artistry in fiber. The department’s holdings represent one of the broadest temporal spans of any department in the museum, and includes works from ancient Egypt to the present day. Particular strengths include weaving and embroidery from the Pre-Columbian Andes, Western European Baroque tapestries, Chinese court textiles and dress, Japanese dress, the work of mid-century American designers and modern and contemporary fiber Art, from Sheila Hicks to Bisa Butler. The department is working to expand its holdings in textiles from the African continent, the Indian subcontinent and Latin America, while continuing to build on the existing strengths of the collection.
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 Textiles. 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:
- Learn strategies and methods of collections care;
- Gain skills in rehousing, maintaining collections storage, and environmental condition monitoring;
- Experience a range of department collection activities including permanent collection rotations, exhibitions, acquisitions, archiving, and imaging;
- Learn collection management systems (CITI) and digital asset management (NetX) software;
- Develop strong communication and organizational skills;
- Develop mentor relationships with field practitioners;
- Build peer-to-peer relationships with fellow interns.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Review information in Textiles collection database records and edit as necessary
- Digitize physical department records for digital asset management system to assist with collection research projects
- Attend departmental meetings with the Textiles team
- Attend weekly check-ins with Textiles’ collections manager
- 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
- Demonstrated interest or background in museum studies, archival work, art handling, art history, arts administration, library science, or other related field
- Ability to meet physical demands such as lifting and carrying moderately heavy objects, standing, and being able to safely handle and transport artworks
- 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 be flexibly prioritize when appropriate
Preferred:
- Awareness of and/or curiosity about art museum culture and current events in the field
Intern 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 / part-time / Temporary
Schedule: This is a part-time, 10-week position for a currently enrolled or recently graduated undergraduate or graduate student. The intern will work 14–21 hours per week, for a total of up to 140-210 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 onsite at the museum. 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
Apply at:
https://hrweb.artic.edu/psp/HRPRODE/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=11977&PostingSeq=1