McMullan Arts Leadership Intern, Exhibition Design

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's department of Exhibition Design is excited to offer a McMullan Arts Leadership intern position to work with them.

The McMullan Arts Leadership Intern in Exhibition Design will work directly with the exhibition design team as a contributing member on projects at various stages of development. The intern will gain exposure to the full scope of the exhibition design process, from concept to installation, and develop hands-on skills through tasks such as drafting layouts, preparing models, and supporting design documentation.

The Exhibition Design department is responsible for all three-dimensional design for exhibitions across the museum. Our work brings together architecture, design, and storytelling to create meaningful experiences for visitors. The team includes designers with diverse backgrounds, united by a shared commitment to collaboration, creativity, and cultural engagement.

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 Exhibition Design. 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:

* Learn how multidisciplinary teams collaborate to create accessible, engaging, and visitor-centered museum experiences;

* Develop technical and professional skills in drafting, 3D modeling, rendering, and exhibition documentation;

* Gain hands-on experience in the exhibition design process from concept development through installation;

* Strengthen communication, project management, and problem-solving skills within a professional design environment;

* 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:

* Collaborate with the Exhibition Design team on active projects, contributing to all phases of the design process from concept development through installation;

* Produce design materials including floor plans, elevations, maquettes, and 3D models using software such as Vectorworks and Sketch Up;

* Conduct site surveys and model existing gallery spaces to support current and future exhibition planning;

* Participate in regular team meetings and intern cohort programs, including mentorship check-ins and museum-wide professional development sessions.

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;

* Academic background in Architecture, Interior Design, Industrial Design, or a related field;

* Strong communication skills and a collaborative, proactive mindset;

* Interest in the relationship between art, architecture, and design;

* Willingness to learn new software, including Vectorworks and Sketch Up, if not…