McMullan Arts Leadership Internship, Provenance Research

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 is excited to offer a McMullan Arts Leadership intern position in the department of Provenance Research

The intern will join the Provenance Research department in an initiative to uncover and document the journey of artworks and to research the stories of the art dealers and collectors who shaped the collection.

This internship comprises two parts: first, transferring provenance information from archival documents into the collection database; and second, conducting focused research on a lesser-known dealer or collector whose history will be shared in a web article.

By reviewing archival records and adding provenance information to the database, the intern's contributions will enable researchers and visitors to connect with the stories behind the objects in our collection. In so doing, the intern will develop a deep understanding of the dealers and collectors who shaped the Art Institute's collections, enabling them to select a suitable topic for their research project and 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.

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:

* Gain familiarity with provenance-related archival documentation;

* Build experience with museum collection management systems;

* Gain a better understanding of the Art Institute's history of collecting;

* Develop provenance and archival research skills;

* Communicate provenance research to the public;

* 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:

* 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.

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;

* Willingness to connect with others;

* Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills;

* Detail-oriented mindset…