McMullan Arts Leadership Internship, Prints and Drawings Art Institute of Chicago

Summary

The department of Prints and Drawings at the Art Institute of Chicago is excited to invite current undergraduate students, graduate students, and/or recent graduates to apply for their McMullan Arts Leadership internship position.

In this position, the intern will receive training on identifying print and drawing techniques, the care and handling of works on paper, collection database software, object-based research, and museum policy issues such as ethics and security. The intern will have the opportunity to work with curators on individual research projects and in the context of the regular operation of the department study room, the Jean and Steven Goldman Study Center.

Located in the Art Institute’s Michigan Avenue building, the Jean and Steven Goldman Study Center houses the museum’s collection of works on paper. The collection includes over 60,000 prints, drawings, artist portfolios and books. Within the study center is the Glore Print Study Room which is open to the public by appointment. Visitors are allowed to request works in advance and view them in the study room under the supervision of curatorial staff.

The study room also houses a library of catalogues raisonnés, exhibition catalogues and reference books.

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 Prints and Drawings. Mentorship is provided throughout the experience and connections with an intern alumni network will be established.

Compensation: $17.50/hour

Term: 32 weeks (September 2026 – April 2027)

Schedule: PT (max. 14 hours/week)

Format: The internship will be fully onsite. Due to onsite necessity, applicants based or attending school in the Chicagoland area during the internship timeframe will be prioritized. Internet access and appropriate technology will be necessary to complete this internship; technological accommodations will be provided by the Art Institute of Chicago based on necessity.

Deadline: 07/27/2026 (11:59 PM CDT)

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;
• Major or focus in art history, studio art, museum studies, or a related field;
• Demonstrated interest in Prints and Drawings as a curatorial field and area of study;
• Enthusiasm for engaging with researchers and scholars across the field of Prints and Drawings;
• Eagerness to learn collection software systems;
• 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 flexible when appropriate.

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.