McMullan Arts Leadership Intern, Arts of Asia

Summary

The Art Institute of Chicago’s department of Arts of Asia is excited to offer a McMullan Arts Leadership intern position to work with them this upcoming academic year.

Formally established in 1921, Arts of Asia holds one of the largest Asian art collections in North America, consisting of nearly 30,000 objects that span five millennia and represent all artistic traditions of the entire continent. Distinguished artworks include Hindu and Buddhist sculpture;
Chinese jades, bronzes, ceramics, and paintings;
Japanese screens and woodblock prints—one of the finest assemblages in the world;
Korean celadon; and Indian and Persian miniature paintings.

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 Asia. 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).

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;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite and Google Suite;
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills;
• Demonstrated interest in arts administration, art history, or an art museum curatorial profession;
• Ability to be open-minded and work collaboratively with colleagues across the museum;
• Detail-oriented mindset and demonstrated organizational skills; ability to multitask and prioritize when appropriate;
• Not required, but preferred:
  • Knowledge of Asian art history and/or Asian language(s)
  • Demonstrated ability in database management
  • Demonstrated ability in project management.

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.