Art Institute of Chicago
Dangler Intern in Photography and Media Job at Art Institute of Chicago in Chica
Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States, 60603
Dangler Internship - Photography and Media (Summer 2025)
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Art Institute's department of Photography and Media seeks a doctoral or postgraduate Art History student, with a demonstrated interest in the public mission of museums, to apply for this internship opportunity.
This role is not eligible for benefits or PTO.
In collaboration with both the assistant curator and the David C. and Sarajean Ruttenberg Associate Curator in Photography and Media, the intern will have the opportunity to curate a gallery rotation of work and assist in a major department-wide review of their permanent 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 Photography and Media. Regular opportunities for cross-departmental collaboration is provided throughout the experience and connections with an intern alumni network will be established.
About the Department:
Spanning the history of photography from the 1830s to the present, the Art Institute's Photography and Media collection holds approximately 25,000 objects by celebrated practitioners from across the globe. Photographs have been exhibited regularly at the Art Institute of Chicago for well over a century; the museum's photography collection originated in 1949, when Georgia O'Keeffe donated the Alfred Stieglitz Collection. That collection, along with the Julien Levy Collection, give the museum a core strength in early 20th-century photography from the United States and Western Europe. The department's collection also includes important groups of work by pioneer photographers of the 19th century, Japanese postwar photography, African photography, South American photography, work made in Chicago, and a range of contemporary art-making it wide-ranging in scope.
About the Dangler Internship:
Eliza Dangler (1987-2011) interned in the Department of Photography in the summer and fall of 2011. She undertook invaluable research and writing for multiple exhibitions, most importantly Light Years: Conceptual Art and the Photograph, 1964-1977. As a tribute to Eliza Dangler's focus and keen intellect, this internship is awarded to a doctoral or postgraduate student in Art History with a demonstrated commitment to the public mission of museums.
The Dangler internship proudly supports advanced-level graduate interns in Photography and Media, offering unique opportunities for curatorial contributions from emerging scholars.
INTERNSHIP OUTCOMES:
In this position, the intern will have the opportunity to:
•Curate a rotation of work from the department's permanent collection;
•Contribute to research to a forthcoming projects;
•Collaborate with conservators, collection managers, and others on a collection-wide review;
•Gain experience working with Collection Management software (CITI);
•Author curatorial writing projects and publish web-based content;
•Develop mentor relationships with field practitioners;
•Build peer-to-peer relationships with fellow interns.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
With guidance from the position's mentors, the intern will:
•Assist curators with research on forthcoming exhibitions and/or publishing projects;
•Pursue independent research and develop web-based content for one or more collection objects;
•Attend weekly check-ins with mentors: the Assistant Curator and the David C. and Sarajean Ruttenberg Associate Curator in Photography and Media;
•Attend intern cohort professional development programs and museum practice seminars.
QUALIFICATIONS:
•Currently enrolled in an art history doctoral program or holds a masters degree in art history
•Has evidence of previous art history coursework emphasizing the medium of photography and/or media
•Confident in carrying out independent library research
•Possesses excellent writing and communication skills
•Maintains strong attention to detail and organizational skills
•Familiarity with MS Office, Adobe Acrobat Creative Suite, and Google Professional Suite
•Previous paid or volunteer experience in other art museums is preferred but not required
APPLICATION:
You must upload all of the requested materials below (Resume/CV and Cover Letter) into only one pdf document and list your last name and "Summer 2025" in the title of the file (example: [LAST NAME]_SUMMER2025.pdf.) Please upload your materials where asked in the online application.
PLEASE NOTE: You will not be considered if any requested application element is missing.
Application must include the following materials:
•Resume / CV
•Cover letter that addresses the following:
o What attracted you to this specific internship at the Art Institute of Chicago?
o How do you envision this opportunity helping you towards your professional goals?
DEADLINE:
This application will close on Friday, March 7th at 11:59 pm CDT. Selected applicants will be asked to interview via video call approximately two weeks after deadline passes.
INTERNSHIP INFORMATION:
Duration of Position: 10 weeks / June 2025 (start date anytime during the week of June 2-6) through August 2025 (end date anytime during the week of August 4-8)
Compensation: Paid - $16.73/hr - 28 hrs/week
Schedule: This is a part-time, 10-week position for a currently enrolled or recently graduated undergraduate or graduate student. The intern will work 28 hours per week, for a total of up to 280 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 during the week; we ask that the intern make this part of their internship schedule.
Format: The internship will occur 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, but technological accommodations will be provided by the Art Institute of Chicago.
Number of openings: 1
The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, veteran status or citizenship. The Institute complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at apply_help@artic.edu.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Art Institute's department of Photography and Media seeks a doctoral or postgraduate Art History student, with a demonstrated interest in the public mission of museums, to apply for this internship opportunity.
- Expected Range: $16.73 per hour
- Job Classification: Intern
- Grade Level: Not Applicable
This role is not eligible for benefits or PTO.
In collaboration with both the assistant curator and the David C. and Sarajean Ruttenberg Associate Curator in Photography and Media, the intern will have the opportunity to curate a gallery rotation of work and assist in a major department-wide review of their permanent 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 Photography and Media. Regular opportunities for cross-departmental collaboration is provided throughout the experience and connections with an intern alumni network will be established.
About the Department:
Spanning the history of photography from the 1830s to the present, the Art Institute's Photography and Media collection holds approximately 25,000 objects by celebrated practitioners from across the globe. Photographs have been exhibited regularly at the Art Institute of Chicago for well over a century; the museum's photography collection originated in 1949, when Georgia O'Keeffe donated the Alfred Stieglitz Collection. That collection, along with the Julien Levy Collection, give the museum a core strength in early 20th-century photography from the United States and Western Europe. The department's collection also includes important groups of work by pioneer photographers of the 19th century, Japanese postwar photography, African photography, South American photography, work made in Chicago, and a range of contemporary art-making it wide-ranging in scope.
About the Dangler Internship:
Eliza Dangler (1987-2011) interned in the Department of Photography in the summer and fall of 2011. She undertook invaluable research and writing for multiple exhibitions, most importantly Light Years: Conceptual Art and the Photograph, 1964-1977. As a tribute to Eliza Dangler's focus and keen intellect, this internship is awarded to a doctoral or postgraduate student in Art History with a demonstrated commitment to the public mission of museums.
The Dangler internship proudly supports advanced-level graduate interns in Photography and Media, offering unique opportunities for curatorial contributions from emerging scholars.
INTERNSHIP OUTCOMES:
In this position, the intern will have the opportunity to:
•Curate a rotation of work from the department's permanent collection;
•Contribute to research to a forthcoming projects;
•Collaborate with conservators, collection managers, and others on a collection-wide review;
•Gain experience working with Collection Management software (CITI);
•Author curatorial writing projects and publish web-based content;
•Develop mentor relationships with field practitioners;
•Build peer-to-peer relationships with fellow interns.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
With guidance from the position's mentors, the intern will:
•Assist curators with research on forthcoming exhibitions and/or publishing projects;
•Pursue independent research and develop web-based content for one or more collection objects;
•Attend weekly check-ins with mentors: the Assistant Curator and the David C. and Sarajean Ruttenberg Associate Curator in Photography and Media;
•Attend intern cohort professional development programs and museum practice seminars.
QUALIFICATIONS:
•Currently enrolled in an art history doctoral program or holds a masters degree in art history
•Has evidence of previous art history coursework emphasizing the medium of photography and/or media
•Confident in carrying out independent library research
•Possesses excellent writing and communication skills
•Maintains strong attention to detail and organizational skills
•Familiarity with MS Office, Adobe Acrobat Creative Suite, and Google Professional Suite
•Previous paid or volunteer experience in other art museums is preferred but not required
APPLICATION:
You must upload all of the requested materials below (Resume/CV and Cover Letter) into only one pdf document and list your last name and "Summer 2025" in the title of the file (example: [LAST NAME]_SUMMER2025.pdf.) Please upload your materials where asked in the online application.
PLEASE NOTE: You will not be considered if any requested application element is missing.
Application must include the following materials:
•Resume / CV
•Cover letter that addresses the following:
o What attracted you to this specific internship at the Art Institute of Chicago?
o How do you envision this opportunity helping you towards your professional goals?
DEADLINE:
This application will close on Friday, March 7th at 11:59 pm CDT. Selected applicants will be asked to interview via video call approximately two weeks after deadline passes.
INTERNSHIP INFORMATION:
Duration of Position: 10 weeks / June 2025 (start date anytime during the week of June 2-6) through August 2025 (end date anytime during the week of August 4-8)
Compensation: Paid - $16.73/hr - 28 hrs/week
Schedule: This is a part-time, 10-week position for a currently enrolled or recently graduated undergraduate or graduate student. The intern will work 28 hours per week, for a total of up to 280 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 during the week; we ask that the intern make this part of their internship schedule.
Format: The internship will occur 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, but technological accommodations will be provided by the Art Institute of Chicago.
Number of openings: 1
The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, veteran status or citizenship. The Institute complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at apply_help@artic.edu.