Research Associate
Research Associate
Organisation: Art Institute of Chicago
Location: Chicago, IL, USA (On-site)
Contract: Full-time
Salary grade: 6, $39,967 – $52,325
Job Category: Curatorial
Deadline: Not specified
About the Organisation
The Art Institute of Chicago shares its singular collections with its city and the world. The institution collects, cares for, and interprets works of art across time, cultures, geographies, and identities. It is a place of gathering and learning, committed to fostering an inclusive understanding of human creativity.
About the Department
The Department of Painting and Sculpture of Europe stewards a collection of nearly 3,000 works dating from the 12th through the early 20th century, with particular strength in Impressionism (approximately 600 paintings). The department produces original scholarship and engages diverse audiences by contextualising its collection within an expansive and evolving history of art.
Position Summary
Under the direction of the chair and curators, the Research Associate supports research, writing, and content production for collections, exhibitions, gallery rotations, and reinstallations. The role involves conducting art historical and market research, investigating provenance and exhibition histories, preparing materials for advisory meetings, maintaining database records, contributing to online collection publishing, and responding to research enquiries.
Responsibilities
Research
- Provide curatorial research support for collections, exhibitions, loans, acquisitions, and gifts
- Investigate ownership, publication, and exhibition histories
- Produce labels, interpretive texts, and exhibition materials
- Conduct art historical and art market research
- Ensure accuracy of information across galleries, online platforms, and internal records
- Respond to enquiries from scholars, peers, and the public
Curatorial Support
- Support curators across research and administrative tasks
- Update museum database and object files with research findings
- Assist with metadata tagging
- Support publication of collection objects online
- Prepare materials for advisory committee meetings
- Assist in developing exhibitions, rotations, reinstallations, and related projects
- Undertake additional duties as assigned
Audience Outreach
- Deliver gallery tours and lectures as needed
- Participate in scholarly symposia and conferences
Requirements
- Master’s degree (or equivalent experience) in art history or a related field
- Minimum two years of museum experience
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Suite
- Ability to learn museum-specific database systems
- Knowledge of relevant foreign languages preferred (Dutch, French, German, Italian, or Spanish)
- Familiarity with or specialisation in relevant departmental fields preferred
The successful candidate should:
- Be highly detail-oriented and organised
- Demonstrate initiative
- Embrace inclusive and equitable institutional values
- Work collaboratively across teams
- Have strong research, writing, communication, and project management skills
Physical Requirements
- Prolonged periods working at a computer
- Ability to remain stationary for extended periods
- Occasional movement within office spaces
- Regular use of office equipment
- Sustained visual concentration
- Occasional handling of artworks
Salary & Benefits
- Hiring range based on grade level (final offer dependent on experience and qualifications)
- Job Classification: Full-time exempt
- Employment Category: Full-time staff
- Grade Level: 6
- Comprehensive benefits package available via the organisation’s website