Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
This internship experience provides first-hand experience of the work done in the Visual Arts department in a major contemporary art museum. Interns will have the opportunity to learn about how each exhibition is curated at the MCA, art is acquired into the museum’s Collection, and work in close collaboration with the Visual Arts team on research and other projects. Throughout the internship, the Visual Arts intern will:
- Work hand in hand with our Curators and Curatorial Assistants to see how we acquire new works of art for the MCA collection, including collections research, maintaining donor and object files, and assisting with Collections Committee meetings.
- Support the Visual Arts team on the entire exhibition life cycle, from concept to execution by providing research and project management support.
- Learn important research skills while helping to prepare materials for exhibitions, including checklists, wall texts and labels, and press releases.
- Develop an understanding of the administrative operations of a curatorial department by assisting with budgets, schedules, contracts, and travel arrangements.
- Work with members from other departments to understand how the curators collaborate across the Museum on exhibitions, Committee meetings, and other projects.
Who We Are Looking For
- MCA Internships are geared towards current college students and recent graduates (<1year) who are interested in contemporary art and have a passion for learning more about how museums work.
- Candidates must be interested in exploring a potential career in the cultural sector.
- Interns must be able to work 24 hours per week onsite for the entirety of the internship period (typically Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 am to 5 pm with occasional evening hours for exhibitions or events)
- Ideal candidates will be comfortable using Microsoft Office, demonstrate excellent communication skills, organized, and able to manage assignments with attention to detail.
What We Offer
- Gain exposure to the overall workings of a museum through information sessions with key museum leaders.
- Play an integral role in the growth and success of MCA programs.
- Gain a breadth of professional experiences.
- Complete a specific target project and daily assignments.
- Participate in departmental meetings and MCA staff events.
- Engage in weekly check-in sessions with their supervisor.
This winter/spring internship opportunity begins 1/9/2023 and ends 5/12/2023. To apply, please submit a resume and include your availability in your cover letter. Must be able to communicate fluently in English. Ability to operate computers, printers, and telephones is required. General mobility throughout the building, light lifting, and ability to stand for extended periods of time as scheduled is required. The hourly rate for this role is $18.00. The submission deadline is 9/30/2022.
Interested? APPLY NOW https://mcachicago.org/About/Employment
