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McMullan Arts Leadership Internship — Publishing, Design and Production (Summer 2025)

The Art Institute of Chicago
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McMullan Arts Leadership Internship — Publishing, Design and Production (Summer 2025)

 

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, centering the vision of artists and makers. We recognize that all art is made in a particular context, demanding continual, dynamic reconsideration in the present. We are a place of gathering; we foster the exchange of ideas and inspire an expansive, inclusive understanding of human creativity.

  • Expected Range: $16.73 per hour
  • Job Classification: Intern
  • Grade Level: Not Applicable

This role is not eligible for benefits or PTO. 

 

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Art Institute of Chicago’s department of Publishing seeks a talented and motivated intern for a hands-on summer position collaborating with their design and production teams.

Publishing at the Art Institute of Chicago has a long history dating back to the founding of the museum and has been a leader in museum digital publishing efforts for the last ten years. Within the department, the design and production intern will gain experience and knowledge of the Art Institute’s publishing program, which encompasses print exhibition and collection catalogues as well as digital scholarly publications.

The intern will assist with the migration of our existing digital scholarly publications to a new platform, including the design and presentation of a migrated publication and the preparation of alt text to increase publication accessibility. They will also review the cataloging of our inventory and backlist, including identifying key publications for digitization. This intern will also support our production coordinators in color proofing and layout refinement for our summer print catalogues, including Bruce Goff: Material Worlds.

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

 

Goals of the McMullan Arts Leadership Internship Program

The McMullan Arts Leadership internship program is part of a museum-wide effort to provide students the opportunity to gain experience, career awareness, networks, and skills that will position them to thrive as future art museum leaders.

The primary objective of this internship is to support students who will encounter economic challenges if considering a career in the arts. Aligned with this goal, we aim to shape a diverse group of leaders whose actions are informed by a wide range of perspectives, varying career paths, and values inspired by their own lived experiences.

 

INTERNSHIP OUTCOMES:

In this position, the intern will have the opportunity to:

  • Learn about museum publishing procedures at the Art Institute of Chicago, with an emphasis on inclusive publishing practices such as image alt texts and digital academic publishing, and develop a sense of our backlist and history;
  • Prepare migrated files for publication, overseeing the translation of one design scheme to another, the generation of alt texts, and the compliance with library and website systems;
  • Assist with color proofing and rights and reproduction processes;
  • Support the museum in its commitment to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable institution;
  • 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:

  • Learn about museum publishing procedures at the Art Institute of Chicago, with an emphasis on inclusive publishing practices such as image alt texts and digital academic publishing, and develop a sense of our backlist and history;
  • Prepare migrated files for publication, overseeing the translation of one design scheme to another, the generation of alt texts, and the compliance with library and website systems;
  • Assist with color proof organization and color proofing for print catalogues;
  • Meet and collaborate with colleagues in the Publishing department and across the museum (including but not limited to conservators, curators, designers, imaging and interpretation specialists), as well as external vendors;
  • Participate in regular meetings with the mentors of this position: Director of Production, Production Coordinator, and Digital Production Coordinator
  • Attend intern cohort professional development programs and museum practice seminars;
  • Support the museum in its commitment to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable institution.

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Undergraduate or graduate student; recent graduates (within one year of graduation upon applying) will also be considered
  • Applicants must be based or attending school in the Chicagoland area and eligible to work in the US during the summer internship term
  • Detail-oriented mindset and demonstrated organizational skills; ability to multitask and be flexible, prioritize when appropriate
  • Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
  • Familiarity with art history or graphic design preferred
  • Familiarity with Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite preferred

 

APPLICATION:

You must upload all of the requested materials below (résumé and essay responses) into only 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 be considered if any requested application element is missing.

 

To apply for this internship, tell us your story. We want to understand who you are, what motivates you, how you think, and where you’re coming from. Please submit the following materials:

  • Résumé
  • Instead of a traditional cover letter, please respond to the following questions in short essays (no more than 300 words per answer.) We encourage you to provide specific examples to support your answers or to illustrate your ideas: 
    • What about this opportunity interests you the most?
    • With the goals of the McMullan Arts Leadership intern program in mind, what unique values, experiences, or perspectives would you bring to this role?
    • 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 – Temporary

 

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 be a hybrid of onsite and remote workdays. 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.