Arts Education Intern
Background
As the fine arts museum of the University of Chicago, the Smart Museum of Art is a site for rigorous inquiry and exchange that encourages the examination of complex issues through the lens of art objects and artistic practice.
Through strong scholarly and community collaborations and a welcoming approach to its exhibitions, collections, publications, research and teaching, and public programs, the Smart Museum plays a dynamic role in expanding artistic canons, rethinking received histories, introducing new perspectives, and engaging diverse communities—locally, nationally, and internationally. The Smart Museum celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024.
Arts Education Intern Overview
The Smart Museum of Art is seeking a passionate and motivated Arts Education Intern to support K–12 and family programming initiatives for the Summer of 2025. This position provides an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience in arts education, curriculum development, and community engagement.
Responsibilities
K-12 & Family Program Support
- Conduct research on objects in upcoming exhibitions to aid in the development of Family Day topics, guided tours, and additional K-12 activities.
- Assist in creating K-12 passive activities, an Educator's Guide, and Family Day materials, including Art Finds, buttons, specialty materials, and overall curriculum for guided tours and specialized programs.
- Oversee the translation of all K-12 materials to Spanish/English for the Transgresoras exhibition scheduled for Spring 2026.
Materials Management
- Assist with tracking, ordering, and organizing materials inventory to support K-12 programming needs for Family Days, tours, and specialty programs.
- Contribute to the establishment of a new organizational system for materials to enhance the efficiency of the Education team.
Partnership Development
- Help establish and nurture relationships with potential partner sites for off-site programming, focusing on youth-serving organizations, senior centers, schools, and community-based organizations.
Program Planning and Promotion
- Support the planning and execution of specialty family programs in June and July, including the preparation of print materials and registration tracking.
- Attend K-12/Family programs to assist Museum Educators with visitor engagement during events like Family Day, Family Tour Day, Family Art Find Day, and Story Time.
- Update and expand the school/organization contact list to reach a broader audience for tours.
Curriculum Development
- Assist in the creation of accompanying activities for tours that align with the exhibitions and cater to different grade levels.
- Contribute to the development of August-September "back to school" programs for K-12 and family audiences as a culminating project of the internship.
Outreach and Engagement
- Help develop a framework for the Smart "workshops" at partnering locations, bringing museum experiences to community venues through discussions, guest artists, and art activities.
- Support a comprehensive outreach plan to promote scheduling visits to the Smart Museum from partner sites.
- Conduct outreach to potential partners through emails, calls, and site visits to establish initial connections with organizations.
- Develop supporting materials and curricula for workshops.
Requirements, Skills, and Qualifications
- Strong interest in art education, community engagement, and K-12 programming.
- Excellent research, organizational, and communication skills.
- Familiarity with art history and museum practices is a plus.
- Proficiency in both English and Spanish is preferred but not required.
Compensation
$20.00 per hour
INTERNS WILL WORK 28 HOURS PER WEEK AND ATTEND A MANDATORY OFFSITE PROGRAM DAY ONE DAY PER WEEK WITH THEIR COHORT.
Internship Period: June 4 – August 7
Total Weeks: 9 weeks
Work Hours per Week: 28
Total Hours: 252
Workdays: Onsite; four days per week, 9AM–5PM, Monday–Thursday with occasional Saturdays
PROGRAM DAY:
On Fridays, interns will attend an offsite program day with their cohort.
These hours are separate from the internship hours.
How to Apply:
This internship is through the Studio Institute Arts Intern program.
You must first apply to Arts Intern to be eligible for this internship. Once your application has been approved, we will provide you with the next steps to apply for the Arts Education Intern position at the SMART Museum.
Eligibility Criteria:
Please watch our information video below to ensure you are eligible to apply for Arts Intern.
Student Info Session- Arts Intern Summer 2025
Submit Your Application Here:
Arts Intern Summer 2025 - CHICAGO
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