Summary

The Art Institute of Chicago’s department of Interpretation is excited to offer a McMullan Arts Leadership intern position to work with them.

The intern in Interpretation will work with both live gallery interpretation and museum didactics. The intern will lead art making programs, tours, and other gallery experiences for adults; research innovative written interpretation being undertaken at other cultural institutions; and evaluate the visitor experience within our galleries. The internship will provide a balance between learning about the interpretive process and hands-on experience guiding interactions with, and conversations about, art.

The department of Interpretation develops, advises on, and evaluates narratives and frameworks across our galleries and digital spaces, generating engagement, prompting discovery and exploration, and presenting new perspectives. Interpretation is artwork- and audience-centered: we aim to illuminate the significance of artworks, ensure that our choices for presentation have a positive impact on visitors’ experiences, and create dialogue with visitors, inviting them to bring their whole selves to conversations in our galleries. We are committed to developing accessible interpretive approaches and strategies that celebrate the uniqueness and importance of the Art Institute’s 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 Interpretation. Mentorship is provided throughout the experience, and connections with an intern alumni network will be established.

Key Details

Compensation: $17.50/hour

Term: 32 weeks (September 2026 – April 2027)

Schedule: PT (max. 14 hours/week)

Format: The internship will be 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; technological accommodations will be provided by the Art Institute of Chicago based on necessity.

Deadline: 07/27/2026 (11:59 PM CDT)

Eligibility

Qualifications

• Undergraduate or graduate student; recent graduates (within one year of graduation) will also be considered;
• Applicants must be based in the Chicagoland area and/or attending school in the Chicagoland area over the course of the internship term;
• Ability to comfortably facilitate conversations with art, preferably with adults;
• Enthusiasm for community building and connecting with groups through teaching and conversation;
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to be open-minded and work collaboratively with colleagues across the museum;
• Willingness to interact with visitors of all ages, dispositions, and backgrounds;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite and Google Suite;
• Detail-oriented mindset and demonstrated organizational skills; ability to multitask and be flexible when appropriate;
• Ability to analyze quantitative and qualitative data;
• Awareness of and/or curiosity about art museum culture and current events in the field.

About

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. We are a place of gathering and learning, committed to fostering an inclusive understanding of human creativity.

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Tagged as: Learning & Engagement