Summary

The Art Institute of Chicago’s department of Collections and Loans seeks an enthusiastic, organized, and detail-oriented intern to work with their Permanent Collection team.

The Permanent Collection area of Collections and Loans coordinates all registration aspects of permanent collection management, including accessions, deaccessions, inventory, collection displays and limited-loan exhibitions, insurance, and incoming and outgoing loans. The team drives the strategy of the department and care of the collection, collaborating alongside the departments of curatorial, conservation and science, strategy and analytics, legal, facilities, and protection services to implement museum best practices.

This position will review recently scanned museum registration documentation to help the department better understand our historic workflows, document accession numbers used, update the collection database (CITI), and improve overall collection data accuracy, which will benefit ongoing curatorial research.

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

Duration of Position: 32 weeks / September 2026 (start date anytime during the week of September 21–25) through April 2027 (end date anytime during the week of April 26–April 30).

Key Details

Compensation: $17.50/hour

Term: 32 weeks (September 2026 – April 2027)

Schedule: PT (max. 14 hours/week)

Format: The internship will be primarily onsite, with the possible option for some remote work. 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;
• Familiarity with Google Professional Suite and Adobe Creative Suite;
• Eagerness to learn software programs, including databases and digital asset management systems;
• Vigorous attention to detail and organizational skills;
• General understanding of museum acquisition procedures preferred.

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: Collections Management