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.

McMullan Family Foundation Summer Intensive – Student Participant

Application Deadline: Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 11:59 pm CDT.

Position Summary

The department of Academic Engagement and Research is excited to invite current undergraduate students to apply to our McMullan Family Foundation Summer Intensive program.

The McMullan Family Foundation Summer Intensive is a weeklong immersive program introducing undergraduate students to museum professions through workshops, behind-the-scenes tours, field trips, and networking events. This year’s program will run from June 10–15, 2024.

The 2024 program considers the theme of “Confronting Time,” which looks into the ways art museums tell stories about history and draw connections across time periods. This theme asks us to consider questions including: How do our present values and considerations shape the stories we tell about the past? How do museums discuss challenging histories in the present? How do we understand the many lives that objects live? What do we want for the future of museums?

Students have the opportunity to meet with and learn from multiple museum departments and staff as well as develop a robust peer cohort. Summer Intensive participants also receive writing resources, training on presentation skills, and ongoing career advice and mentorship.

Alumni of our Summer Intensive remain connected with the museum through free events and receive guidance from the museum’s Academic Engagement and Research staff on emerging professional opportunities at the Art Institute and beyond.

Duration and Format of the Program:

Dates: Monday, June 10–Saturday, June 15, 2024.

Times: 9:00am–5:00pm each day

Location: The Art Institute of Chicago

Format: In-Person

Summer Intensive Outcomes:

As a participant of the McMullan Family Foundation Summer Intensive, you will:

Learn from museum staff about their roles as well as those of a diverse range of other art professionals
Investigate conceptual questions that currently face the collecting, research, and art museum field more broadly
Experience a behind-the-scenes look at hands-on museum work
Explore different museum career paths
Exercise research, writing, and presentation skills centered on art museum work
Become part of a growing network of emerging scholars and professionals

Eligibility:

Undergraduates who are currently enrolled at a university, college, or community college;
Applicants who are able to attend the weeklong event in its entirety, from June 10–June 15, 2024;
Applicants who are eligible to work in the United States (including individuals currently on student visas) and able to physically access the museum for the duration of the program;
Students who are based or attending school in the greater Chicagoland area and the Midwest are prioritized.

Qualifications:

Applicants who have an interest in learning more about museums and how museums work, art and art history, and the wide range of career paths in the museum field. Previous coursework or job experience in these fields is not required.
Applicants who aim to support the goal of promoting inclusive museums that showcase a multiplicity of voices, perspectives, and identities, and who would benefit from the unique support and access that this opportunity provides.

Stipend and Housing:

Participants will be given a stipend the week before the program begins to assist them for the duration of the Summer Intensive.

All participants must to stay in SAIC student housing that we provide as part of the program. Each participant will be given a single-person room. Student housing is walking distance to the museum and will enable participants to reach the museum in a timely manner each morning, while also allowing space to connect with their cohort and work on assignments together after hours.

Check in for SAIC student housing will occur the Sunday before the program begins, while check out will happen the Sunday after the program concludes.

Application Review and Selection Process:

We anticipate accepting 15 students into the 2024 program. Applicants will be notified whether or not they have been accepted by Friday, April 5, 2024 at 5:00 pm CDT.

Application Instructions

ALL of the following application materials, including the Google Form and Letter of Recommendation, must be submitted no later than Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 11:59 pm CDT. You will not be considered if any requested application element is missing.

1. PLEASE FILL OUT ALL FIELDS IN THIS GOOGLE FORM: https://tinyurl.com/2024SummerIntensive

2. ONE LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION

Applicants must have one confidential letter of recommendation. A letter of recommendation can be submitted by faculty at your college or university or by current or past employers who are familiar with your skills and abilities.

Recommenders are asked to explain how this program would help the applicant in their academic and career pursuits.

The letter of recommendation must be submitted via email to aerdept@artic.edu by Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 11:59 PM CDT. The recommendation must come directly from the recommender’s institutional e-mail, it should be a word document or pdf file, and the email subject line should state “APPLICANT NAME-2024 SUMMER INTENSIVE PROGRAM.”

Recommenders are welcome to address their letter to the Department of Academic Engagement and Research located at 111 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60603, however we will only accept emailed letters of recommendation for review.

3. APPLICATION DOCUMENT

IMPORTANT: You must upload all of the following materials into one pdf document and list your last name and “Summer Intensive” in the title of the file (example: [LAST NAME]_SummerIntensive.pdf.)

Short Essay Questions

In lieu of a traditional cover letter or personal statement, please respond to the following questions in three short essays (no more than 250 words per answer.) We encourage you to provide specific examples to support your answers or to illustrate your ideas:

- What interests you about the McMullan Family Foundation Summer Intensive?
- What would you like to see for the future of art museums?
- Provide an example of an experience where you were able to offer your unique perspective to a project, discussion, or dialogue and explain the impact you had.
Résumé
In your résumé, please include:

- Contact information (phone number, email, current mailing address, and permanent address)
- School and area of study/major
- Expected graduation date
- Relevant employment, volunteer, and/or extracurricular experiences
- Computer and language skills
- Name and contact information (phone and email) of the person who is submitting your letter of recommendation.
Transcripts

We are interested to learn about your coursework and overall academic trajectories. Please provide unofficial transcripts for your entire undergraduate career, including the college or university you currently attend and any you may have previously attended.

Number of Openings: 15

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

The Art Institute of Chicago is an equal opportunity, equal access employer fully committed to achieving a diverse and inclusive workplace. We believe in a staff culture that benefits from a wide range of experience, backgrounds, and career paths, and we encourage nontraditional candidates to apply.

Closing Statement

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.

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