Intern - Art to Live With

This internship is part of the University’s Jeff Metcalf Internship Program. Please review the Metcalf Interns’ Responsibility Notice to learn more about program requirements for Metcalf interns.

Internship Time Commitment: Winter & Spring Quarter 10 hours per week.

The Art to Live With Intern provides key collections management, curatorial, and programmatic support for the historic Art to Live With student loan program which relaunched in 2017 after being on hiatus since the mid-1980s.

·      Registration: Assists with the cataloging, condition reporting, photography, movement, packing, and storage of the Art to Live With collection. This requires close attention to detail and a high degree of organization.

·      Curatorial: Prepares objects for the fall Art to Live With loan. Duties include, curating which objects are loaned (with special consideration to object condition, size, and student interest), exhibition planning, and gallery installation. Researches and writes interpretive texts for in-gallery use.

·      Programing/Social Media/Marketing: Provides key programmatic support for Art to Live With. Manages the @art_to_live_with Instagram account.

Applicant must be a University of Chicago undergraduate student. An interest in art, history, preservation/archiving, museums is preferred. Strong research, writing, and editing skills a plus. Familiarity with the University of Chicago campus and College Housing is desirable.

This position requires considerable attention to detail and organization and may require technical hand skills. Applicant should be detail-oriented, possess the ability to see projects through to completion, and be able to work well both with others and independently. Applicant must be highly sensitive to the necessity of confidentiality and accurate record keeping. Knowledge of archiving standards, art, previous experience handling sensitive or delicate materials, and/or database management is a plus.

Experience with Microsoft Word and Excel is essential; familiarity with computer database systems is desirable.

This opportunity will begin in Winter 2021 with the potential for a continuation during Spring 2021; undergraduate intern should anticipate giving approximately 10 hours/week of time to this opportunity; given the dynamic nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is anticipated that most of the intern’s work will be done remotely (if things change and in-person/on-site work is required during the intern’s tenure, this will be discussed and worked out with the student based on their location, availability, and comfort with such work).

This internship is made possible by generous funding from the College at the University of Chicago, specifically through the Careers in Journalism and Creative Writing/Arts, Culture, and Entertainment (CIJCW/ACE) Program. As an integral component of this internship, the selected student will be required to work with the Smart Museum’s Academic Engagement Coordinator and the CIJCW/ACE Program Director to plan, present, and moderate a 45 minute Zoom program, open to current and prospective UChicago students, to discuss their work with their supervisor/mentor and how it relates to career options in the Humanities. This will take place at a time discussed with and agreed upon by the student and their supervisor/mentor at the Smart Museum.

Applications will be submitted via Handshake;

If you have questions, email Aaron Wilder, Academic Engagement Coordinator at the Smart Museum (aaronwilder@uchicago.edu)

Application Deadline: November 15, 2020 by 11:59pm

Anticipated Start Date: January 4, 2021