Dangler Intern in Photography and Media

Dangler Internship, Photography and Media (Spring 2025)

 

MISSION

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.

 

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Art Institute’s department of Photography and Media seeks a doctoral or postgraduate Art History student, with a demonstrated interest in the public mission of museums, to apply for this internship opportunity. The intern will work closely with curatorial and collections management staff to assist in upcoming Photography and Media exhibitions by furthering curatorial research. Through mentorship with curators in the department, the intern will gain insight into the work of a photography and media curator and museum careers more broadly.  

Spanning the history of photography from the 1830s to the present, the Art Institute's Photography and Media collection holds approximately 24,000 objects by celebrated practitioners from virtually across the globe. Photographs have been exhibited regularly at the Art Institute of Chicago for well over a century; the museum’s photography collection originated in 1949, when Georgia O'Keeffe donated the Alfred Stieglitz Collection. That collection, along with the Julien Levy Collection, give the museum a core strength in early 20th-century photography from the United States and Western Europe. The department's collection also includes important groups of work by pioneer photographers of the 19th century, Japanese postwar photography, work made in Chicago, and a range of contemporary art—making it wide-ranging in scope.

 

About the Dangler Internship:

Eliza Dangler (1987-2011) interned in the Department of Photography in the summer and fall of 2011. She undertook invaluable research and writing for multiple exhibitions, most importantly Light Years: Conceptual Art and the Photograph, 1964-1977. As a tribute to Eliza Dangler’s focus and keen intellect, this internship is awarded to a doctoral or postgraduate student in Art History with a demonstrated commitment to the public mission of museums. 

 

INTERNSHIP OUTCOMES

• Develop a foundational knowledge of the inner workings of a curatorial department and the work of a curator;
• Develop a knowledge of current scholarship on photography and media;
• Work with curatorial to further develop upcoming photography and media exhibitions;
• Conduct collection and exhibition research;  
• Experience writing and publishing web-based content;
• Engage and work with museum professionals in various fields and departments;
• Develop mentor relationships with field practitioners; 
• Build peer-to-peer relationships with fellow interns.

 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist curators with research on forthcoming exhibitions and/or publishing projects;
• Pursue independent research and develop web-based content for one or more collection objects;
• Collaborate with curatorial staff on various departmental projects;
• Attend weekly check-ins with mentors: the Assistant Curator and the David C. and Sarajean Ruttenberg Associate Curator in Photography and Media;
• Attend intern cohort professional development programs and museum practice seminars. 

 

QUALIFICATIONS

• Currently enrolled in an art history doctoral program or holds a masters degree in art history 
• Has evidence of previous art history coursework emphasizing the medium of photography 
• Has previous paid or volunteer experience in other art museums
• Possesses the ability to carry out independent library research Possesses excellent writing and communication skills
• Maintains strong attention to detail and organizational skills 
• Familiarity with MS Office, Adobe Acrobat Creative Suite, and Google Professional Suite

 

APPLICATION:

Every applicant must apply on artic.edu/careers. You must upload all of the requested materials below into only one pdf document (résumé/CV and cover letter) and list your last name and “DANGLER” in the title of the file (example: [LAST NAME]_DANGLER.pdf.) Please upload your materials where the application asks for a “résumé/cover letter.” 

 

PLEASE NOTE: You will not be considered if any requested application element is