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interact: Internships and Employment Opportunities

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Young, Gifted and Black: The Lumpkin-Boccuzzi Family Collection of Contemporary Art, 2021

Internships and Employment Opportunities

Internships

The Gallery 400 internship program welcomes UIC undergraduate students who wish to broaden their education and professional experience by working at one of the nation’s most vibrant university galleries, showcasing work at the leading edge of contemporary art, architecture, and design. Internships are only available to UIC undergraduate students with Federal-Work study as part of their financial aid award.

Working collaboratively under the guidance of the Gallery’s staff, interns assist in regular gallery work, ranging from research to visitor services, special projects, and the administrative dimensions of gallery work. Our internship program provides hands-on opportunities to learn directly from arts professionals and to connect with professionals in various Chicago cultural institutions.

Internships require a commitment of 7 hours per week and are typically a semester in length. A major in art history or fine art is not required. Interns may be able to be paid through the UIC Chancellor’s Undergraduate Research Award (CURA). To be eligible for CURA, UIC students must have Federal Work-Study. Check your financial aid package and ensure you have been granted Federal-Work study and let us know in your cover letter that you have Federal-Work study. If you are not eligible for Federal Work-Study, internships are offered only for credit. Academic credit can also be arranged for Federal Work-Study eligible students. Contact the UIC financial aid office to determine your Federal Work-Study eligibility.

Archival Internship

We seek an intern interested in organizing the Gallery’s history in our physical and digital archives. The new website that Gallery 400 launched in March 2021 is designed to document, in detail, the Gallery’s history of 40 years of events and exhibitions. It builds on extensive archival documentation undertaken in 2011 and 2012. The intern will work to recover, organize, and make public the documentation lost in the 2017 crash of Gallery 400’s old website. With mentorship from Gallery 400 staff, the intern will gain experience in archival organization, documentation, operational practices, and web content management. They will also oversee a plan to make it publicly accessible with assistance from the Richard J. Daley Library.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Upload, edit, and reformat fragmented materials on the website
  • Develop an operational handbook and a catalog checklist system for the Gallery’s physical archive
  • Write blog posts highlighting Gallery 400’s history of exhibitions 
  • Liaise with external partners and research regarding previous exhibitions and publications
  • Upload exhibition installation photos to the Gallery’s website; re-upload high-res images for various exhibition web pages
  • Attend and staff exhibition openings and select events (including occasional evenings and weekends)
  • Staff the front desk regularly

DESIRABLE SKILLS

  • Knowledge of web content management (WordPress) and Adobe Photoshop and InDesign preferred
  • A high degree of organization and attention to detail
  • Strong writing and proofreading skills
  • Strong ability to work independently and collaboratively

TO APPLY: Send a résumé and cover letter in a single PDF to Denny Mwaura (dmwaura@uic.edu) with “Archive Internship Fall 2024” in the subject line.

Communications Design Internship

The Communications Design Intern assists the Communications team in creating visibility for Gallery 400’s exhibitions and programs and attracting new audiences through print and digital platforms. Together with the Graduate Communications Staffer, the intern will strategically produce marketing and promotional materials for exhibitions, including Learning Together: Art, Education, and Community (Fall 2024). With excellent editorial and digital skills and attention to detail, the intern follows the Gallery’s style guide and uses our design templates to ensure consistency and accuracy.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Create and distribute marketing materials (posters, postcards, and mailers) across Instagram, Facebook, and designated on-campus sites.
  • Monitor and devise engaging content for social media, including reels and interviews; ensure consistent communication across all platforms.
  • Maintain and update the Gallery’s website, press contact lists, and Flickr
  • Attend and staff exhibition openings and select events (including occasional evenings and weekends)
  • Staff the front desk regularly
  • Performs other related work as needed

DESIRED SKILLS

  • Proficient with Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Premiere, Microsoft Office, and Google Suite
  • A high degree of organization, attention to detail, and excellent proofreading and copyediting skills (grammar, punctuation, typography, style)
  • Familiarity with social media and marketing platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Mailchimp
  • Strong ability to work independently and collaboratively

TO APPLY: Send a résumé and cover letter in a single PDF to Denny Mwaura (dmwaura@uic.edu) with “Communications Design Internship Fall 2024” in the subject line.

Public Programs and Learning Engagement Internship 

The Public Programs and Learning Engagement Intern supports the public programs, events, and community outreach associated with Gallery 400’s upcoming exhibitions, Learning Together: Art, Education, and Community (Fall 2024). Working closely with the Public Programs and Learning Engagement Graduate Staffer, the intern will perform outreach to promote relevant programming and invite potential and current partners to collaborate with the Gallery.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Assist with the development, planning, and execution of public programming
  • Communicate with artists and other partners involved in Gallery 400 programs
  • Write social media posts to promote programs and exhibitions
  • Staff programs and events as needed (includes occasional evenings and weekends)
  • Develop teaching resources for educators related to current and future exhibitions
  • Lead gallery tours for students and the broader public
  • Assemble contact information and correspondence for marketing and outreach

DESIRABLE SKILLS

  • A high degree of organization and attention to detail
  • Passion for teaching with art objects
  • Excellent written and public speaking skills
  • Strong ability to work independently and collaboratively


TO APPLY: Send a résumé and cover letter in a single PDF to Denny Mwaura (dmwaura@uic.edu) with “Public Programs and Learning Engagement Intern Fall 2024” in the subject line.