Exhibitions
Internships and Employment Opportunities
Internships
The Gallery 400 internship program welcomes UIC undergraduate students who want 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.
Working collaboratively under the guidance of the Gallery’s staff, interns assist in regular gallery work, ranging from curatorial research, programming, visitor services, and special projects to administrative roles. Our internship program provides hands-on opportunities to learn directly from arts professionals and to connect with professionals in various Chicago cultural institutions.
Our internships are Federal Work Study funded and interns are paid through the UIC Chancellor’s Undergraduate Research Award (CURA). To be eligible for CURA, UIC students must have Federal Work-Study as part of their 2024-2025 financial aid award. You are required to submit proof of your Federal Work Study award in your application. See how to view your financial aid award notification here. 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. Academic credit can be arranged.
Reach Denny Mwaura, Assistant Director & Curator for all inquiries.
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, cover letter, and proof of your Federal Work Study award in a single PDF here.
Communications Design Internship
The Communications Intern assists the Communications team in creating visibility for Gallery 400’s exhibitions and programs, attracting new audiences and retaining our current ones through print and digital platforms. Together with the Communications Graduate Staffer, the intern will strategically produce marketing and promotional materials for exhibitions and programs. 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 meetings, exhibition openings, and select events. Includes 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
TO APPLY: Submit a résumé, cover letter, and proof of your Federal Work Study award here.
Curatorial Intern
The Curatorial Intern assists the curatorial team with exhibition development, research, and coordination efforts for upcoming 2025-2026 exhibitions. This role provides substantial insight into curatorial practices and exhibition organization in a contemporary art gallery.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Write, edit, and produce audio descriptions, wall labels, and other print materials with the Curatorial Graduate Staffer
- Conduct research on artists, artworks, and archives for upcoming exhibitions
- Prepare loan agreements, shipping contracts, checklists, condition reports, and other exhibition documents
- Contribute to the Gallery’s blog by conducting interviews with artists, guest curators, and partners
- Attend meetings, exhibition openings, and select events. Includes occasional evenings and weekends.
- Staff the front desk regularly
- Other administrative tasks as needed
DESIRED SKILLS
- Significant knowledge of modern and contemporary art
- Excellent written, research, and verbal communication skills
- Attention to detail and strong editorial skills
- Ability to work independently
- Knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Microsoft Office Suite
TO APPLY: Send a 5-page writing sample, résumé, cover letter, and proof of your Federal Work Study award here.