Art@Work | Marwen's Summer Internship Program
Updated: May 9
Applications for Summer 2023 are now closed.
Interested in applying for 2024? Let us know!
Art@Work is a creative career internship program where Chicago young people are hired for a 5-week summer creative internship in Chicago. Students are placed in an arts-related organization or business that matches the student’s interests, strengths, and creative skills. Marwen partners with sites across the city to offer various creative internships in order for young people to explore their next steps, learn about different creative career pathways, and envision their futures.
Since Art@Work launched in 2007, Marwen has partnered with 80+ organizations and companies and welcomed 274 interns into the program. In 2023, we are celebrating the 16th anniversary of this special program with longtime partners like Spudnik Press (10 years), Intuit (9 years), Landon Bone Baker Architects (9 years), and so many other wonderful organizations and friends. Hear directly from past Art@Work interns about their personal experiences! See a complete list of past partners and creative fields below.
Eligibility:
Ages 16 - 18
Resident of Chicago
Social security number or employment tax ID number required
Must be vaccinated against COVID-19
If selected for the program, must be able to commit to the full employment schedule
Key information about the program:
Approximately 15-20 unique internships are available during the summer.
Applications are due in early May.
Selected young people will be invited to a 30-min Zoom interview with Marwen staff during the month of May.
Internships run for 5 weeks July through August.
Interns will divide their time between Marwen and their matched internship site.
Interns work a total of 14.5 hours per week for 5 weeks. 12 hours are dedicated to their internship site and 2.5 hours are spent at Marwen for professional development workshops.
Interns are paid $15/ hour for a total of $1,087.50 (before taxes).
Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements (see above).
Program Description:
Art at Work is a staple Marwen career program in which nearly 20 young people are hired to partake in both professional development workshops and creative internships around Chicago for five weeks in the summer. The goal is to support young people in exploring their next steps by providing an immersive experience for students in various creative career pathways, to offer paid opportunities in the arts, and to engage in professional and career development skill building.
The internship component is a unique way for young people to experience a job in a creative field that is often unavailable to predominantly underrepresented communities in the creative workforce. Marwen partners with Chicago organizations and businesses across the city so young people can gain and develop new skills. Young people are also able to visualize what their futures can look like!
In addition to the internship, interns participate in workshops at Marwen. The workshops cover a range of career development skills and themes, including communication skills, public speaking, artistic identity, resume and interview practice, financial literacy, time management, and more. These workshops aim to support young people throughout their internships and build new skills.
2023 Internship Sites
1. 826CHI
Field of work: Art Education
Internship Description: Do you enjoy working with students? Are you interested learning how non-profits create, design and implement programs? Come join us as a summer programs intern at 826CHI.
Internship Responsibilities:
Assist with 4 summer camps with students grades 2-12
Assistant Teach creative writing and art to students
Assist with administrative and operational tasks such as documenting attendance, coordinating supplies for the programs and evaluating effectiveness of programs
Document summer camps through video and photos
Internship Qualifications:
Interest in education, creative writing, and publication
Collaborative, energetic, takes initiative
Location: 1276 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Website: www.826chi.org
2. AIGA Chicago
Field of work: Art Administration
Internship Description: AIGA Chicago is looking to take on an intern and help them become integrated within the Chicago Design community. We'll help you build relationships, learn how to network, and give you a behind-the-scenes look at arts administration. You'll become part of the team that plans, organizes and runs keystone design events within Chicago. Join us and become part of the Chicago design community!
Internship Responsibilities: Some of these responsibilities can be adjusted, depending on the intern's interest:
Research potential venues
Research potential speakers
Draft ideas for potential events or internal programs
Research potential partnerships
Create, organize, and manage arts administration documents
Monitor social media activity and collect data on performance
Write social media copy
Create designs for social media/printed materials (if desired)
Help set up and run events (if available)
Contribute to board meetings and communications (if available)
Internship Qualifications:
Interested in community building and arts administration
Experience with Instagram and/or TikTok
Location: Remote, Chicago area
Website: https://chicago.aiga.org/
3. ART WORKS Projects
Field of work: Marketing / Communications
Internship Description: The intern will help to “activate” our exhibitions by helping us to think of creative ways to engage their peers on talking about social justice and human rights issues through documentary storytelling in their schools and communities. This will include working with social media and other marketing materials to engage with younger audiences as well as drafting event and project proposals for ways to bring our exhibits to schools and communities.
Internship Responsibilities:
Research our past and current exhibits and select a few that would be of interest to high school students.
Develop proposals for events that use our exhibits to teach youth about social justice and human rights issues
Work with Programming and Outreach Coordinator and other interns to identify organizations that could work with us on the proposed events
Internship Qualifications:
Research and writing skills
Interest in human rights and social justice issues
Experience working with social media platforms (Instagram, Twitter, etc.)
Location: 625 N Kingsbury St. Chicago, IL
Website: artworksprojects.org
4. Bit Space
Field of work: Art Education
Internship Description: Do you like making stuff? Do you enjoy working with kids? We are a youth only maker space for kids 9-14 years-old that host week long themed summer camps. Joining our team is an opportunity to learn new skills, think outside of the box, and get creative helping turn a kid's idea into reality! You will gain teaching skills as you assist kids in brainstorming, designing, and creating their project. We specialize in teaching woodworking, laser cutting, and robotics.
Internship Responsibilities:
Assisting kids in their projects - from woodworking, to designing for the laser cutter, to decorating
Demonstrating and ensuring safety protocols are being met (ie. wearing goggles in the woodshop, clamping projects properly, no running in the shop)
Helping announce snack time, lunch, or other information
Actively participating in group projects, leading by example
Overseeing snack time and the lunch hour, making sure kids are playing safely and respectfully at the park
Cleaning and general shop maintenance
Internship Qualifications:
Enjoys working with kids
Computer literacy
Interest in graphic design and gaining familiarity in woodworking
Willingness to learn and ask questions
Ability to multitask and think outside the box
Location: 2541 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
Website: https://bitspacechicago.com/
5. Cherry Mountain Arts
Field of work: Gallery
Internship Description: Are you fascinated by the arts? Do you have a strong sense of streetwear? Join Cherry Mountain's team in championing the role of art and culture in people’s lives. Help promote access and equitable participation in art and the gallery.
Internship Responsibilities:
Supporting hands-on learning in the gallery setting
Designing and facilitating gallery activities
Developing and leading tours for youth, family, and adult audiences -Participate in research and writing projects
Active reflection through writing and conversation
Documenting all workshops through photo and video
Internship Qualifications:
Interest in the arts/fashion through work experience, demonstrated through academic study, or by any other means
Strong communication, critical/creative thinking, and research skills
Location: 836 N. Milwaukee Ave
Website: www.cherrymountain.com
6. Chicago Scholars
Field of work: Photography
Internship Description: Join in on the fun this summer as a photography intern for Chicago Scholars! Attend various events throughout the city to capture photos of our community and learn more about what it takes to develop engaging content. Don't miss this chance to learn about the power of storytelling!
Internship Responsibilities:
Capture a wide variety of images in different locations and distinctive audiences
Develop event photography shot lists
Enhance images through edits in exposure, contrast, or sizing
Upload and organize images to Chicago Scholars' cloud system
Internship Qualifications:
Proficient in Word, PowerPoint, and/or Google Docs
Knowledge of Adobe Spark, Canva, and/or other platforms for design
Experience in social media is a plus!
Location: 247 S. State St., Chicago, IL 60604
Website: https://chicagoscholars.org/
7. Elastic Arts Foundation
Field of work: Art + Technology
Internship Description: Would you like to know what goes on behind the scenes of a music/performance art space in Chicago? Elastic Arts Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports a community of musicians, artists, performers, and audiences in our Avondale/Logan Square neighborhood and throughout the city. Join us if you're interested in learning how we promote and produce our series' and events, how we digitize our archives, and how we get funding for our artists and our organization at large!
Internship Responsibilities:
Digitization of performance archive
Support with promotion/social media schedule
Support with performance/production tasks as needed
Internship Qualifications: Enthusiasm, cooperation, and openness to learn!
Location: 3429 W. Diversey Ave
Website: www.elasticarts.org
8. Firehouse Community Art Center
Field of work: Art + Technology
Internship Description: What is Art? How is Art a technology? How do we understand the power of Art as a technology in our rapidly evolving society? In communities where ART has not been resourced, prioritized and valued how can we create new opportunities to awaken the sleeping creatives in our neighborhoods? How can showcase, celebrate and demonstrate the power of ART as we heal our community?
Internship Responsibilities: Your responsibility will be to contribute to the team of creatives at The Firehouse Community Art Center. You will be tasked with identifying and communicating what you bring to the table and how your skill, talent, perspective, energy, connects to the shared vision of the Firehouse. You are required to understand the mission of the FCAC and bring your highest self to the effort. Learn what is needed and provide what you can bring to the party.
Internship Qualifications: Open minded, Self Starter, Team Player, Conscious Creator, Problem Solver, Conscious Communicator, Passion...Any other art making practices are acceptable. The environment and Culture of the Firehouse demands that you show up ready to do the work. If you are ready to do the work you will meet the qualifications.
Location: 2111 S Hamlin, Chicago IL. 60623
Website: www.thefcac.org
9. FitzGerald Associates Architects
Field of work: Architecture / Interior Design
Internship Description: Have you ever looked at a building and thought, “Wow, that is so cool!” Or maybe you stepped into a building lobby and were in awe at how it was put together. If so, then an internship at FitzGerald Associate Architects is perfect for you. Join our team of architects, interior designers, graphic designers and 3-D renderers to learn how all these pieces come together to create a building that enhances the community.
Internship Responsibilities: Interns may be responsible for learning to use our design software and to communicate ideas via that software, collaborate on ideas in our design reviews, aiding in the preparation of presentations, creating building signage, developing renderings, sample ordering, material finish documentation, creation of digital and tactile presentations alongside our project designers and material research.
Internship Qualifications: We are looking for someone who has an interest in architecture, interior design, and/or graphic design. Someone who is not afraid to ask questions, make mistakes and learn from them, share opinions and ideas and has a genuine interest in learning.
Location: 200 W Adams Street Suite 2100
10. Foursided Card & Gift
Field of work: Merchandising / Retail
Internship Description: Foursided is very multi-faceted and fun. If you love working with a small team in a creative environment, we would love to have you! If you are interested in exploring every aspect of running our shop, we've got it all! But don't worry, we can also focus extra time on what you are most interested in. Whether you gravitate more towards marketing/social media, customer interaction, product display, artistic projects, framing, or all of the above, we've got you covered.
NOTE: Internship site hours will vary slightly from Marwen's proposed hours, based on when we are open. On-site internship hours will be the following:
Tuesdays 11am - 3pm
Wednesdays 11am - 3pm
Thursdays 10am - 2pm
Internship Responsibilities:
Customer Service (working the register and helping customers on the floor)
Inventory Management (learn how to receive product and keep track of product)
Display Work (learn the distinct Foursided way of creating and maintaining displays)
Framing (this will consist of going to our Broadway location to learn about the custom framing aspect of our business)
Marketing/Social Media (work with our marketing team to learn how to strategize marketing for a small business and help with a project)
Internship Qualifications: No specific qualifications required!
Location: 2958 N Clark St
Website: www.foursided.com
11. Free Spirit Media
Field of work: Marketing / Communications
Internship Description: Do you have an interest in media and a knack for organization, hosting, and posting? Come join Free Spirit Media's dope team of artists! Come help us prepare for the next generation of storytellers, including you!
Internship Responsibilities:
Organize the space and files
Workshop Planning
Set-up Social Media Posts
Internship Qualifications: Curiosity and openness to learning new things
Location: 3604 W Ogden Ave
Website: www.freespiritmedia.org
12. Gnarware Workshop
Field of work: Ceramics
Internship Description: This internship gives participants hands on experience in how to run and manage a community clay studio. Interns can also assist studio technicians.
Internship Responsibilities:
Cleaning/ Organizing
Minor Maintenance
Reclaiming Clay
Glaze Mixing
Kiln Loading/ Unloading
Studio Projects
Marketing/ Sales (TBD)
Teaching Assistance (TBD)
Internship Qualifications:
Good at communicating and working with people.
Have previous experience taking classes or working with clay (not required).
Positive attitude
Curiosity!
Location: 1838 W Cermak Road
Website: gnarwareworkshop.com
13. Harold Washington College - City Colleges of Chicago
Field of work: Marketing / Communications
Internship Description: Do you enjoy thinking creatively, outside the box, and sharing your thoughts?! Then let this be a time for you to be a creative thought partner within a community college department that is growing and needs some creativity! This role will help create flyers, social media content, and think of ways to share stories using a creative lens.
Internship Responsibilities:
Create flyers for the academic year
Create a timeline for social media content posts
Share ideas/flyers with Director
Brainstorm on ideas for other content for the dept alongside Director
Internship Qualifications:
Interest in social media outlets
Comfortable using Word, PowerPoint, Canva
Experience in posting on Instagram
Location: 30 E Lake Street
Website: https://www.ccc.edu/colleges/washington/pages/default.aspx
14. Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art
Field of work: Museum
Internship Description: Are you interested in the impact art can have on people's perspectives and view of the world? Do you like meeting people who may have different backgrounds from you--and are you interested in those different lived experiences? We're looking for young people who are interested in the sophisticated and complex content of self-taught art, and who want to share what they learn about this art and the artists through social media, their own artwork, photography and videography, and conversations with peers and the public.
Internship Responsibilities:
Engage with our teaching artists, staff and guest speakers
Be willing to investigate art making with nontraditional and new-to-you materials
Work in teams
Learn about artists who come from difficult circumstances
Develop, with a partner, an art-making workshop to share via Zoom, Instagram Live or in person
Internship Qualifications:
Interest in exploring new art forms and artists' stories
Open-mindedness and inquisitiveness
Ready to help fellow interns as needed
Location: 756 N Milwaukee Ave
Website: art.org
15. Latitude Inc NFP
Field of work: Photography
Internship Description: LATITUDE is a nonprofit community digital lab in Chicago. We maintain a digital lab with high-end printing and scanning equipment, process 35mm and 120 color negative film, operate an artist in residence program, and organize ongoing arts programming. If you are interested in learning image making technologies while building community, an internship at LATITUDE is for you!
Internship Responsibilities:
Participate in an Intro to Print and Intro to Scan session
Interview staff members for Latitude's History project
Create a body of work utilizing the skills learned at the internship
Help create color profiles
Internship Qualifications:
Interest in image making technologies such as printers and scanners
Experience with Google Suite and Adobe products would be beneficial
Location: 1821 West Hubbard Street, Suite 207, Chicago, IL 60622
Website: www.latitudechicago.org
16. Marwen
Field of work: Art Administration
Internship Description: Ever wondered how a non-profit organization pays to keep the lights on? Do you like making connections with people? Want to know what goes into planning big events? Join Marwen’s Development team in planning for our signature fundraising event, Art Fair, and securing the donations that keep all of Marwen’s programs cost-free.
Internship Responsibilities:
Create a personalized appeal message to go out to Marwen’s donor base asking for monetary donations to support our organization
Assist with planning for our fall fundraising event Art Fair (Communication to potential donors, vendors, and participants; brainstorming theme for messaging and decor; etc.)
Research and outreach to potential donors for “in-kind” donations of snacks and supplies needed for courses
Internship Qualifications:
Enjoys communicating with people in person, over the phone, and via email.
Experience working with creating and navigating spreadsheets.
Interested in event planning.
Location: 833 N Orleans St
Website: Marwen.org
17. The WasteShed
Field of work: Merchandising / Retail
Internship Description: The easiest way for an intern to plug into The WasteShed is helping out with materials intake, processing and merchandizing at our Humboldt Park creative reuse center, and helping customers find what they need. We will also need some support for our artist residency program or other summer programming (documentation, marketing & outreach), but this is very much in development at this point.
Internship Responsibilities:
Sort, research, price, and organize diverse inventory of donated materials.
Assist customers and material donors in a timely and courteous manner by answering questions and meeting their various needs.
Internship Qualifications:
Knowledge of art and craft materials and techniques.
Interest in environmental issues and/or arts education.
Detailed-oriented self-starter who can take a project and run with it.
Multi-tasking and keeping track of unfinished tasks.
Lifting and carrying 30 pounds.
Developed fine motor control, grasp, handle, manipulate objects with fingers.
Standing for long periods of time; frequent bending, kneeling, reaching, stooping, squatting, pushing, climbing ladders.
Location: 1754 N Kimball Ave
Website: www.thewasteshed.com
18. Wrightwood 659
Field of work: Art Education
Internship Description: Are you interested in exploring careers in an art gallery or museum? Are you enthusiastic about learning, talking, and writing about art? Wrightwood 659 is looking for one summer intern to shadow our team of Museum Educators, get a behind-the-scenes look at our art and artists, write an original talk about a work of art in our galleries, plan for a future in the arts, and more!
Internship Responsibilities:
Create original TikToks about exhibitions
Create an original writing piece about an object in our exhibitions
Document exhibitions with photo and video
Create a short talk about a topic and present to our Museum Educators
Propose a program idea for the Fall Plan for upcoming opportunities in the arts
Internship Qualifications:
Interested in social media and experience making social media video
Interested in writing about art
Outgoing and friendly
Experience creating group activities
Interested in exploring art careers
Location: 659 W Wrightwood Ave
Website: https://wrightwood659.org/
Past Art@Work Partners + Fields (2007-2022)
Interested in hosting a Marwen intern in 2024? Contact Maricela Ramirez at mramirez@marwen.org or 312.374.2949 to sign up.
Art@Work interns have worked with dozens of organizations and companies in a variety of creative fields since 2007...
Arts Administration - Community Engagement - Public Art - Gallery - Graphic Design -Jewelry Design - Nonprofit Arts Education - Art History - Retail Merchandising - Visual Merchandising - Film - Animation - Art + Technology - Marketing and Communications - Photography - Original Music - Licensing - Post-Audio - Digital Printing - Contemporary Art Gallery - Fashion Design - Child Development - Museum Programs - Ceramics - Architecture - Interior Design - Exhibition Design - Printmaking Museum Studies - Web Design - Murals - Bookbinding - Book Arts - Industrial Design - Disability Learning - Set Design - Fashion Merchandising - Facilities and School Management - Community Engagement - Community Arts Studio
3ARTS
606/PARK DISTRICT
826CHI
A + D GALLERY
A GREATER GOOD
A+D GALLERY
ADORNMENT & THEORY
ARTS CLUB OF CHICAGO
BANANA REPUBLIC
BURBERRY
CANTV
CAPE
CHEWBONE ANIMATION
CHICAGO ARTIST COALITION
CHICAGO CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
CHICAGO COUNCIL ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
CHICAGO SCHOLARS FOUNDATION
CHICAGO WOMEN IN TRADES
CHICAGO YOGA
COMMA MUSIC
CURSIVE DESIGN AND UAS
CUSHING
DAVID WEINBERG GALLERY
DESIGN CLOUD
ELISE BERGMAN
ENGLEWOOD ARTS COLLECTIVE
FIELD MUSEUM
FIREBIRD COMMUNITY ARTS (FKA ARTREACH)
FITZGERALD
FLATFILE GALLERY
FOURSIDED
GALLERY 400
GENSLER
GNARWARE
GREATER GOOD STUDIO
GRIP DESIGN
GUERRERO HOWE
GUERRERO MEDIA
HAROLD WASHINGTON COLLEGE - CITY OF CHICAGO COLLEGES
HOOFPRINT
HULL HOUSE MUSEUM
INTUIT: THE CENTER FOR INTUITIVE AND OUTSIDE ART
KILBOURN PARK CONSERVATORY
LANDON BONE BAKER ARCHITECTS
LATITUDE
LEO BURNETT
LUMA
MAGNOLIA SCREEN PRINTING
MARIA PINTO
MARWEN
MARWEN X CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY
MoCP
MOTOROLA
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY
NORTH BRANCH
OPENLANDS
PAPERBOY PRESS / VESPINE GALLERY
PARK DISTRICT - Special Events
PDT
PROJECT ONWARD
R. HANEL PHOTOGRAPHY
REDMOON THEATER
ROBIN RICHMAN
SAIC
SAIC CONTINUING STUDIES
CAMPSKOOG PRODUCTION
SPUDNIK PRESS
STORYCORPS
SULLIVAN GALLERY
THE #LETSUSBREATHE COLLECTIVE
TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND
UIC LATINO CULTURAL CENTER
WEINBERG NEWTON GALLERY
WERKSPACE
WOMAN MADE GALLERY
YOLLOCALLI/NATIONAL MEXICAN MUSEUM OF ART
