Art@Work | Marwen's Summer Internship Program

Applications for Summer 2025 are now closed. Please contact Maricela Ramírez,

Senior Manager of Outreach & Youth Pathways, at mramirez@marwen.org with any questions.

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 90+ organizations and companies and welcomed nearly 300 interns into the program. In 2025, we celebrate the 18th anniversary of this special program with longtime partners like Intuit (11 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:

• Must have taken one Marwen course

• Ages 16 - 18 (by July 1, 2025)

• Resident of Chicago

• Social security number or employment tax ID number required

• If selected for the program, must be able to commit to the full employment schedule

Key information about the program:

• Approximately 18 unique internships are available during the summer.

• Applications will be due in May 5, 2025.

• 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 7 thorough August 8.

• 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 $16.20/ hour for a total of $1,174.50 (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.

2025 Internship Sites

AIGA

Field of Work:  Graphic Design 

Location: 205 N Michigan Ave. Suite 810

Internship Description: 

The intern would be designing social media content on Canva, or any other available design software for the Chicago AIGA. They would also be interacting with many different creative professionals brainstorming promotional materials for events. This internship is primarily remote, unless they were interested in helping out with one of the events in person. 

Internship Responsibilities: 

Creating social media posts for Instagram, LinkedIn, and FB. Communicating virtually through Slack, Gmail, Clickup and Zoom for upcoming work/assignments. Developing social media copy and researching optimal posting strategies. 

Internship Qualifications: 

Some knowledge of creative software such as Canva, GIMP, Adobe Creative Suite, etc.) - Beginner level in any (min 1) previously listed. Interest in creative fields such as Graphic Design, Social Media Marketing, Web Design, Motion Graphics, Event Planning and Illustration.

Chicago Scholars

Field of Work:  Marketing & Communications

Location: 247 S. State Street, Suite 700

 Internship Description: 

Chicago Scholars is looking for a summer intern to join our Marketing & Communications team to assist with social media strategy and content creation, website administration, and graphic design, all to increase awareness of the organization's work in Chicago and beyond. 

Internship Responsibilities: 

Working with the Manager of Marketing to create videos, take photos, and design graphics for Chicago Scholars' social media channels Learn to schedule posts to Chicago Scholars' channels via Sprout Social Perform light website updates using Wordpress

Internship Qualifications: 

Interest in social media management, content creation, and graphic design Bonus if you have experience in photography or video, and video editing!

Foursided

Field of Work: Creative Retail 

Location: 2958 N Clark St

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 can cover it all! We can also focus extra time on what you are most interested in - whether you gravitate more towards helping customers, inventory management, marketing/social media, creating displays, artistic projects, etc. 

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 across the street to our framing 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 qualifications needed. Just a friendly demeanor with our customers/team and a willingness to learn new tasks and do your best!

Griffin Museum of Science and Industry

Field of Work: Museum

Location: 5700 DuSable Lake Shore Drive

Internship Description: 

ARS (Art, Technology, and Society) Camp Internship

Do you enjoy tinkering? Would you like to see and experience how art, technology, and science are integrated into creating beautiful and functional art? Intern appreciates and enjoys creating visual arts activities and objects.

Likes digital fabrication tools. Likes working with creative people. If you answered yes to most of the questions, then this internship is for you. Join the Griffin Museum of Science and Industries Camps team as they inspire young people to create art that integrates tech and science.

Internship Responsibilities: 

The intern will support camp staff with facilitating activities, production, testing activities, and personal projects connected to the ARS Electronica exhibition that showcases how art, science, and tech merge together to create unique art.

Internship Qualifications: 

Has an interest in tinkering, digital fabrication, visual arts, and can work collaboratively and independently. A +: if intern can use Tinkercad and a 3D printer.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago

Location: 835 N Michigan Ave

Field of Work: Marketing & Communications

Internship Description: 

​​As an intern in Hubbard Street’s Marketing department, you will learn all aspects of the day-to-day work of an arts marketing team including media (photo and video), design, social media, software skills (such as Tessitura, WordFly, and more), copywriting, data analysis, research, and more - totally dependent upon your areas of interest and areas for growth. You will attend all-staff and team meetings, have the ability to work from home or in-studio in our hybrid environment, and learn from other departments. 

Internship Responsibilities: 

TBD depending upon the intern's strengths, interests, and desire to grow skills.

Internship Qualifications: 

Interest in learning about arts marketing

Intuit Art Museum

Field of Work: Museum 

Location: 756 N Milwaukee Ave

Internship Description: 

Are you curious, creative and socially engaged? Intuit Art Museum is the place for you! The Intuiteens program is a unique opportunity to connect with artists, curators and educators to explore self-taught art. Intuiteens will provide guidance and mentorship in community engagement, exhibition design and developing a creative practice. 

Internship Responsibilities: 

Collaborate with peers to design a community engagement workshop and Intuiteens exhibition. Plan and facilitate a workshop inspired by the museum's collection or special exhibitions. Plan, make a work of art for, and install a collaborative exhibition. 

Internship Qualifications: 

Interest in museum practices, exhibition design or community engagement.

LBBA Architects

*Please note this internship has extended internship dates:

June 30–August 8

Field of Work: Architecture 

Location: 1625 W Carroll Avenue

Internship Description: 

LBBA seeks enthusiastic high-school aged interns from Chicago interested in architecture and community-based design to be participants in 2025 LBBA LABS program. Interns will engage in a six-week paid research and design project related to one of LBBA’s on-going project partnerships in a Chicago neighborhood. During the course of the program, interns will learn critical design and presentation skills while working besides industry professionals, subject matter experts, and community leaders.

This year, LBBA LABS will be working with The Chicago Lighthouse, a non-profit organization focused on providing housing and social services for people who are blind or visually impaired.

Internship Responsibilities: 

The INTERN position will include 4 major expectations: 1) Attendance and participation in daily activities and projects. 2) Accountability to the Labs Coordinator, Project Partners and fellow interns. 3) Willingness to engage with outside partners and community members on their level in a respectful manner. 4) Preparation of a Final Presentation highlighting what they have learned over the course of the program for Parents, Project Partners, and Community members. NOTE: Interns are not expected to have experience with architecture or design prior to participation.

Internship Qualifications: 

RELIABLE; honors commitment to show up to work each day and participate. RESPECTFUL & COLLABORATIVE; able to consider the perspectives of others and work toward a common goal. ENGAGED; interested in learning more about architectural design and community engagement. CREATIVE; willing to bring their own unique backgrounds and perspectives to the table to help solve problems.

Magnolia Screen Printing

Location: 2502 W 63rd St

Field of Work: Content Creation

Internship Description: 

The intern will be working with our Operations Manager to learn the ins and outs of running a screen printing shop. We would like the intern to document their daily experiences through small videos or a vlog style format to create short story and long story content for our social media platforms. 

Internship Responsibilities: 

Work closely with our operations manager to learn the basics of the position. Record and vlog their daily experiences on the job to create content for our social media platforms.

Internship Qualifications: 

Some background in social media, video editing, vlogging, content creation. 

Maison Blanche LLC

Location: 4214 N Lawndale

Field of Work: Content Creation, Design

Internship Description: 

Do you love art history and design? We use different periods of art and the stories of our clients to build worlds, and no event is the same. We will be conceptualizing and creating print collateral for events that are heavily rooted in our love of color, pattern, texture. This is a small woman owned business with no room for fluff, this internship is all substance and you will walk away with a greater understanding of the complexities of freelancing or building a design studio (we will tailor specific tasks and any mentoring around your interests, strengths and career goals as best we can). 

Internship Responsibilities: 

Design research (applying styles of art as inspiration), mood board creation Editing art in Photoshop Building print collateral in Illustrator Building proposals in InDesign Assembling print collateral pieces for installation work

Internship Qualifications: 

Knowledge of the Adobe Suite at an intermediate level would make this internship the most fulfilling for the student. 

Marwen - Communications 

Location: 833 N. Orleans St

Field of Work: Marketing & Communications

Internship Description: 

How do YOU find about cool new things like art openings, free classes, and special events? Learn the basics of Media Relations as a summer intern in Marwen's Communications team. You'll learn how to create a press release, research journalists, place event listings, and receive training on writing, editing, and proofreading your work. Your goal is to support the team and the organization with sharing stories of impact with Chicago and beyond.

Internship Responsibilities: 

Draft press releases, research new media contacts, update media list + press clips, plan and support media efforts within larger campaigns

Internship Qualifications: 

Interest in writing and storytelling, Ability to work independently, excellent note taker, active listener, experience on a high school publication staff a plus but not required (yearbook, newsletter), attention to detail, organized.

Marwen - Community Engagement + Outreach 

Location: 833 N. Orleans St

Field of Work: Art Education

Internship Description: 

Are you a Marwen fan and interested in spreading the word about Marwen with your creative skills? Then this internship is just for you! Join Marwen’s Community Engagement & Outreach team to create materials that help spread the word about Marwen. Materials include zines, posters, stickers, buttons, postcards, t-shirts, and so on! Use your artistic skills to engage the community!  

Internship Responsibilities: 

Create & design outreach materials for community engagement - Support off-site community events to represent Marwen - Collaborate with Marwen staff to develop strategies to engage prospective and returning students - Serve as a Marwen ambassador 

Internship Qualifications: 

Illustration, design, or drawing experience. Positive attitude and willingness to collaborate and learn from others.

Marwen - Mural 

Location: 833 N. Orleans St

Field of Work: Art Administration/ Painting

Internship Description: 

Are you interested in creating murals for Marwen's building? Have an eye for design and painting experience? Then this internship is for you! In this internship, you will collaborate with Marwen community members to design and paint murals throughout Marwen's building.  

Internship Responsibilities: 

Connect and meet with Marwen community members (staff, teaching artists, young people) to gather ideas for mural design. Create a draft of design and present it to the Marwen community for feedback and adjustments. Create a final draft of the mural and gather final feedback. Collaborate with other fellow young artist(s) to design and paint.

Internship Qualifications: 

Drawing/design background preferred. Mural and/or painting background required. Must be willing to connect and communicate with multiple community members of multiple ages, must be open to feedback and recommendation. Ability to paint for multiple hours a day.

Marwen - Studio Programs 

Location: 833 N. Orleans St

Field of Work: Art Education

Internship Description: 

Learn all about what it really takes to run an art studio! Interning at Marwen with the Studio Programs team will give you hands-on back-stage experience with logistics of facilitating art making in an educational setting. Get access to art studios working in all mediums and learn how to operate specialized tools and techniques. Advance your own art practice by learning the ins & outs of keeping things stocked & operational. Hang out with Marwen staff to expand your opportunities with us! 

Internship Responsibilities: 

Helping with inventory of art supplies- using Google Sheets. Helping in the classrooms with Marwen programming announcements. Helping with specialized cleaning/reset practices (based on your interest: ceramics, print, painting, sewing etc). Opportunities to learn more 

Internship Qualifications: 

Interest in visual art practices. Ability to lift & carry at least 5lbs. 

Snow City Arts

Location: 1653 W Congress Pkwy

Field of Work: Art administration / Gallery 

Internship Description:

 Intern will support the leadup to Snow City Arts' annual exhibition and fundraising event, supporting the curation and production of a show while supporting various administrative operations.

Internship Responsibilities: 

Assisting and manipulating artwork through photoshop. Assisting with creating text for Gallery Exhibition. Assisting in managing the Spanish translation process, Supporting the curatorial process, learning the backend of producing a large scale gallery exhibition, researching and communicating with print vendors, general support of the admin team and production support based on emerging needs.

Internship Responsibilities: 

Intermediate Photoshop experience. Clear communication skills. Experience with google workspace.

Woman Made Gallery

Location: 1332 S Halsted St.

Field of Work: Photography / Gallery 

Internship Description: 

Do you love taking photos and videos? Are you passionate about storytelling through visuals? Do you want to gain experience capturing events and exhibitions in a dynamic art space? Then this is the internship for you! Join Woman Made Gallery’s team in documenting our exhibitions, receptions, and programs through photos, videos, and engaging IG Reels! You’ll gain hands-on experience shooting behind-the-scenes moments, editing content, and creating visuals for social media and newsletters—all while connecting with artists, patrons, and community members. If you have a strong eye for detail and are ready to showcase your creative skills, we'd love to have you!

Internship Responsibilities: 

Responsibilities include photographing and filming exhibitions, receptions, and programming, editing content, and organizing digital assets in WMG's Google Drive.

Internship Qualifications: 

Ideal candidates have experience with DSLR or mirrorless cameras, basic photo and video editing, a strong eye for composition, and knowledge of creating engaging IG Reels and short-form video content.

Writers Theatre

Location: 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe, IL 60022 

Field of Work: Art Education/ Theatre

Internship Description: 

Education and Engagement Internship: Are you interested in theatre and arts education? Do you want to learn more about teaching theatre to young people or bringing the arts into your community through creative programs? Writers Theatre Education and Engagement internship provides the opportunity to practice your communication skills, arts education program development and administration skills, organizational skills, and close play-reading skills at a professional theatre company in the North Chicago suburbs (Glencoe). You will see first hand how the education and engagement department operates and fits into the larger organization and arts education landscape in Chicago.

Internship Responsibilities: 

Assist with community events and youth classes as available 

Read play(s) for upcoming season and collaborate on study guide creation for student matinees including student activities, glossary, contextualization of the play, etc. 

Attend plays! - Assist with 2025-26 education program planning 

Attend department and organizational meetings

Internship Qualifications: 

Interest in theatre arts education and nonprofit administration 

Ideally some experience working with young people 

Has reliable transportation to Glencoe (325 Tudor Ct, Glencoe 60022) either via car or Metra Union Pacific North line. 

Interest in reading plays and engaging in creative conversation about theatre 

Ideally has a laptop/computer for use in office 

Willingness to communicate clearly and regularly and work as a part of a small team!

---

Past Art@Work Partners + Fields (2007-2024)

Interested in hosting a Marwen intern? 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

AIGA CHICAGO

A GREATER GOOD

A+D GALLERY

ADORNMENT & THEORY

ARTS CLUB OF CHICAGO

ART WORKS PROJECTS

BANANA REPUBLIC

BIT SPACE

BURBERRY

CANTV

CAPE

CHERRY MOUNTAIN ARTS

CHEWBONE ANIMATION

CHICAGO ARTIST COALITION

CHICAGO CHILDREN'S MUSEUM

CHICAGO COUNCIL ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

CHICAGO SCHOLARS

CHICAGO WOMEN IN TRADES

CHICAGO YOGA

COMMA MUSIC

CURSIVE DESIGN AND UAS

CUSHING

DAVID WEINBERG GALLERY

DESIGN CLOUD

ELASTIC ARTS FOUNDATION

ELISE BERGMAN

ENGLEWOOD ARTS COLLECTIVE

FIELD MUSEUM

FIREBIRD COMMUNITY ARTS (FKA ARTREACH)

FIREHOUSE COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER

FITZGERALDS ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS

FLATFILE GALLERY

FOURSIDED CARD & GIFT

FREE SPIRIT MEDIA

GALLERY 400

GENSLER

GNARWARE WORKSHOP

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 CHICAGO

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

THE WASTESHED

TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND

UIC LATINO CULTURAL CENTER

WEINBERG NEWTON GALLERY

WERKSPACE

WOMAN MADE GALLERY

WRIGHTWOOD 659

YOLLOCALLI/NATIONAL MEXICAN MUSEUM OF ART