Exhibition Manager and Lead Preparator

University of Richmond

1d•$50,461 - $66,851•Onsite

About The Position

The Exhibition Manager and Lead Preparator for the University Museums oversees the planning, coordination, and implementation of all exhibitions and permanent collection installations at the Harnett Museum of Art and the Lora Robins Gallery. A critical member of the Museums collaborative team and reporting to the Deputy Director and Curator of Exhibitions, the Exhibition Manager and Lead Preparator is responsible for managing the Museum’s exhibition program, developing exhibition production timelines, budgets and installation plans, and ensuring exhibitions open on time and at the highest standards. A skilled art handler with broad experience in all media, the Exhibition Manager and Lead Preparator leads all exhibition preparation and fabrication and coordinates all audiovisual displays and new media in the Museums’ galleries. They supervise the Exhibition Preparator, occasional contract workers and UR student interns.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and at least 5 years of art preparator and exhibition planning and design experience with increasing responsibility.
Knowledge of museum best practices, an appreciation for the stewardship, safety and care, and preservation of fine art.
Requires a successful driving check
Specialized knowledge of exhibition planning and project management, including project management software, such as AirTable.
Highly skilled in exhibition design and recent exhibition technologies.
Ability to easily translate curatorial ideas into 3-D models and CAD drawings.
Broad knowledge of best museum practices for art handling and installation, collections management, object care, fabrication, and shipping.
Fluent in time-based media installation.
Highly skilled in object handling, carpentry, matting and framing, fabrication of exhibition furniture, platforms and displays, hanging and mounting systems, gallery lighting, moving objects, patching, painting, and proper ladder use and safety.
Skilled and clear communicator who can work with a diverse range of colleagues and stakeholders, including museum leadership, university faculty and staff, visiting artists, and students.
Ability to carefully assign tasks to ensure exhibition planning and installation is completed on time and on budget.
Ability to make independent decisions and apply creative methods to solve complex installation problems with attention to detail.
Ability to work in a diverse environment and with a diverse range of colleagues, stakeholders, and visitors is required.
Ability to work on multiple projects and tasks simultaneously to meet deadlines.
Ability to prioritize multiple projects and competing demands, balance tasks and see projects through to completion.
Curious to continuously learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in exhibition planning and design.
Working knowledge of SketchUp, AirTable, The Gallery System (TMS)Collections Management Software, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Office Suite.

Responsibilities

Oversees exhibition planning and management for all museum exhibitions and permanent collection installations in coordination with museum leadership
Creates and develops exhibition and installation timelines using specialized project management software, including AirTable
Ensures benchmarks are met according to schedule
Presents timelines to entire museum staff and assigns tasks as appropriate
Creates exhibition layouts professionally designed with CAD software, including in SketchUp, with assistance from Assistant Preparator and in consultation with curators
Ensures exhibitions and objects are installed according to the highest museum standards and best practices, and in accordance with programmatic, conservation, aesthetic and ADA requirements
Prepares and administers exhibition budgets and estimates, and ensures that expenditures are within agreed upon budgetary limits
Researches, recommends and hires specialized contractors and specialized equipment as needed for complex exhibition projects and as approved by museum leadership
Oversees and coordinates routine gallery inspections, touch-ups and cleaning
Manages and executes all aspects of exhibition installation, deinstallation and construction
Prepares exhibition spaces in advance of exhibitions, schedules any necessary contractors or campus partners, coordinates gallery painting gallery, and facilitates building all temporary walls and installation components
Determines display casework and presentation furniture as needed for specific exhibitions, produces construction plans and shop drawings for all necessary furniture, and coordinates and builds all exhibition casework and display furniture as needed with Exhibition Preparator
Oversees the inventory and movement of cases, museum furniture, and other exhibition related objects
Identifies framing and other artwork preparation needs for each exhibition
Assigns and supervises artwork preparation, including artwork framing, by the Assistant Preparator
Supervises the design, production, and installation of all exhibition didactics, text panels, title displays, object labels, and other graphic displays by the Assistant Preparator
Determines and coordinates all audiovisual requirements for exhibitions, assists with audio visual equipment installation, set up and regular maintenance, and supervises any specialized contractors
Coordinates delivery and handling activities for loaned artworks
Sets and maintains gallery lighting at accepted light levels
Manages vendors, temporary contractors and purchases, identifies skilled vendors and temporary contractors as needed, requests estimates, places orders, tracks, coordinates, and manages deliveries
Oversees facilities maintenance and upkeep, organization of collections and storage spaces, and museum workshops in coordination with the Director of Operations including scheduling and facilitating work with University Facilities and outside contractors
Ensures that storage areas are maintained at professional levels of environmental and security control
Monitors and maintains museum facilities, including overseeing the organization of collection storage spaces and maintaining the appearance of exhibition spaces by Exhibition Preparator
Manages the museum workshop and establishes workshop standards to ensure overall safety of museum facilities
Maintains tools and equipment and coordinates replacements with the Director of Operations
Tracks inventories of tools, materials and supplies
Supervises the cleaning and organization of shop facility
Assists with museum facilities environmental monitoring
Ensures that collections storage areas are maintained at professional levels of environmental and security control and all collections objects are safely moved, stored and maintained
Maintains and updates the location of collections objects, packing, materials, and supply storage with TMS Administrator
Oversees and facilitates safe packing and transportation of collections objects
Supervises the matting and framing of collections objects and as well as the preparation of collection objects for storage and display by the Exhibition Preparator
Makes conservation recommendations
Coordinates shipping and receiving, packing and unpacking of all collection objects to ensure proper handling and security procedures are followed
Supervises Exhibition Preparator
Trains student interns and temporary exhibition workers
Ensures all workers understand and implement best museum practices and safety protocol at all times in all museum spaces and workshops across campus.