Exhibitions Producer / Preparator

MSU Careers Details•East Lansing, MI

About The Position

The Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University is seeking an experienced exhibitions professional to assist with planning and executing exhibitions. The Exhibitions Producer coordinates work needed to create excellent exhibitions and contributes to exhibition design, including creating renderings and other designs. The role prepares exhibition spaces for installation, installs and strikes permanent and changing exhibitions, and mats and frames permanent-collection artwork according to archival standards for methods, materials, and presentation. The position monitors gallery temperature, relative humidity, lighting, and appearance to ensure compliance with museum standards and guidelines. It interacts with HVAC professionals to maintain the air-handling system, performs minor conservation treatments, prepares art objects and crates for shipment and storage, and fabricates mounts and exhibition components. The role also provides preparation information and technical lectures or demonstrations as requested, oversees exhibition photo documentation, and coordinates off-site storage for exhibition components and, with the registrar, crates and additional collection storage, including climate control and security.

Requirements

Knowledge equivalent to completion of a four-year college degree program in studio art and/or museum studies.
Five years of experience working as an exhibitions professional in a museum, gallery, or foundation.
Refined planning and project-management skills, including time and cost estimation.
Excellent organizational skills and demonstrated ability to lead work teams.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Solution-oriented, creative problem-solving ability and a team-player approach.
Ability to manage multiple, overlapping deadlines, identify priorities, organize work teams, adhere to budgets, and meet project deadlines.
Demonstrated attention to detail and refined execution of work.

Nice To Haves

Ability to create and read shop drawings.
Competency with shop or studio facilities and knowledge of safety procedures for handling chemical solvents and adhesives.
Experience with fine carpentry and metal and plastic fabrication techniques.
Knowledge of advanced AV installation.
Knowledge of design and rendering software and advanced printers.
Knowledge of AR/VR planning tools.
Ability to learn and follow accounting procedures for supply procurement.
Ability to work beyond the normal schedule during installation or strike periods as necessary.

Responsibilities

Assist with planning and executing exhibitions and coordinate work required to produce them.
Contribute to exhibition design by creating renderings and other designs as needed.
Prepare exhibition spaces for installation; install and strike permanent and changing exhibitions.
Mat and frame permanent-collection artwork according to archival standards for methods, materials, and presentation.
Monitor gallery temperature and relative humidity and interact with HVAC professionals to maintain the air-handling system.
Establish and maintain gallery lighting according to museum guidelines for object exposure, foot-candle levels, and lamp type.
Monitor and maintain the appearance of exhibition spaces.
Perform minor conservation treatments.
Prepare art objects and crates for shipment and storage.
Fabricate mounts and exhibition components.
Provide preparation information to the public and technical lectures and demonstrations as requested.
Oversee photo documentation of exhibitions in the galleries.
Oversee and coordinate off-site storage for exhibition components.
Coordinate with the registrar off-site storage for crates and climate control and security for additional collection storage spaces.