Exhibits and Art Coordinator

Phipps Conservatory•Pittsburgh, PA

About The Position

The Exhibits and Art Coordinator assists the Associate Director of Exhibits with managing the organization’s art and props collections and object loans to and from other institutions. The coordinator leads the creation and maintenance of art and props inventories and serves as registrar for art collections and loans. As a member of the exhibits team, the coordinator helps create and implement seasonal flower shows and other exhibits. The role includes creating exhibit elements that complement plant collections, designing interactive display components, organizing exhibit materials, and coordinating art gallery exhibitions. It also involves working with artists, institutions, volunteers, vendors, contractors, Facilities, and other departments to develop, fabricate, install, store, and maintain exhibits. The work takes place inside and outside the conservatory and growing houses, where conditions may be hot and humid depending on the season. Evening, weekend, holiday, or additional hours may be required as business needs dictate. The position requires the employee to provide their own transportation to perform principal responsibilities.

Requirements

Education, training, or experience in museum studies, museum administration, exhibition design, fine arts, art, design, museum collections, exhibition development, horticulture, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education, practical experience, and transferable skills will be considered.
Proficiency with internet and email software.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, with attention to detail.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment under deadlines and stress.
Ability to communicate and respond in person and over the phone to the general public, staff, volunteers, and board members in a friendly manner.
Ability to prioritize and work independently.
Commitment to a team-oriented, visitor-sensitive approach to exhibit development.
Ability to provide own transportation to perform principal responsibilities.
Ability to lift and carry objects up to 40 pounds and climb up to 15 feet.
Physical mobility to sit, stand, kneel, and walk, and manual dexterity to operate a keyboard.

Nice To Haves

Experience in database management or institutional collections management.
Experience with collections databases, inventory management, exhibit coordination, or hands-on fabrication.

Responsibilities

Create and maintain art collection and props inventories in collections management systems.
Accession art objects by assigning database and physical accession numbers in accordance with museum best practices and standards.
Act as registrar for art on loan for exhibits in the garden or art galleries, and track and manage loans to other institutions.
Develop relationships with artists and institutions and serve as a liaison for art gallery exhibitions and seasonal shows.
Assist the Associate Director of Exhibits with collection maintenance, care, storage, and repairs, and uphold the Art Collection Management Plan.
Coordinate art gallery exhibitions, including exhibition layout and needs, loan agreements, marketing promotion requests, and coordination with artists and organizations.
Create and maintain horticultural display elements, including topiaries, dried floral arrangements, preserved plant installations, and other botanical features for seasonal flower shows.
Coordinate volunteers as needed to assist with exhibit fabrication.
Arrange and oversee proper storage of exhibit elements, including topiaries, and communicate with Facilities about items stored off site.
Assist with designing and implementing horticultural displays and interactive elements for seasonal flower shows, Tropical Forest exhibits, and Winter Light Garden.
Create show installation schedules and coordinate with other departments.
Ensure exhibit components, interactive elements, and fabricated materials enhance and showcase horticultural collections while keeping plants and floral displays the primary focus of the visitor experience.
Collaborate with Facilities to design, fabricate, and assemble interactive props and exhibits, coordinating specialized components so installations function as intended.
Install seasonal flower shows and exhibits within Horticulture and across departments, based on installation needs.
Field interviews and marketing requests.
Provide administrative support in communications with vendors, contractors, and outside artists.
Work with and provide guidance to volunteers on exhibit needs.
Perform other duties as assigned.