Preparator

Glenstone•Potomac, MD

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Head Preparator, the Preparator plays a critical role supporting and leading installations of the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions, managing objects in storage while optimizing available space, and preparing works to travel on loan. As a member of the Registration department, the Preparator works closely with colleagues in the Collections Division, including curators, conservators, and collections specialists. The position performs a range of duties related to exhibition preparation, including installation, deinstallation, packing, shipping, and receiving artwork. Duties include supervising teams of temporary and contract art handling personnel, assisting with the evaluation of incoming and outgoing artwork, operating heavy equipment and machinery, and serving as the art handling lead on temporary exhibitions and special projects as assigned. The Preparator further assists the Head Preparator by purchasing supplies, assisting with environmental monitoring, providing maintenance and organization of art storage areas, and managing installation teams to ensure the timely completion of all work to the highest standard.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, Architecture, Art History, Museum Studies, or a closely related program from an accredited college or university.
Minimum of five years professional experience working as an art handler, fabricator, carpenter, or A/V tech in a museum or gallery setting, design/build firm, or academic institution, with a proven record of safe care and handling of fine art objects.
Extensive understanding and experience with current museum professional standards for the care and handling of objects, including hanging, rigging, tethering systems, anchor types, security hardware, unpacking, condition reporting, and transportation.
Excellent dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
Ability to manage assigned projects, create a plan, and execute to completion with little oversight.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
Excellent communication skills with high attention to detail and the ability to listen to, comprehend, and execute tasks in a timely and effective way.
Ability to calculate measurements and assess capacities across all units of measure.
Up-to-date certification in the safe operation of hydraulic lifts, forklifts, scissor lifts/personnel lifts, rigging equipment, and other specialized equipment.
Ability to climb ladders, work in tight spaces for extended periods of time, lift heavy objects (up to 70 lbs.), stand for long periods of time, and use eyes and hands to examine and handle delicate objects.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
Working knowledge of art information systems and computerized collection management databases.
Strong cultural competence, interpersonal communication, planning, and organizational skills.

Nice To Haves

More than seven years’ art handling experience across a wide variety of media.
Experience working in an institutional setting such as a museum or art gallery.
General knowledge of contemporary art, art history, and artist’s materials.
Experience working with living artists.
Experience with Adobe Creative Suite, Sketchup, or similar 3-D modelling programs.
Sensitivity to sustainable practices.
Experience with archival matting and framing.
Experience installing and maintaining time-based media artworks.
Some engineering or carpentry skills are preferred.
Professional working proficiency in languages other than English is a plus.
Ability to interpret architectural plans, miscellaneous drawings, schematics, and fabrication shop drawings.

Responsibilities

Serve on exhibition project teams as assigned, including conducting research for appropriate installation methods; inventory and ordering of supplies, working with registrars on schedules and planning, and leading contract art handling teams during installation and deinstallation.
Develop methods of installation and deinstallation for artworks, including audio/video and multimedia works
Design and fabricate mounts for the display or long-term storage of two- and three-dimensional artworks.
Devise solutions that work with the architectural vision of Glenstone while following museum best practices and principals for the display of contemporary art.
Operate heavy equipment and machinery for use in the installation and deinstallation of artwork and exhibition materials.
Work closely with the Registration and Conservation teams to oversee and participate in the design and construction/retrofitting of crates, including soft-packing and crating of artworks for movement across Glenstone’s grounds or to off-site storage.
Assist in the periodic and annual inventory of the collections.
Create and update installation instructions and artwork manuals in collection database.
Work with registrars to maintain updated artwork locations and the creation of new and temporary storage solutions.
Support the management and upkeep of art storage areas to assure the safety of artworks.
Conduct and/or supervise routine gallery maintenance.
Maintain inventory of tools, equipment, and supplies for exhibit preparation and collections maintenance; submit requests for supplies and materials as needed to supervisor.
As assigned and as needed, courier artworks both domestically and abroad.
Other duties as assigned.