3522-Senior Museum Preparator
About The Position
The Asian Art Museum houses one of the world's premier collections of Asian art, with 20,000 artworks ranging from ancient jades and ceramics to contemporary multimedia installations. Special exhibitions, cultural events, and dynamic programs bring art to life for diverse audiences. The Asian Art Museum seeks a skilled Senior Museum Preparator to support the construction, installation, de-installation, and safe handling of artworks for exhibitions and gallery rotations. Working closely with a cross-departmental creative team, this role helps bring exhibitions to fruition through expert craftsmanship, problem-solving, and thoughtful design collaboration. Under direction, this position constructs museum-quality fixtures, showcases, pedestals, temporary walls, and mounts; installs and arranges exhibits; packs, unpacks, and oversees storage of art objects; and performs related duties as assigned. Work requires a high degree of manual dexterity and exceptional care in handling valuable artworks.
Requirements
- Possession of an associate degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Art, Fine Arts, Museum Studies, or a related field.
- Two (2) years of verifiable experience in: Preparation, fabrication, installation, and care of valuable artworks
- Museum mount-making
- Building exhibition furniture
- Working in a museum, gallery, or traveling exhibition program
- Valid California Driver's License.
Nice To Haves
- Experience supervising or leading installation teams
- Experience preparing exhibitions in a fine art museum
- Knowledge of museum mount-making materials and methods
- Familiarity with digital tools for shop drawings and basic design layouts
Responsibilities
- Confers with curatorial, design, and other staff in planning and constructing exhibit components; designs and builds installation elements, such as showcases, pedestals, partitions, and special effects; paints and wallpapers exhibition spaces; adjusts and installs lighting; hangs artworks and sets up sculptures; and serves as a lead during installation, removal, and salvage of exhibition fixtures.
- Prepares cost and material estimates for construction and installation projects; requisitions lumber, supplies, and specialized equipment.
- Packs, ships, receives, and unpacks paintings and other valuable objects; supervises storage and inventory of paintings, statuary, and furniture; notifies the registrar of any discrepancies.
- Uses professional-grade hand and power tools for carpentry, cabinetmaking, and mount fabrication, including constructing cases, pedestals, mounts, and display furniture using conservation-safe materials and methods.
- Ensures all work aligns with museum conservation standards, safety protocols, and industry best practices, including PPE use, equipment safety, and proper artwork handling procedures.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
Associate degree
Number of Employees
5,001-10,000 employees
