Description
Summary:
Reporting to the Director of the Doris Ulmann Galleries, this temporary, two-month grant-funded position will directly support the physical and logistical aspects of upcoming exhibitions at the College’s art museum, with work to be carried out over the summer months (June-July 2026). The Preparator will support all aspects of exhibition installation and preparing artworks for display; fine art packing and unpacking; and designing and constructing displays, mounts, and crates. The person in this role will meet regularly and work closely with the Director and the Galleries staff, including students, to ensure the successful and safe implementation of exhibitions leading up to the start of the 2026-2027 academic year.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
- Facilitates the installation of exhibitions of artworks from the permanent collection and artworks on loan, including moving, hanging, and displaying artworks and artifacts, in accordance with museum industry standards and conservation best practices.
- Prepares galleries for exhibition (e.g. preparing gallery walls and/or pedestals for display, lighting, vinyl application, installing multimedia equipment for video or other intermedia artwork).
- Designs and fabricates custom mounts, displays, pedestals, and interactive exhibition components.
- Prepares artworks for display, including professional matting and framing of two-dimensional artwork.
- Supports collections maintenance related to proper collections care and safety, in accordance with museum standards (e.g. designing and building storage units, etc., for collections care).
- Maintains inventory of tools, equipment, and supplies for exhibition preparation and submits requests for supplies and materials as needed.
- Works with the Galleries staff to install artworks that may in some cases exceed 40 lbs.
- Undertakes general maintenance and care of collections storage spaces.
- Prepares artworks for transport in accordance with museum standards, including building crates as needed.
- Assists with transportation of artworks as needed (incoming/outgoing loans, artwork deliveries, conservation, etc.).
- Operates, cleans, and maintains tools and equipment.
- Maintains a clean, organized, and safe workspace in the 3D Shop in the Traylor Art Building.
- Coordinates with Galleries staff and campus partners to design and carry out installation timelines for all exhibitions projects in support of the established exhibition schedule.
Requirements
Education required to ensure success in this position:
- Bachelor’s degree required
- Relevant experience may substitute for some education
Experience required to ensure success in this position:
- Minimum of two years’ experience in carpentry, artwork handling, mount making, and exhibition installation
- Minimum of two years’ experience working in museums and/or galleries to plan and realize technical aspects of exhibitions
Special skills, knowledge and abilities:
- Knowledge of studio art, museum work, art history and/or other related
- Knowledge of and ability to maintain OSHA standards
- Art handling and project management skills
- Ability to work with care and extreme attention to detail
- Expertise in usage of hand tools, power tools, and lifts safely according to industry standards
- Ability to multitask, prioritize, and work under tight schedules and fixed deadlines
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively on a small team
- Creative problem solving
License, certification, or registration necessary:
- Valid Driver’s License
Physical requirements:
- Ability to comfortably and safely lift up to 50 lbs.
- Ability to lift, carry, move, and install artwork safely at various heights
- Ability to climb stairs and ladders
Environmental conditions:
- Work is completed mostly in a temperature-controlled museum, studio, and/or workshop setting but may include some time in outdoor weather.
