Exhibition Designer and Chief Preparator Job at Taft Museum of Art
Position: Exhibition Designer and Chief Preparator
Reports to: CEO and eventually
Position: Exhibition Designer and Chief Preparator
Reports to: CEO and eventually the Sallie Robinson Wadsworth (SRW) Chief Curator
Team: Curatorial & Collections
Status: Exempt/Full-time (37.5 hours)
Wage: $55,000 - $75,000 Commensurate with Experience
Benefits: Health Care Insurance, 401K, Dental Care, Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Aflac, vacation days, personal days, sick days, free downtown parking, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Museum membership, and other special discounts.
Condition of Employment: Full vaccination against COVID-19
The Taft Museum of Art, located in downtown Cincinnati, is seeking a full-time Exhibition Designer and Chief Preparator reporting to the CEO and eventually the (SRW) Chief Curator. This position requires a positive, highly organized team player who communicates proactively, is attentive to detail, manages multiple priorities, and has excellent communication and collaborative skills. Enjoy this rare opportunity to join the staff of one of the finest small art museums in the United States.
Please submit a cover letter, resume, and three references. Please submit only through our online portal at taftmuseum.org/Careers. Our team will review your information, and we will get back to you with the next steps. If you have questions, please email Human Resources at HRAdm@taftmuseum.org. No phone calls, please.
POSITION OVERVIEW
Reporting directly to the Deputy Director and SRW Chief Curator, the Exhibition Designer and Chief Preparator, directly supports the Taft Museum of Art (TMA) in delivering its mission of providing meaningful experiences by connecting people with great art in a historic setting and in the community. Holding dual responsibilities, this individual designs and plans exhibition installations and leads a team of art handlers, while also providing collection care for the Taft’s artworks when on display, in storage, and in transit.
In collaboration with the Chief Curator, this position designs the visual presentation and lighting of the permanent collection galleries; participates in all exhibition and collections-related planning; administers the collection care budget. He or she also oversees contractors and art handlers for exhibition installations and safe relocation and storage of artworks and exhibition furniture.
Direct Reports: Preparator and Assistant Collections Technician
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Exhibition Design and Installation
- Works closely with Chief Curator and the designated Taft curator to plan, design and install each temporary exhibition.
- Assists with estimating exhibition budgets; exhibition planning gallery layout CAD and/or scale models; hires construction and painting firms and oversees their work.
- Hires, trains, and supervises contract art handlers.
- Designs display furniture; fabricates exhibition labels; receives, unpacks, and loads out all art shipments; serves as lighting technician; documents paint colors and floorplans for museum records.
- Schedules phases of exhibition installation and de-installation with registrar; schedules movement of art objects and casework within the museum.
Permanent Collection
- Installs and cares for permanent collections.
- Supervises and participates in moving art objects into, within, and out of the museum; follows conservation guidelines, provides preventative care and cleans all permanent collection objects as needed.
- Carries out maintenance and housekeeping of permanent collection spaces within the historic house.
- Oversees and maintains lighting of all collection spaces; locates and maintains environmental monitoring devices for temperature and humidity.
- Serves as courier for artworks in transit.
- Works with Museum’s Graphic Designer on signage design and installation throughout the Museum.
- Works with Registrar to maintain all art-related and archival areas, both on-site and off; assists camera crews and photographers in galleries.
- Administers collection care budget.
Leadership/Other
- Supervises work of Assistant Preparator/Collections Technician and of contract art handlers.
- Cares for the Historic House: Advises Chief Curator and Facilities Coordinator on appropriate treatments, methods, and materials for Historic House Landmark building, following historic preservation guidelines; monitors exterior of historic house to identify needs specific to historic preservation.
- Other duties as assigned by Chief Curator.
REQUIRED COMPETENCIES (SKILLS)
- Alignment with Organizational Mission, Goals and Core Values: Understands and embraces the museum mission and goals. Models and reinforces core values of respect, integrity, excellence, creativity and collaboration.
- Communication: A passion for art objects and the ability to arouse curiosity and engage the public.
- Collaboration: work successfully with a wide range of museum visitors, collectors, volunteers, and professional colleagues. Highly resourceful team player, with the ability to be effective independently, too. Collaborative approach essential. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with stakeholders, including staff, board members, external partners, volunteers, donors and contractors.
Creativity: Innovative thinker, able to translate ideas into reality.
Organization: Strong organizational skills that reflect ability to prioritize and perform multiple tasks seamlessly with excellent attention to detail. Proficiency at improving work methods and procedures as a means toward greater efficiency.
Problem Solving/Judgment: Adept at analyzing facts, problem-solving, decision-making, and demonstrating good judgment. Emotional maturity. Ability to make sound decisions and good judgment within the guidelines of Museum policy and procedures. Forward-looking thinker, who actively seeks opportunities and proposes solutions.
- Technical Expertise: He/she must have extensive knowledge on the maintenance of objects and artwork. Understand current best practices.
REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- B.A./B.F.A. in studio art, M.F.A. preferred.
- Ten years of progressively more responsible experience in design, preparation, construction, and installation of exhibitions in art museums, including three years supervisory experience or equivalent combination of training and experience.
- Knowledge of the basics of collection care and conservation principles; standard tools, practices, methods used and application of different materials such as various types of lumber, fabrics, plastics, mechanical fasteners, and adhesives.
- A broad familiarity with the history of art and pleasure in learning about all areas of art.
- Ease and competency with Microsoft Office.
MUSEUM CORE VALUES
All employees of the museum must strive to:
- Embrace the museum's core values of respect, integrity, excellence, creativity, and collaboration and demonstrate this understanding through words, behaviors, and interactions with our guests, staff members, volunteers, and the public.
- Learn and teach every day. Share knowledge freely with colleagues and pursue opportunities to gain new skills to enhance our success as a team.
- Appreciate, understand, and value each staff member’s expertise, background, experience, strengths, and unique perspective. Share time, energy, and knowledge with others to ensure everyone has the highest potential to succeed.
- Achieve excellence in all tasks and goals.
- Demonstrate professionalism on and off the job and always represent the Taft Museum of Art positively and professionally. Speak truthfully and fulfill promises and obligations in all museum dealings.
- Be comfortable and communicate with people of diverse backgrounds.
- Adhere to all current museum policies, procedures, protocols, and processes.
- Create a pleasant work environment by being a positive influence and respectful to every person.
The success of the Taft Museum of Art is driven by our core values of respect, integrity, excellence, creativity, and collaboration, as exemplified by our team members.
Our VIEW:
- Value diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion as drivers for attracting and retaining a diverse team of board members, staff, and volunteers who feel empowered to deliver excellence. This is also the key to reaching a diverse community and audience.
- Include multiple perspectives and believe that differing views strengthen our museum by stretching us to learn, experience, and expand our thinking each day.
- Embrace our mission and vision to explore the hidden gems connected to our historic house, the people that lived in it for the first 100 years, and the extensive art collection, bringing all of this to life and making it relevant and unique to each guest.
- Work together as a board and staff to ensure that our members, partners, and key stakeholders reflect and embrace these core values.
Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion Statement (DEAI): Taft Museum of Art desires to reflect the diversity of our community at every entry point—board, staff, exhibition, education programming, and all museum operations. By embedding DEAI into all museum areas, the Taft Museum of Art will be a champion for equitable practices, providing a welcoming and inclusive museum experience, and be accessible to all.
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