Description:
The Collections Care Associate collaborates with the Conservation and Collections teams to maintain and care for the diverse collection and uniquely installed galleries in the historic Gardner Museum. This work supports a variety of projects including conservation work, collection photography, scholarly research, and gallery refurbishments. Additionally, the incumbent is an advocate for the collection in working with museum staff and outside contractors on planning programs and activities in the museum galleries. The Collections Care Associate also supports the dynamic and award-winning Exhibition program, participating in planning and execution of three shows per year.
Primary Responsibilities
Collections and Conservation art handling:
- Carrying out art moves for conservation projects, photography, scholar visits, exhibitions and loans in coordination with the Associate Registrar for the Collection.
- Build custom mounts and work with conservators to evaluate and upgrade installation methods for collection objects.
- Carry out matting, glazing and framing for paintings and works of art on paper.
- Create housing for storage of collection objects
- Carry out collection moves and in-situ protection during conservation, facilities and contractor work in the galleries.
- Assist with maintaining lights, window shades, stanchions and other gallery appearance issues.
Exhibition and Loans preparation:
- Participate in the installation and deinstallation of exhibitions three times per year working in a demanding environment under strict deadlines with a variety of media from historic to contemporary art.
- Work with the exhibition conservator and Senior Preparator, plan for framing and mounting needs and advise the Exhibitions team on feasibility of design proposals as they pertain to object installation and best practices, object safety and logistical considerations.
- Collaborate with Senior Preparator on exhibition furniture and mount construction, acting as a key associate and team member to meet exhibition deliverables.
- Collaborate on packing for loans and, occasionally act as a courier for the museum.
Conservation representative for operational planning:
- Act as the conservation representative in operational planning for programs, tours, events, filming and other activities in the galleries.
- Carry out conservation orientations for new staff, as well as contracted photographers, performers and artists working in the galleries. Provide extended orientations for staff that work around collections (horticulture, housekeeping, etc).
- Collaborate with Objects Conservator to hire and train Collections Maintenance Technicians (CMT) and coordinate the CMT schedule with museum operations.