Technician: Collection and Loans + Applied Art of Europe

The Art Institute of Chicago shares its singular collections with our city and the world. We collect, care for, and interpret works of art across time, cultures, geographies, and identities, centering the vision of artists and makers. We recognize that all art is made in a particular context, demanding continual, dynamic reconsideration in the present. We are a place of gathering; we foster the exchange of ideas and inspire an expansive, inclusive understanding of human creativity.

Please click on the links below to view our competitive, comprehensive benefits package: 

• Hiring Range 
• Benefits 
• PTO Overview 
• Job Classification: Full Time Hourly Staff 
• Grade Level: 6

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT(S)

The museum’s collection of Applied Arts of Europe comprises 9,500 works of art ranging in date from 1100 to 1945, with strengths in the fields of Arms and Armor, 18th century design, and 19th century design reform. Collection holdings include furniture, ceramics, glass, metalwork, and other mixed media.

The department of collections and loans (C L) oversees the management of the collection and loaned objects, defining the processes that ensure compliance with the museum’s collection and loan policies as well as legal obligations to borrowers, lenders, donors, and/or sellers. 

In four distinct areas, C L implements policies that govern the day to day application of museum best practices regarding documentation and record keeping; collection database and metadata management; logistics and shipping; art handling and packing; storage; insurance; and, risk management.

ABOUT THE POSITION

This position works in two separate departments and reports jointly to each supervisor: for three designated days each week, the technician will work for Applied Arts of Europe, and for two designated days each week, the technician will work for Collections and Loans.

For the Applied Arts of Europe department, the technician assists with art movement and preparation for departmental gallery rotations, reinstallations, and exhibitions, collaborating with curators, collection manager, department specialist, installation crew, registrars, conservators, photographers, facilities, and security colleagues; relocates and installs art in the departmental galleries and storage areas; provides basic care, including maintenance of objects and displays in storage and on view; monitors environmental conditions of the galleries and storage areas; performs location tracking and (de)installation documentation in the museum’s database; and assists in the preparation of objects for installation and shipment.

For the Collections and Loans department, the technician assists with art movement and preparation for gallery rotations, reinstallations, and exhibitions; the technician collaborates with curators, collection managers, curatorial art handlers, registrars, conservators, facilities, and security colleagues; additionally, the technician assists with art movement, crating, and unpacking within art storage spaces, both on- and offsite.

APPLIED ARTS OF EUROPE RESPONSIBILITIES

Art movement and installation: In consultation with the curators and collection manager, schedules departmental art movement and installations; assists with departmental art handling, moving art to and from galleries, storage areas, committee and trustee meetings, and imaging and conservation studios; requests installation and/or packing crew as needed for art movement and provides functional supervision of art handlers and packers in installing, deinstalling, packing, and unpacking objects as directed.* May act as courier for the department(s). As needed, may assist in making mounts and mannequins for the display of objects. 

Object tracking: In collaboration with Collection Manager and Department Specialist, performs systematic location checks of storage areas; updates location changes in museum database as per museum guidelines; performs systematic location checks of storage areas

Collections in care: Organizes and maintains storage areas as needed. Assists in the care, conservation, installation, and storage of the departmental collection. Under the supervision of Conservation and Science, performs minimal tasks, including light dusting, inspecting the condition of, labeling, and measuring objects; supervises preparation of objects for display, including placing mount work requests.* Assists visiting scholars, students, and visitors in the safe examination of objects in storage and study areas.

Gallery maintenance: Supports the maintenance of galleries, including dusting platforms and casework on a daily basis before museum opening hours; checks temperature and humidity conditions in the galleries and storage areas; places work requests and schedules work with Facilities for the department(s) related to painting, lighting, cleaning, stanchions, and casework; facilitates work in galleries and storage areas for contractors; installs object labels for the collection and replaces existing labels as needed.* Occasionally may be asked to create digital gallery mockup proposals for use by the department(s).

Safety and security: Assists with security procedures in the galleries and storage areas, including temporary removal notices, proper securing of objects to walls and mounts, and securing of storage areas; responds as needed in case of art, gallery, or storage emergency.

Training and best practices: Adheres to training and guidelines in art handling as provided by museum colleagues; participates in periodic trainings to learn new techniques; and keeps abreast of and offers recommendations based upon best practices in the field related to safe and secure art handling, materials, and installation.

COLLECTIONS AND LOANS RESPONSIBILITIES

Art movement and installation: Performs safe art handling in installations, deinstallations (including for temporary exhibitions), collection rotations, Board of Trustees and committee meetings displays, and as assigned; packs and unpacks objects using appropriate materials and equipment; enters packing notes in the database for future reference; works closely with curators, curatorial art handlers, registrars, and conservators to ensure the art is properly cared for and presented according to specifications.

Packing and logistics: Assists with incoming and outgoing shipments, including packing/unpacking and transfer to departmental storages/vaults or exhibition spaces; supports the transport and movement of objects and crates from museum campus to offsite storage.

Collections in care: Under supervision of the manager, collections, in Collections and Loans, executes weekly gallery audits, identifying and reporting discrepancies. Assists with art movement, crating, and unpacking within onsite and offsite art storage spaces.

Safety and security: Keeps abreast of the proper operation, safety protocols, and maintenance requirements for all material and handling equipment used within the museum campus and offsite storage facilities.

Training and best practices: Adheres to training and guidelines in art handling as provided by museum colleagues; participates in periodic training to learn new techniques; and keeps abreast of and offers recommendations based upon best practices in the field related to safe and secure art handling, materials, and installation. Maintains a valid certification for forklift, scissor lift, and any other heavy operation equipment as required. Learns and uses new applications of equipment and hardware, and provides aesthetic and logical solutions to challenges in the areas of art handling/packing and display of works of art to improve and practice safe handling.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Frequently lifts, carries, and moves objects, including art, weighing up to 50 pounds

• Wears PPE as required

• Prolonged periods walking and standing as well as sitting in front of a computer

QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or GED required
• Minimum 2 years experience handling works of art, including 3-dimensional art objects required
• Minimum 2 years packing experience in a museum, gallery, or commercial art-handling company required
• Demonstrated knowledge of safe and current best practices for art handling
• Experience working with small and/or delicate, fragile pieces demonstrating exceptional manual dexterity 
• Excellent competence using a wide variety of hand and power tools
• Expertise preparing display case work, preparing crates, support structures, and housing for artworks in a variety of materials
• Understanding and experience of rigging methods or mount installation preferred
• Ability to operate a forklift or other heavy equipment with onsite training and certification
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Computer skills; knowledge of Google Suite; ability to learn museum-specific collection database systems

CLOSING STATEMENT

The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, veteran status or citizenship. The Institute complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at apply_help@artic.edu.

UNION INFO

This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME Council 31.