Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship Postgraduate Fellowship in Paintings Conservation

Andrew W. Mellon Postgraduate Fellowship in Paintings Conservation

Job Details

Description

Fellowship Title: Andrew W. Mellon Postgraduate Fellowship in Paintings Conservation

Supervisor: Lapis Senior Conservator of Paintings

Dates of Fellowship: September 15, 2025 – September 11, 2026

Term: One year, renewable up to two additional years

Fellowship Overview:

The Cleveland Museum of Art welcomes applications for the Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship Postgraduate Fellowship in paintings conservation. The fellowship is a one-year, post-graduate, advanced training fellowship with renewal of up to two additional years. There will be a particular focus on the Museum’s seventeenth and eighteenth century French and German paintings, in preparation for upcoming gallery reinstallations of the permanent collection. The fellowship offers the opportunity to work in a dynamic and well-equipped paintings lab with experienced paintings conservators.

The successful candidate will join a convivial, generous, and skilled conservation department consisting of ten conservators, three technicians, and a lab coordinator, along with numerous interns (pre-program to graduate) and fellows. The Conservation team is committed to the mentorship and support of emerging conservators, and regularly hosts pre-program conservation interns, graduate interns, and post-graduate fellows with the support of substantial endowment funds. The department also has access to the significant resources of the Cleveland Museum of Art, including a dedicated conservation technical imaging specialist and an outstanding library and archives, which is one of the largest in the nation, prioritizes collecting conservation literature, and assigns a research librarian to assist with conservation-specific queries. The department partners regularly with Philanthropy and has achieved remarkable fundraising success regarding strategic endowments within the past five years.

The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 objects and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. A major renovation and expansion project completed in 2014 has transformed the museum into a significant international forum for exhibitions, scholarship, performing arts and art education. One of the top comprehensive art museums in the nation and free of charge to all, the Cleveland Museum of Art is located in the University Circle neighborhood. The city and surrounding areas contain excellent cultural institutions, outdoor parks, and schools. Cleveland has a robust arts and culture scene, including The Cleveland Orchestra, one of the world’s finest symphonies. Local resources and collaborators include Case Western Reserve University with its innovative maker space, think[box], the Cleveland Clinic, and ICA-Art Conservation, which is the nation’s oldest regional lab. 

For more information on the department please visit https://www.clevelandart.org/conservation

Requirements and Key Competencies:

A bachelor’s (BA) degree and completion of a master’s level graduate degree (MA) with focus in paintings conservation, or equivalent experience, education, and training. The successful candidate must have knowledge of museum practices and collections management, and a familiarity with the types and materials represented in the Museum’s collection of paintings. They should have a demonstrated ability to work independently and successfully with others, including other Museum staff, volunteers, and diverse public constituencies to achieve institutional objectives and fulfill the museum's mission. Excellent written and oral communication skills are essential, as is an ability to work with collections databases, Microsoft Office suit, and other computing and imaging tools that the conservation staff is expected to use on a regular basis. 

The Fellow must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Manual dexterity is frequently required as duties call for the handling of artwork, and operation of tools and equipment.  Job duties entail standing, walking, sitting, climbing, bending, and kneeling. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, color, and peripheral vision. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to or in proximity of fumes, airborne particles, solvents, toxic chemicals, and the risk of radiation. Appropriate personal protective equipment and safety mechanisms are provided. The candidate must be eligible to legally work in the US.  

General Responsibilities 

• Communicates regularly with the Lapis Senior Conservator of Paintings to ensure that projects assigned meet set expectations, and that the highest museum standards are being realized in the care of the Museum’s painting collection.   

• Examines paintings, assesses condition, prepares examination reports, arranges for photographic documentation, and proposes and performs treatment for paintings in consultation with the Lapis Senior Conservator of Paintings.

• Prepares examination reports to provide media and support descriptions; assessment of artists’ techniques; assessment of condition problems; requirements for handling, storage, exhibition and travel as well as recommendations for treatment. 

• As necessary, proposes and carries out additional analysis to identify materials and techniques of fabrication used in works of art already in the collection, and for works being considered for acquisition in the paintings collection.  A variety of analyses and tests may be required to determine media and support identification, age, structure, and stability, and to help determine the outcome of various treatment options. 

• Carries out treatments in order to stabilize and conserve, as possible, the physical and/or visual integrity of the work of art. Treatment may include, but is not limited to, performing structural stabilizations such as consolidation, lining and edge lining, dry and aqueous cleaning procedures for removal of surface grime and accretions, working with organic solvents to remove previous varnish coatings, retouching and overpaint, precise color matching to compensate for original paint loss with inpainting, and application of surface coatings, as required. Works with senior staff on complex conservation projects.  

• Helps to keep the paintings lab organized and clean. 

• Makes recommendations for the safe display of paintings including recommendations for light levels, temperature, relative humidity, and handling precautions. When problems are found, they investigate the best course of action to correct the problem and share those findings with the Lapis Senior Conservator of Paintings. Participates in updating art handling guidelines and teaching proper handling of paintings to other museum employees who handle artwork. 

• Conducts research relevant to paintings conservation, focusing on the CMA collection and exhibitions including paintings.  As appropriate and as possible shares results and/or presents information in lectures or in publications, which may include e-publications and web contents. 

• As budget allows, pursues professional development opportunities by attending conservation workshops and meetings on an annual basis 

• Assists with work in museum galleries, including the installation of works of paintings and special exhibitions, and the handling of emergency situations as needed. 

• Participates in exhibition preparations as needed. Includes attending planning meetings and contributing to public events.   

• Educates the public on the field of conservation. Participates with lab tours and gives in-lab lectures as required. Participation in the classes that involve the relationship between the CWRU graduate art history program and CMA conservation department is required. 

• Enters all findings and written documentation in museum database. Ensures the photographic documentation related to the conservation of paintings is properly labeled and stored. 

• Assists in the maintenance and use of analytical equipment.  Participates as possible in training related to the use and maintenance of this equipment. 

Other Responsibilities:

• Upholds the professional standards of the field. Always acts in a manner that is consistent with the best interests of the museum, protecting and enhancing its reputation and standing within the community of museums. 

• Adheres to the museum’s code of ethics and avoids any real or perceived conflicts of interest. 

• Shows respect for co-workers and visitors and an understanding of and appreciation for the diversity of the museum’s staff, volunteers, and audiences. 

• Aspires to excellence in all aspects of his/her work and serves as a model for others. Suggests methods for improvement as appropriate and maintains personal and professional growth. 

• Maintain a safe and healthful environment in a proactive fashion. Reports hazards, concerns and problems to appropriate personnel. 

• Confers with supervisor relating to personal needs that may conflict with professional responsibilities. 

• Maintains confidentiality. 

• Adheres to all CMA protocols, procedures, rules, and policies. 

Salary:

Full-time work is 35 hours per week, although occasional overtime might be necessary, for example, when traveling for work.

Mellon Fellowship Salary: $48,360.00

Professional development and travel: up to $3,000

Application Procedure:

Deadline for applications is April 18, 2025.

For consideration, please submit the following materials in English. PDF format is strongly preferred, and please be sure to include your last name in the title of each document.

• A letter stating your interests and intent in applying for the position.
• Curriculum vitae
• Online portfolio (preferred) or examples of examination and treatment reports with images
• Contact list for three professional references

Full-time Benefits include:  

• Partner level membership to CMA 
• Free, unlimited admission to select Cleveland Museum of Art ticketed exhibitions (two adult member tickets per visit, subject to availability)
• 50% off admission to select ticketed exhibitions for members' guests
• Free admission to select ticketed exhibitions for unlimited children, 17 and younger, when accompanied by a member
• Priority registration and discounts for museum art classes for adults and children
• 20% discount in the museum store
• 10% discount in the museum restaurant and café
• Annual subscription to Cleveland Art members magazine

• Free Garage Parking
• Your employment relationship with the museum qualifies you for free or discounted admissions to other cultural institutions such as the Natural History Museum, Botanical Gardens, The Cleveland Zoo, etc.
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
• Voluntary Life
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• HSA
• FSA

Salary : $48,360