Preparator

Description

Department: Registration / Exhibitions

Reports to:  Head Registrar, Exhibitions and Loans

Classification:  Exempt, full-time with benefits

Compensation: $70,000 - $75,000 depending on experience

This is an onsite, Boston-based position. Local candidates strongly preferred. No agencies, please.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Core Values

Isabella Stewart Gardner believed that art had the power to change lives and she built a beautiful, personal, and immersive Museum setting to do so. Today the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (ISGM) is a living embodiment of her bold vision; a dynamic place where ideas and creativity in all its forms inspire visitors. Through exhibitions, music, programs, and performances we strive to tell new stories and challenge assumptions engaging diverse voices and community members.

Our Core Values are:

• Creativity is our Legacy
• Community is our Purpose
• The Collection is our Catalyst
• Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion are our Commitments 

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum seeks to connect past with present, develop and sustain mutually beneficial partnerships with our local communities and artists, expand and diversify our audiences, and generate opportunities for creativity. We are firmly committed to creating both an inclusive work culture and a welcoming visitor experience. Our five-year Strategic Plan outlines the Museum’s core values, goals, and initiatives that serve as a renewal of Isabella's promise for the Museum to be a place for “the education and enjoyment of the public forever.”

Position Summary

Working under the direction of the Senior Preparator and reporting to the Head Registrar, the Preparator is a team-member that supports the dynamic, award-winning exhibition program and diverse permanent collection uniquely installed in the historic Gardner Museum. Participation in the execution of six exhibitions per year includes art handling activities related to installation and deinstallation; assistance with art shipments; packing and unpacking materials; object handling; and, fabricating exhibition furniture and mounts. Support for permanent collection needs includes conservation work, collection photography, scholarly research, and gallery refurbishments in the historic building. 

Essential Functions and Primary Responsibilities

• Maintains the highest standard of care and best practices for collection and loaned works with regard to object handling, documentation, storage, display, and art packing for shipment. Continually engages in acquiring knowledge of updated standards and methodologies, and works to share and implement these at ISGM.
• Supports a wide array of exhibitions and collections work at various planning phases and works closely with the Exhibitions and Collections teams towards shared goals.
• Responsible for placing supply and materials orders as required. Maintains the Museum inventory of necessary supplies and equipment for art handling, packing, etc. and the on-site materials storage area.
• Assists with oversight of inventory and supply of exhibition furniture, mounts, and display materials including documentation and storage of same.
• Conducts regular inspections of exhibition installations and performs/coordinates the maintenance and cleaning of exhibition works, display elements, and exhibit galleries.
• Works independently on assigned projects with direction from Senior Preparator, as well as Registration, Exhibitions, and Conservation team members.
• Under the direction of the Head Registrar, works professionally with couriers from lending institutions for the handling and display of loaned works for exhibition. May also travel between ISGM and off-site storage area to deliver, store, or collect supplemental holdings or exhibition furniture to/from the Museum. Works with registrars at ISGM to manage on-site and off-site storage areas.
• Travels as ISGM courier or on site visits to oversee works for loan and exhibition as required.
• In collaboration with the Conservation and Collections teams, supports collection risk management and safe object movement, in addition to performing object moves in the confines of a historic structure considered a total work of art.
• Performs other duties as assigned by Senior Preparator and/or Registrars in support of exhibition, loans, and collection work, which may include administrative and documentation tasks.

Communication and Related Responsibilities

• Demonstrates a strong sense of personal leadership, accountability, and collegiality in support of core work and team relationships. Communicates effectively with Head Registrar, Senior Preparator, and provides timely updates on Exhibition and Conservation/Collections projects.
• Works closely and professionally with a wide variety of personalities, positions, and stakeholders both internally and externally including but not limited to Facilities, Security, Collections, Contemporary, Conservation, and Operations teams. 
• Maintains patience, flexibility, adaptability, and a collegial relationship in working with living artists for contemporary art installations. Takes direction from artists during the installation process while keeping within standard Museum procedures for best practices and timelines for project deliverables. Also works closely and congenially with a range of outside contractors including artists, scholars, designers, electricians, curators, and freelance art handlers.
• Meets deadlines and deliverables according to schedule with an appropriate sense of urgency. Communicates effectively when project deadlines are challenged or affected.
• Learns, listens, asks questions, and takes direction, demonstrating the ability to integrate new information into positive outcomes.

Requirements

General Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Art History, Museum Studies, Studio Art, or a related field; or, equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of 8 years’ experience in art handling, packing, and exhibition development, installation, and deinstallation in a museum environment.
• A broad, working-knowledge of museum best practices and standards for collection handling and care, installation and deinstallation of artwork, art packing, and preventive conservation, including specialized knowledge in the use of tools and equipment used for art movement, installation, shipping, and packing.
• Experienced with a broad range of object types, both historic and contemporary, such as paintings, sculpture, architectural elements, objects, textiles, furniture, works on paper, mixed media, digital artwork, A/V equipment, projection, new media, and contemporary art installation of site-specific and performance artwork.
• Minimum of 4 years’ experience in finish carpentry. Highly proficient with standard workshop tools and possesses an excellent level of carpentry skills for fabrication of exhibition display elements, art move equipment, packing materials or crates, and special project builds as needed. Experienced with the best practices for painting and prepping of museum display mounts/pedestals.
• Experience with mount-making, matting, framing, and re-housing of 2- and 3-dimensional collection objects using a variety of materials. 
• Proficiency with art moving and lift equipment, including but not limited to staging, dollies, a-frames, painting carts, furniture lifts/dollies, rigging equipment, j-bars, pallet jacks, forklifts, and scissor lifts. 
• Must be able to problem-solve and develop safe solutions creatively for complex art moves, display, or packing issues, and to an array of operational or other challenges.
• Able to work independently and in a team setting with a high level of organization and attention to detail.
• A high level of personal accountability for work, including prioritization of projects and meeting deadlines in support of the Museum’s strategic goals.
• Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, and auditory).
• Working knowledge of digital tools and computing in a variety of platforms. Experience with Collection Management Databases (particularly TMS-C), Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, and various Apple tools preferred.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality related to art shipping and storage, as well as other sensitive information.
• Commitment to advancing the ISGM’s diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI) initiatives.
• Some work may take place during off-hours. Ability to work a flexible schedule and overtime as required.
• Ability to travel as required.
• Massachusetts driver’s license required; forklift operator’s license a plus.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States.
• Must complete a pre-employment background check to the Museum's satisfaction.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift, bend, reach, and stand for extended periods of time. Comfortable stooping, pushing, and pulling while working.
• Must be able to reach and work above shoulders, climb up and down and work on ladders, scaffolding, and/or a scissor lift up to a height up to 36 feet.
• Must be able to lift heavy objects up to 80 pounds comfortably.

COVID-19 Protocols

All employees of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum are required to provide their COVID-19 vaccination status. If you are not vaccinated, they will need to participate in an interactive process to request a religious or medical accommodation and to submit weekly test results, in addition to following other federal, state, and CDC recommendations.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion (DEAI) is one of the core values we hold close to our business practices. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is committed to affording equal opportunities to qualified individuals regardless of race, color, gender, gender identity, genetics, military/veteran status, pregnancy, religion, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, or any other basis prohibited by applicable laws.

Request an Accommodation

Applicants with disabilities who are unable to fully access ISGM's online application system may contact us at hr@isgm.org for assistance with a reasonable accommodation.

Salary : $70,000 - $75,000