What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Preparator position at MFAH?
Role Summary
The Associate Preparator will ensure the professional, safe and timely preparation, care and handling of works of art (multiple forms) for display, exhibition and transport.
Responsibilities:
- Handles, installs, packs, and unpacks artwork at all museum buildings locations
- Installs/deinstalls artwork for temporary exhibitions and rotations
- Transports artwork in the museum truck between campus buildings
- Gallery maintenance of art pedestals, vitrines, and casework
- Maintains organization of artwork in museum storage areas
- Maintains organization and cleanliness of art preparation areas, tools, and equipment
- Records accurate location changes when artwork is moved within museum buildings, galleries, and storage areas
- Assists with photography set-up and conservation as needed
- Represents MFAH at other institutions as a courier for installation, transport or exhibition research
- Assists at Rienzi and Bayou Bend house museums as needed
- Organizes installations as assigned
- Assists conservation with outdoor sculpture maintenance
- Loads/unloads art crates from trucks as assigned
Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:
- Advanced experience and knowledge of art handling, packing and installation practices
- Ability to identify and resolve problems quickly so that installations function smoothly and uninterrupted.
- Capacity to work on both individual, unsupervised projects and as a member of a crew in which teamwork is essential.
- Solid experience using hand and power tools
- Experience driving box truck – valid driver’s license required
- Must be able to lift (with a partner) 75 lbs or more and able to perform a variety of physical tasks involving lifting, bending, stooping and moving large items (including furniture)
- Working knowledge of and experience with various packing methods suitable to a wide range of media combined with a working knowledge of and experience with installation methods suitable to that same wide range of media
- Ability to work professionally and responsibly with all other areas within the museum
- High degree of time and resource management skills with the ability to work under time and deadline requirements and prioritize to meet those expectations.
- Weekend and evening availability as required by exhibition schedules
Education and Experience:
- 5 years’ art handling experience
- Demonstrated knowledge of the principals and practices of art museum collection care, and exhibition and display, design and construction.
- Bachelor's degree in a related field OR any equivalent combination of experience and/or education from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.
Preferred Candidate’s Experience:
- Experience in mount making, matting and framing.
- Fine Arts background
Working Conditions and Physical Demands
The MFAH is an organization comprised of 600 employees and 1,000 docents and volunteers. The museum is more than 100 years old and ranks nationally among the top 10 art museums in exhibition space, memberships, endowments, and attendance, with 1M visitors annually. Our multifaceted institution includes multiple gallery buildings, a sculpture garden, two art schools, and two house museums for decorative arts. The encyclopedic collection numbers more than 70,000 works of art in a wide range of media.
- Work will be performed in varied and wide-ranging environments and conditions. Work may occur both indoors and outdoors throughout the campus as well as off-site locations
- Position may require standing for prolonged periods, walking, climbing, bending and stretching, and enough physical strength to lift and carry a minimum of 50 pounds unassisted or 75 lbs assisted
Work and Culture at the MFAH - Benefits Offered
- Medical, Vision and Dental Insurance
- Life and Long Term Disability Insurance
- MFAH Retirement Savings Plan (403b)
- Flexible Spending Plans
- Paid Time Off, Reserve Time Off, Volunteer Time Off, Holiday Pay
- Museum Membership and retail store discounts
- On campus restaurant discounts
Equal Opportunities for All
At the MFAH, we believe that diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusivity are fundamental to our organization. We welcome all candidates whose experience has prepared them to contribute to our organization and to our pledge for workplace diversity, inclusion, and excellence.
Our commitment to our policy and practice of nondiscrimination represents more than good intentions. It provides for employment decisions that are made without regard to race, creed, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as established by law or any other reason unrelated to your ability to join and contribute to our organization and support our mission to provide a museum experience for all.
The MFAH is equally committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals interested in employment with the organization. As part of this commitment, we want to ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation needed to 1) participate in the job application or 2) interview process; 3) perform essential job functions; and/or 4) participate in the benefits and privileges of employment with the MFAH. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the human resources department: HR@mfah.org
