Career Center

The Davis Museum seeks an Assistant Preparator, responsible for the care, handling, and display of all artwork at the Museum, within the Collections Care and Management (CCM) Department, and reporting to the Manager of Exhibitions and Collections Preparation. The Assistant Preparator is responsible for a variety of specialized tasks relating to the installation, de-installation, display, care, and handling of artworks owned by, loaned to, and exhibited by the Museum. The ideal candidate possesses art preparation skills gained from employment at other fine art museums, cultural institutions, commercial galleries, or similar.

The Assistant Preparator cares for all permanent collections through managing housing, mount making, matting, and framing. They enable access to the Davis’ collections for teaching, learning, and research projects, responding to requests from viewers including students, faculty, outside scholars, and the public.  Alongside the CCM team, they are integral to the safety and security of the objects within storage vaults, off site locations, and exhibition spaces. The Assistant Preparator may supervise and collaborate with outside contractors in exhibition planning, preparation, and installation. This position has the opportunity to supervise and lead student projects and internships.

Primary Responsibilities:

Art Preparation for Exhibitions [60 %]

• Assist with general art handling and installation needs within the museum

• Liaise with and supervise temporary art handling contractors during exhibition installation and de-installation

• Maintain gallery lighting, adjust lighting as needed, and manage lighting inventory following best practices for exhibitions

• Provide ongoing support for painting, cleaning, repair, and technical needs of museum exhibitions

• Light construction of walls and display furniture

• Produces and installs wall texts, labels, and other exhibition didactics; de-installation and removal of vinyl

• Assist in cleaning cases, platforms, and frames within the exhibition halls

• Support installation and ongoing maintenance of audio-visual components of exhibition installation alongside the Media Specialist

Art Preparation and Collections Care [40%]

• Mat, frame, create mounts, and provide storage housings for artwork

• Oversee artwork storage spaces by providing safe housing, packing, and movement of all artwork

• Provide collections access for faculty, students, and outside scholars

• Collaborate with the Exhibition Manager and Curator(s) on assigned projects in planning, layout and logistics

• Oversee Study Gallery and Print Corridor exhibition spaces, install artwork for permanent exhibition changes

• Work with Museum registration staff to monitor gallery environments using dataloggers

• Oversee the cleanliness of workshop/loading dock and inventory of tools, materials, and supplies

• Alongside conservators, perform regular maintenance on outdoor sculptures

• Assist with annual inventories of collections

Performance Profile:

Position requires demonstrated proficiency in handling works of art in a wide variety of media including but not limited to paintings, bronze, ceramic, glass, metals, mixed media, textiles, works on paper, contemporary art, and new media. Demonstrated proficiency with installation of exhibitions, layout and lighting design. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, the ability to coordinate and implement complex projects, diligence, ability to work independently as well as enthusiasm for team collaboration, flexibility in scheduling, professionalism, collegiality, and informed adherence to best museum practices and standards in the field. Also requires physical agility, good vision, ability to lift 50 lbs., and manual dexterity required to move artwork and to operate tools/equipment (genie lifts, pallet jacks, etc.) Experience with best practices and methods in mount making preferred, and demonstrated ability to apply this knowledge with initiative and judgment, concern for detail, accuracy, and neat execution of work.

Supervises:

Supervises art handling contractors as well as student assistants and interns, as needed.

Required Education and Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years experience or equivalent combination of training and experience in an assistant preparator role, preferably in a museum setting.

• B.A. degree preferred.

• Demonstrated proficiency in handling works of art in a wide variety of media including but not limited to paintings, bronze, ceramic, glass, metals, mixed media, textiles, works on paper, contemporary art and new media.

• Demonstrated proficiency with installation of exhibitions, layout, and lighting design.

• Experience with practices and methods in mount making preferred, and demonstrated ability to apply this knowledge with initiative and judgment, concern for detail, accuracy, and neat execution of work.

Skills and Abilities Required:

• Skills and knowledge of shop equipment preferred and manual dexterity to effectively perform various skilled and semi-skilled tasks, including woodworking, brazing, use of adhesives and fasteners, construction methods, and use of stationary and portable power tools.

• Demonstrated skills and knowledge of archival materials and storage techniques for loaned and museum collection objects.

• Ability to work collaboratively with a team of contract art preparators, staff, designers, guest curators, and vendors.

• Ability to move 50 lbs independently as well as assist in moving heavier objects by operating genie lifts, pallet jacks, etc.

• Proficiency with design programs such as Adobe InDesign and Illustrator, Google Sketch-up highly desirable and familiarity with computer applications in a multi-platform environment including Microsoft Word and Excel required.

• Knowledgeable about artwork collection database management; TMS experience preferred.

• Effective oral and written communication skills; ability to interpret and follow detailed instructions to maintain conformity in installation and de-installation of exhibition spaces

• Exceptional organizational skills; ability to set priorities and adapt as priorities shift, handle multiple assignments and deadlines.

• Displays excellent judgment, while operating in a flexible and professional manner.

• Photography knowledge is preferred.

• This position is full-time, 35 hours a week, with a negotiable schedule; two to three evening event assistance required per year

• Other duties as assigned.

• Overtime may be required as needed.

Other:

The successful candidate will join the staff of a museum at the center of the intellectual life of a vital undergraduate campus, will align closely with the Davis Museum’s DEAI values of inclusion, excellence, innovation, and access, and will bring strong commitment to to the unique orientation of the academic museum and to the teaching mission of the Davis. Candidates must be creative and flexible with strong verbal and written communication skills and an ability to work well with a broad spectrum of the Museum’s communities. Excellent problems-solving skills and ability to work in a team-oriented environment are essential; candidates must be collegial, collaborative, and committed to a positive culture.

About the Davis.

One of the oldest and most acclaimed academic art museums in the United States, the Davis is at the core of Wellesley’s mission to educate young women for the world. A dynamic force in the intellectual, pedagogical and social life of the campus, the Davis also engages an expanded regional, national, and international community through innovative special exhibitions and enriching public programs.

The Davis collections of some 16,000 objects span global history from antiquity to the present and include masterpieces from almost every continent. Open to all, the holdings are housed in an extraordinary museum building, designed by Rafael Moneo, winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize. In addition to dynamic presentations of the permanent collections, and installations that support specific coursework and research interests, the Davis hosts a rotating series of engaging temporary exhibitions and programs—all guided by values of inclusion, excellence, innovation, and access.

About Wellesley College and the Arts

The Wellesley College arts curriculum and the highly acclaimed Davis Museum are integral components of the College’s liberal arts education. Departments and programs from across the campus enliven the community with world-class programming– classical and popular music, visual arts, theater, dance, author readings, symposia, and lectures by some of today’s leading artists and creative thinkers–most of which are free and open to the public.

Since 1875, Wellesley College has been a leader in providing an excellent liberal arts education for women who will make a difference in the world. Its 500-acre campus near Boston is home to some 2,400 undergraduate students from 49 states and 58 countries.

Wellesley College is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to increasing the diversity of the college community and the curriculum. Candidates who believe they can contribute to that goal are encouraged to apply.

Application Requirements

• Resume and Cover letter

• Names and Contacts for three Professional References

Review of applications begins on November 20, 2023

Wellesley College offers a wide variety of benefits programs and resources to its employees, including: 

• Generous paid time off

• Following one year of employment, Wellesley College will contribute up to 10.5% towards your 403B plan for eligible employees

• Resources to navigate student loan forgiveness

• Free use of the athletic/fitness facilities, including onsite fitness classes 

• Free on-site parking in an enclosed parking garage 

• All employees hired are strongly encouraged to be up to date with all vaccination and boosters against COVID?19.

About Wellesley College

Wellesley is known for the excellence of its education, the beauty of its setting, its gifted faculty, and the uniqueness of its campus culture. But most of all, Wellesley is known for the thousands of accomplished, thoughtful women it has sent out into the world for over 100 years women who are committed to making a difference. Every year, some 2,400 of the world's top undergraduate women are challenged to exceed their own highest personal and intellectual expectations. The mastery Wellesley graduates demonstrate across the professional and vocational spectrum, and the influence they wield, whether in their own communities or on the world stage is testament to a singularly empowering undergraduate experience. Wellesley's lively academic community places a high value on rigorous, probing inquiry, and creative, cross-discipline thinking. Its collaborative approach to scholarship encourages students to question, debate, and refine their points of view, not only with each other, but with our world-class faculty, often by working directly with them on groundbreaking projects. A Wellesley education fosters the highest standard of readiness for the real world in its graduates, in terms... of ability to think, act, and contribute meaningfully and effectively in their chosen areas of interest.

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