ABOUT THE POSITION

Reporting to the chair of AA as primary supervisor and chair of AAMB, the technician conducts art movement and installations with particular emphasis on the collections of Arts of Africa and Egyptian art; supports Specialist in the Arts of the Ancient Mediterranean and Byzantium as needed. The technician organizes, coordinates, and supervises art preparation and movement for departmental gallery rotations, reinstallations, and exhibitions, collaborating with curators, collection manager, installation crew, registrars, conservators, 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 in the museum’s database; and supervises and assists in the preparation of objects for installation and shipment.

This position works equally in two separate departments and reports jointly to the individual chairs of those departments. Assignments, priorities, and time allocations shall be determined through collaborative decisions by the two chairs.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Art movement and installation: In consultation with chairs, curators and collection manager, responsible for planning and scheduling departmental art movement and installations; directs art handling, moving art to and from galleries, storage areas, committee and trustee meetings, and imaging and conservation studios; submits requests and tracks work requests for 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; creates, maintains, and records installation notes in Museum database. May make mounts and mannequins for the display of objects and assists with gallery mockups (digital or physical) for collection rotations and exhibitions; may act as courier for the departments.

Object tracking: Updates location changes in museum database within 24 hours of art movement as per museum guidelines; performs systematic location checks of storage areas; creates documentation maps with measurements of gallery installations after each reinstallation.

Collections in care: Organizes and maintains storage areas as needed. Assists in the care, conservation, installation, and storage of the departmental collections; fabricates housing for long term storage and care. 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. Continuously monitors galleries and storage areas and is responsible for facilitating monthly visits to storage with pest control representatives; regularly reports environmental changes to chair, conservation, and lenders. Assists visiting scholars, students, and visitors in the safe examination of objects in storage and study areas.

Gallery maintenance: Performs regular maintenance of galleries, including dusting platforms and casework; checks and monitors temperature and humidity conditions in the galleries and storage areas; places work requests and schedules work with Facilities for the departments related to painting, lighting, cleaning, stanchions, and casework; facilitates work in the 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 departments.

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

Training and best practices: Adheres to training 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.

Values: Supports the museum in its commitment to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable institution; treats colleagues and visitors fairly and respectfully, recognizing the value that diverse backgrounds and perspectives bring to our organization.

• Minimum of year of experience handling works of art––or equivalent experience working with objects––required
• Ability to learn museum-specific collection database systems
• Familiarity with or specialization in departmental field a plus
• The successful candidate should be highly detail-oriented and organized, demonstrate initiative, have a proven track record of careful, experienced art handling, embrace the museum’s commitment to creating an inclusive and equitable institution, have an open-minded and collaborative approach to working and communicating with all colleagues across the museum, and have strong communication, organizational, and multitasking skills.

We offer a competitive, comprehensive benefits package:

• Generous paid time off
• Paid holidays (up to 14 days)
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Generous parental, caregiver, and medical leave benefits
• Competitive retirement plan (up to 9% matching contribution)
• Tuition remission and Tuition Exchange Program
• Great employee discounts
• Complimentary general admission to participating cultural institutions

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Vaccination Expectation

Becoming vaccinated against COVID-19 is the most important contribution we as individuals can make to ensure our own safety and the safety of our museum and school community. All employees must complete an attestation and provide proof of their vaccination status, or request a medical or religious exemption within the first week of employment.

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.

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