Exhibition Technician/Collections Preparator

The Albany Institute of History & Art seeks a full-time exhibition technician/collections preparator to fill an important role in its Curatorial Department. Founded in 1791, the Albany Institute has more than 35,000 fine and decorative arts and historical objects along with nearly a million documents in its research library including manuscripts, photographs, maps, posters, and books. The Institute maintains a robust exhibition schedule, opening on average six temporary exhibitions each year, in addition to maintaining long-term collection installations.

The exhibition technician/collections preparator works closely with the curators and registrar to plan, design, and install temporary and traveling exhibitions, long-term collection installations, and to update and modify existing exhibitions as needed. Work includes basic carpentry, patching and painting walls and exhibition furniture, moving platforms and cases, hanging framed works of art, installing objects, designing and installing exhibition signage, labels, and graphic panels, and lighting exhibitions. Maintaining the organization and cleanliness of workshops and fabrication spaces is essential.

Preparing works of art, historical objects, and archival documents for exhibition, storage, and loan transport is an essential and important function of this staff position and requires a record of previous art handling experience. Work includes constructing brass, acrylic, and fabric-covered mounts for objects and textiles, making customized supportive mounts for books and paper documents, hinging, matting, and framing works on paper, adding hanging hardware to frames and hanging paintings.

The technician/preparator will design exhibition signage and labels using Adobe software, specifically InDesign and Photoshop. All signage and labels are printed in-house on a large-format, 44-inch printer. Experience with basic graphic design is desirable but not essential. In this case, the ideal candidate must be willing to learn basic graphic design and layout using Adobe software.

Knowledge and experience with object photography is also desirable to assist curators and registrar with collections photography and digitization and to photo-document exhibition installations.

Requirements:

• Must have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in studio arts, museum studies, exhibition design, or related program.
• 3 to 5 years full-time experience in a similar role at a museum, gallery, or similar cultural organization.
• Must be comfortable working at both hands-on construction and installation tasks as well as stationary desk projects essential.
• Previous art handling experience essential.
• Experience with Adobe InDesign desirable.
• Knowledge of basic graphic design and signage printing and installation desirable.
• Experience with gallery lighting.
• Knowledge of A/V technology and installation.
• Experience hinging, matting, and framing works on paper.
• Experience making exhibition mounts for objects and archival materials
• Must be comfortable working collaboratively as part of a team but also independently when necessary.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.
• Comfortable operating a lift, climbing ladders, and working at heights.
• Occasional travel.
• Occasional evening and weekend obligations.

This is an onsite, full-time (35 hours per week), associate-level position. The museum offers a comprehensive benefits plan, including medical, dental, vision, paid sick leave, personal, and vacation time as well as access to a long-term pension program.

Hourly rate commensurate with experience in the range of $25 to $27.50 per hour.

TO APPLY

Send a resume and cover letter to [email protected].

ABOUT THE ALBANY INSTITUTE OF HISTORY & ART

Founded in 1791, the Albany Institute of History & Art is New York’s oldest museum. Its collections document the Hudson Valley as a crossroads of culture, influencing the art and history of the region, the state, and the nation. With more than 35,000 objects and one million documents in the library, it is an important resource for the region, informing our community and visitors about the important role the Hudson Valley has played in the American story. Permanent and temporary exhibitions are open year-round and create a sense of place, allowing visitors to meet the people who helped shape this region.

The Albany Institute of History & Art is an equal opportunity employer. The Institute embraces diversity in thought, background, and experience, and insists on equal employment opportunities for all applicants. We ensure that all employment opportunities are provided to qualified individuals irrespective of race, traits historically associated with race (including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles), creed, color, national origin, ancestry/place of birth,  citizenship/immigration status, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy), height, weight, reproductive health decision making, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, familial status, veteran status, military status, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status, stalking, or sex offense victim status, or any other basis protected by applicable law. AIHA also does not unlawfully discriminate against applicants or employees based upon arrest or conviction records. All such discrimination is unlawful, and all persons involved in the operations of AIHA are prohibited from engaging in this type of conduct.