Associate Conservator Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Project

BLR WORLD; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading art institution is seeking an Assistant/Associate Conservator for the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Project. This full-time role involves collaborating with teams to support conservation efforts for a major contemporary art museum. Candidates should possess an MA in Art Conservation and ideally have 2-5 years of relevant experience. Responsibilities include artwork stewardship, reviewing exhibition designs, and ensuring preservation standards are met. Flexibility to travel and adapt to changing priorities in a dynamic environment is essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two to five years of post-graduate conservation experience.
• Familiarity with modern and contemporary artists’ materials and practices.
• Willingness to research and explore a wide range of materials and technologies.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with colleagues on the stewardship of artworks across various media.
• Review exhibition design concepts and provide feedback.
• Assess pre-acquisition condition reports.

Skills

Collaboration

Communication

Organizational skills

Adaptability

Education

MA in Art Conservation or equivalent

Job description

OUR CLIENT

Guggenheim, a global constellation of museums unlike any other in the world. Four museums on three continents, united by the power of groundbreaking art to connect us to ourselves and to each other. Since their founding in 1937, the Guggenheim has introduced, celebrated and brought to the public the newest voices and visions in modern and contemporary art. When Solomon R. Guggenheim and Hilla Rebay set out to share the joy they first experienced in discovering experimental art, they initiated the creative risk-taking that is today synonymous with “Guggenheim” throughout the world. Across the globe, each Guggenheim museum is a place for experiencing and storytelling about great art.

The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, currently under construction, is located in the heart of the Saadiyat Cultural District, a museum of modern and contemporary art with a mission to contribute to and stimulate expansive perspectives on the history of art. Presenting an international collection with a specific focus on West Asia, North Africa, and South Asia (WANASA), Guggenheim Abu Dhabi fosters a deeper understanding of how different local, regional, and international forces have shaped the interconnected histories and cultures of our time.

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The position of Assistant/Associate Conservator, will be part of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Project team within The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, dedicated to working together with the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi to prepare for the opening of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. This position is based in Abu Dhabi.

Reporting to the Senior Conservator, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Project (a position based in New York), the role works collaboratively with teams in both Abu Dhabi and New York across curatorial, registration, exhibition management, exhibition design, and operations to support conservation and collection care for the future museum and help realize the inaugural program of collection displays and temporary exhibitions. In addition, the Assistant/Associate Conservator collaborates on the realization of artist commissions and contributes to due diligence for new acquisitions entering the collection. This position is open to any discipline in conservation (e.g., paintings, paper, photography, objects, time-based media or preventative conservation), with a preference for objects conservation and/or experience in installations and contemporary art.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• MA in Art Conservation or equivalent graduate qualification.

• Minimum of two to five years of post-graduate conservation experience within a museum or equivalent institutional context.
• Familiarity with modern and contemporary artists’ materials and practices, with an emphasis on installation art.
• Willingness to research and explore a wide range of materials, techniques, and technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across teams and disciplines.

• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.

• Flexible and adaptable to shifting priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to work independently and meet deadlines.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Collaborate with colleagues at the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi, in the preparation, documentation, installation, and stewardship of artworks across various media (including time-based media), large-scale installations, and commissions for the future Guggenheim Abu Dhabi museum.
• Review and provide feedback on exhibition design concepts and schematic drawings.
• Assess pre-acquisition condition reports produced by external contract conservators and advise on any preservation concerns, foreseeable obsolescence, and deliverables.
• Work with artists, foundations or estates, and galleries to determine appropriate parameters for the exhibition and preservation of artworks.
• Organize and create documentation within a collections management database.
• Advise on best practices for artwork storage, transport, handling, and installation in coordination with Registration and Exhibition Management teams.
• Provide support to DCT Abu Dhabi, as required, with the movement and installation of collection artworks.
• Participate in meetings and planning sessions related to building preparation and inaugural program development.
• Undertake periodic travel to New York and other project sites, as required, to support conservation activities and collaboration with Guggenheim teams.
• Maintain regular liaison with the Senior Conservator, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Project, and other Conservation Department staff at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York.

WORK DEMANDS & ENVIRONMENT

• Ability to travel domestically or internationally.

• On occasion, tours may be conducted outdoors, with exposure to varied weather conditions.

• Ability to work events on nights, weekends, and holidays on occasion.

EDUCATION: MA in Art Conservation

REPORTS TO: Senior Conservator, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Project

LOCATION: Abu Dhabi

WORK SCHEDULE: As per contract

POSITION TYPE: Full-time