Conservator: Eastern Art on Paper & Silk

The British Museum; Greater London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

The British Museum invites a qualified conservator to join the Pictorial Art Conservation team, focusing on Chinese and other East Asian and South Asian paintings. You will train in Chinese paintings conservation at the Hirayama Studio and contribute to care, study and long-term preservation of the collection through interventive and preventive conservation.

You will support exhibitions, loans and storage projects while helping ensure objects are cared for to the highest professional standards.

Qualifications

• Qualified conservator with practical experience in paper conservation.
• Strong interest in Chinese and South Asian pictorial art.
• Understanding of conservation theory, ethics, preventive conservation and material deterioration.

Responsibilities

• Develop specialist expertise in conservation of Chinese, East Asian and South Asian paintings.
• Help deliver an ambitious programme of exhibitions, loans and displays.
• Support projects that improve care, storage and accessibility of the collection.
• Work closely with curatorial, conservation and collections colleagues to deliver shared priorities and cross-Museum projects.
• Share expertise through talks, publications, social media and other public engagement activities.
• Contribute to development of conservation approaches, research and documentation that support best practice and collection care.

Skills

paper conservation

East Asian paintings

South Asian paintings

conservation theory

ethics

preventive conservation

communication

Education

Conservation qualification

Job description

About the role

This role offers an exciting opportunity to establish yourself as a valued member of the Pictorial Art Conservation team while developing specialist expertise in the conservation of Chinese and other East Asian and South Asian paintings. Alongside dedicated training in Chinese paintings conservation in the world-renowned Hirayama Studio, you will contribute to the care, study and long-term preservation of the collection through both interventive and preventive conservation activities.

You will play an important part in delivering the Museum’s priorities, supporting exhibitions, loans and collections storage projects while helping to ensure objects are cared for to the highest professional standards. Working closely with colleagues across the Museum, you will also contribute to research, public engagement and the ongoing development of conservation practice.

About you

You are a qualified conservator with practical experience in paper conservation and a strong interest in Chinese and South Asian pictorial art. You have a sound understanding of conservation theory, ethics, preventive conservation and material deterioration.

You are an organised and collaborative professional who can balance detailed conservation work with competing priorities. Comfortable working independently and as part of a team, you communicate effectively with colleagues and wider audiences, and are committed to developing your expertise in Chinese, other East Asian and South Asian pictorial art.

Key areas of responsibility

• Develop your specialist expertise in the conservation of Chinese, other East Asian and South Asian paintings.


• Help deliver an ambitious programme of exhibitions, loans and displays.


• Support projects that improve the care, storage and accessibility of the collection.


• Work closely with curatorial, conservation and collections colleagues to deliver shared priorities and successful cross-Museum projects.


• Share your expertise through talks, publications, social media and other public engagement activities.


• Contribute to the development of conservation approaches, research and documentation that support the Museum’s commitment to best practice and collection care.

The Masterplan

The British Museum is undertaking its biggesttransformationsince its founding nearly 300 years ago. This physical and intellectual transformation includes large scale building and gallery transformation, new ways of connecting with audiences and different ways of working. As we look towards this exciting future, we remain guided by the words of our founder Hans Sloane - who dreamed of a museum connecting all arts and sciences, which would be accessible to everyone, everywhere.