Freelance Technician

Art Institute of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 25,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

The Art Institute of Chicago seeks a Freelance Art Handling Technician to assist with art movement for exhibitions, displays, and offsite storage. You will collaborate with curators, registrars, conservators, and facilities to ensure safe handling and proper presentation of artworks.

Responsibilities include packing/unpacking, coordinating with departments, and maintaining documentation. Requires 2+ years art handling experience and strong dexterity; TSA compliance knowledge is a plus.

Qualifications

• HS diploma or GED preferred.
• Minimum two years’ experience handling works of art.
• Knowledge of safe and current best practices for art handling.
• Exceptional manual dexterity with hand and power tools.
• Understanding/experience of rigging methods, AV, or mount installation.
• Expertise preparing display case work and housing for artworks.
• Effective communication and multitasking skills.
• Computer skills; knowledge of Google Suite; ability to learn museum databases.

Responsibilities

• Perform art handling and installation, including deinstallations and rotations, coordinating with other departments.
• Pack/unpack objects with appropriate materials; enter packing notes in the database.
• Work with registrars and conservators to ensure art is cared for and displayed to specifications.
• Assist with incoming/outgoing shipments and transfer to storage or exhibition spaces.
• Support movement of objects to offsite storage and monitor TSA regulations.
• Conduct weekly gallery audits under supervision and maintain vaults and storage.
• Participate in training and adopt new art handling techniques and safe practices.

Skills

Manual dexterity

Rigging methods

Art handling

AV installation

Computer skills

Google Suite

Team collaboration

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Google Suite

Job description

About The Art Institute Of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago shares its singular collections with our city and the world. We collect, care for, and interpret works of art across time, cultures, geographies, and identities. We are a place of gathering and learning, committed to fostering an inclusive understanding of human creativity.

About The Department

The department of Collections and Loans (C+L) oversees the management of the collection and loaned objects, defining processes that ensure compliance with the museum’s policies as well as legal obligations to borrowers, lenders, donors, and sellers. In four distinct areas––collections, loans, art preparation and logistics, and collections systems––C+L implements policies that govern the day‑to‑day application of museum best practices regarding documentation and recordkeeping; inventory and audit procedures; collection database and metadata management; logistics and shipping; art handling and packing; storage; insurance; and risk management. Through strategic and innovative applications of data and new technologies, the C+L team supports the growth of the museum and the modernization of collection care best practices.

Position Summary

The Freelance Art Handling Technician follows museum best practices to assist with art movement across the museum for exhibitions, collection displays, and special viewings and outside the museum campus at offsite storage. The technician does this by collaborating with curators, collection managers, curatorial art handlers, registrars, conservators, facilities, and security colleagues.

Responsibilities

Art handling and installation

• Performs safe art handling in installations, deinstallations (including for temporary exhibitions), collection rotations, Board of Trustees and committee meeting displays, and as assigned. Coordinates with other departments as necessary.
• Packs and unpacks objects using appropriate materials and equipment following museum specifications. Enters packing notes in the database for future reference. Maintains and organizes photographs documenting crate unpacking and packing.
• Works closely with registrars, curatorial art handlers, conservators, and curators to ensure the art is properly cared for and presented according to specifications.

Packing and logistics

• Assists with incoming and outgoing shipments, including packing/unpacking and transfer to departmental storages/vaults or exhibition spaces.
• Supports the transport and movement of objects and crates from the museum campus to offsite storage.
• Monitors and executes TSA regulations requirements for packed objects.

Collections in care

• Under supervision of the manager, executes weekly gallery audits, identifying and reporting discrepancies.
• Maintains in working order art vaults, storage, tools, equipment, and supplies.
• Provides art handling assistance to art at offsite storage locations and updates databases as required.

Training and new applications

• Adheres to training and guidelines in art handling as provided by museum colleagues; participates in periodic training 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.
• Learns and uses new applications of equipment and hardware, and provides aesthetic and logical solutions to challenges in the areas of art handling/packing and display of works of art to improve and practice safe handling.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Minimum two years’ experience handling works of art, or equivalent experience working with objects required.
• Knowledge of safe and current best practices for art handling.
• Exceptional manual dexterity and competence using a wide variety of hand and power tools.
• Understanding and experience of rigging methods, AV, or mount installation.
• Expertise preparing display case work, support structures, and housing for artworks.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated organizational and multitasking skills, highly detail-oriented, and ability to follow precise instructions.
• Computer skills; knowledge of Google Suite; ability to learn museum-specific collection database systems.

Physical Requirements

• Frequently lifts, carries, and moves objects, including art, weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Prolonged periods walking and standing as well as sitting in front of a computer.
• Comfort working at elevated heights, such as on ladders, scaffolding, or aerial lifts.
• Sustained visual attention to detail required to perform precise physical tasks and maintain a safe workspace.
• Operates heavy equipment safely, including forklift and stacker with training/guidance.
• Wears PPE as required.

Compensation & Benefits

• Hiring Range

This position is not benefits eligible.

The expected hiring range is an estimated amount for positions based on the grade. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, qualifications and other job-related reasons.

• Job Classification: Non Exempt
• Employment Category: Special Services
• Grade Level: 6

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Equal Opportunity Statement

The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals compliant with federal and state laws. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at [e-mail].