Preparator Assistant

Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 27,000 - 33,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Free admission to MCA exhibitions for你

Free admission to many events

Discounts on dining in Marisol and MCA

Pre-tax, reduced rate parking and Vent

Access to onsite library

Staff tours

Job summary

The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago is seeking a Preparator Assistant in Chicago, IL. This part-time, intermittent role supports exhibitions through handling, installation, packing, and storage of artworks, with various fabrication tasks and shipments.

Ideal candidates have at least 2 years in museum prep, strong art-handling knowledge, and the ability to lift 60 lbs and stand for long periods. Benefits include admission perks and parking discounts.

Qualifications

• At least 2 years of museum or gallery preparation experience.
• Knowledge of and experience with best practices in art handling, packing, transport, and installation.
• General fabrication and construction skills including woodshop and carpentry experience.
• Wall framing, sheathing, repair, and painting skills.
• Mathematics and measuring skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work with care and accuracy.
• Ability to work independently, with a partner, or with a larger team.
• Ability to safely lift 60 lbs.
• Ability to stand for long periods of time.
• General mobility throughout all museum properties.

Responsibilities

• Perform art handling and production tasks for exhibitions and collections.
• Aid with fabrication of display casework, furniture and/or artwork to artist’s specifications.
• Participate in time-based media installations and deinstallations with documentation.
• Assist with incoming and outgoing shipments of artworks as needed.
• Aid with care, movement, and storage of the permanent collection on and off site.
• Maintain tools and equipment; inventory materials and advise staff on ordering.
• Perform routine gallery maintenance.

Skills

Museum/gallery prep

Art handling best practices

Fabrication & carpentry

Wall framing & painting

Math & measuring

Careful & accurate work

Teamwork & flexibility

Lifting 60 lbs

Standing endurance

Mobility across properties

Verbal communication

Tools

Woodshop tools

Carpentry

Small power tools

Crate handling

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Preparator Assistant

Part-time Regular Craft Worker Chicago, IL, US

2 days ago Requisition ID: 1036

Salary Range: $19.94 To $24.08 Hourly

We have an opening for a Preparator Assistant who will assist in all production aspects of exhibition turnovers, including prefabrication of exhibition elements, technical setup and breakdown, and maintenance of galleries and art storage and assists with all art handling, including installation, packing, and shipping while implementing best practices. To be successful in this role, you will:

• Performarthandlingandproductiontasksforexhibitionsandcollectionsasassigned.
• Aidwithfabricationofdisplaycasework,furnitureand/orartworktoartist’sspecificationsforexhibitions.
• Participateintime-basedmediainstallationsanddeinstallationsincludingcompletingassociated documentation.
• Assist with incoming and outgoing shipments of artworks as needed.
• Aid with the care, movement, and storage of the permanent collection on and off site.
• Maintain tools and equipment as directed; inventory materials and advise staff on ordering as needed.
• Perform routine gallery maintenance.

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Atleast2yearsofmuseumorgallerypreparationexperience.
• Knowledgeofandexperiencewithbestpracticesinarthandling,packing,transport,andinstallationof various types of artworks.
• Generalfabricationandconstructionskillsincludingwoodshopandcarpentryexperience,experience working with small mechanical and power tools, and familiarity with moving large/heavy objects and crates.
• Wallframing,sheathing,repair,andpaintingskills.
• Mathematicsandmeasuringskills.
• Demonstratedabilitytoworkwithcareandaccuracywhileperformingjobduties.
• Abilitytoworkindependently,withapartner,orwithalargerteam,tocompletetasksinatimely manner.
• Abilitytosafelylift60lbs.
• Abilitytostandforlongperiodsoftime.
• General mobility throughout all museum properties.

BENEFITS OF WORKING AT THE MCA INCLUDE:

• Individual and MCA-provided retirement savings plans.
• Paid time off.
• Pre-tax, reduced rate parking and Ventra/Metra benefits.
• Free admission to MCA exhibitions for yourself and guests.
• Free admission to many special and member events.
• Reduced price tickets to MCA Stage performances.
• Discounts on dining in Marisol and in our award-winning MCA Store.
• Access to our onsite library.
• Opportunities to attend curator-led staff tours.
• Free or discounted admission to many other cultural institutions across the United States.

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

We have an opening for a Preparator Assistant who will assist in all production aspects of exhibition turnovers, including prefabrication of exhibition elements, technical setup and breakdown, and maintenance of galleries and art storage and assists with all art handling, including installation, packing, and shipping while implementing best practices. To be successful in this role, you will:

• Performarthandlingandproductiontasksforexhibitionsandcollectionsasassigned.
• Aidwithfabricationofdisplaycasework,furnitureand/orartworktoartist’sspecificationsforexhibitions.
• Participateintime-basedmediainstallationsanddeinstallationsincludingcompletingassociated documentation.
• Assist with incoming and outgoing shipments of artworks as needed.
• Aid with the care, movement, and storage of the permanent collection on and off site.
• Maintain tools and equipment as directed; inventory materials and advise staff on ordering as needed.
• Perform routine gallery maintenance.

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Atleast2yearsofmuseumorgallerypreparationexperience.
• Knowledgeofandexperiencewithbestpracticesinarthandling,packing,transport,andinstallationof various types of artworks.
• Generalfabricationandconstructionskillsincludingwoodshopandcarpentryexperience,experience working with small mechanical and power tools, and familiarity with moving large/heavy objects and crates.
• Wallframing,sheathing,repair,andpaintingskills.
• Mathematicsandmeasuringskills.
• Demonstratedabilitytoworkwithcareandaccuracywhileperformingjobduties.
• Abilitytoworkindependently,withapartner,orwithalargerteam,tocompletetasksinatimely manner.
• Strongverbalcommunicationskills.
• Abilitytosafelylift60lbs.
• Abilitytostandforlongperiodsoftime.
• General mobility throughout all museum properties.

BENEFITS OF WORKING AT THE MCA INCLUDE:

• Individual and MCA-provided retirement savings plans.
• Paid time off.
• Pre-tax, reduced rate parking and Ventra/Metra benefits.
• Free admission to MCA exhibitions for yourself and guests.
• Free admission to many special and member events.
• Reduced price tickets to MCA Stage performances.
• Discounts on dining in Marisol and in our award-winning MCA Store.
• Access to our onsite library.
• Opportunities to attend curator-led staff tours.
• Free or discounted admission to many other cultural institutions across the United States.

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

This is a Part time intermittent position, with a schedule determined by department and operational needs; may include evenings, weekends, and holidays.