Preparator/Fabricator

Berkshirejobs; North Adams (MA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

The Preparator/Fabricator at MASS MoCA is a full-time, hourly position (40 hours/week) working alongside installation and fabrication staff. The role emphasizes teamwork to meet project deadlines while handling and installing artworks in a museum setting.

Responsibilities include art handling, loading/unloading, construction tasks, light demolition, and custom fabrication from woodworking to metalworking. A positive, collaborative attitude is essential.

Qualifications

• Experience in art handling and installation in a museum setting.
• Ability to work collaboratively and meet deadlines.
• Wamiliarity with handling delicate artworks and packing techniques.

Responsibilities

• Art handling, including unloading and loading trucks, packing and unpacking fine art works.
• Construction and manual labor, including light demolition, movement of objects with equipment, painting, sanding, cleaning.
• Working with a team to assemble large and complex artworks.
• Custom fabrication ranging from woodworking to metalworking and sculptural processes.

Skills

Team player

Art handling

Manual labor

Tools

Woodworking tools

Metalworking tools

Material handling equipment

Job description

Description

The Preparator/Fabricator is a full-time hourly position, 40 hours per week that will work alongside the installation/fabrication staff. The ideal candidate will be a team player, who will work to achieve deadlines collaboratively.

About the Museum

MASS MoCA is a vibrant non-collecting art museum with approximately 300,000 square feet of exhibition space. Half of that space is dedicated to rotating 10-month exhibitions of which we present 4 to 6 large-scale exhibitions per year, along with smaller projects. The additional space is dedicated to long‑term exhibitions in conjunction with artists, estates, and collections that run from 10 months to 25 years. MASS MoCA frequently works directly with artists on the fabrication of new commissions and large scale site specific installations.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Art handling, including unloading and loading trucks, packing and unpacking fine art works, and working with registrars to safely install art.
• Construction and manual labor, including light demolition, moving large objects with material handling equipment (excluding forklifts), painting, sanding, cleaning and other tasks related to exhibition installation in a museum environment.
• Working with a team to assemble large and complex artworks.
• Custom fabrication based on skill and experience, ranging from woodworking to metalworking, sculptural processes, etc.
• Maintaining a positive rapport with colleagues and artists through challenging and complex installations.
• Maintaining safe working spaces through clear communication and tidiness.