Senior Preparator

Mint Museum; Charlotte, Northern (NC, KY); Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Mint Museum is seeking a Senior Preparator in Charlotte, NC to support the Collections & Exhibitions Department. You will assist with installation, deinstallation, mounting, packing, and transportation of artworks for in-house and traveling exhibitions.

Responsibilities include coordinating with registrars, contractors, and staff; maintaining gallery lighting and A/V systems; and ensuring safe handling of objects up to 50 pounds. Strong teamwork and attention to detail are essential.

Qualifications

• BA in Art, Art History, Museum Studies or related field preferred.
• 3–5 years professional experience installing, preparing, fine art handling, including managing schedules and contractors.

Responsibilities

• Prepare objects for display and storage, including mounting, matting, framing; install and deinstall objects and graphics.
• Pack and crate objects for transit; receive and release packed/crated objects for loans and exhibitions.
• Collaborate with registrars and contractors for installation, lighting, and related exhibitions tasks.
• Perform daily visual inspections and maintenance of galleries and lighting; troubleshoot A/V equipment.

Skills

Art handling

Installation & deinstallation

Mount making

Tool use

Team collaboration

Materials handling

Education

BA in Art, Art History, Museum Studies or related fields

Tools

Power tools

Crate construction

Lighting equipment

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Charlotte, NC 28202

Position Type: Full Time

Education Level: Not Specified

Travel Percentage: Up to 25%

Job Category: General Labor

Title: Senior Preparator

Department: Collections & Exhibitions

Reports To: Chief Preparator

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Date Prepared: 04/10/2023

General Summary

Reporting to the Chief Preparator, the Senior Preparator is a key team member of the Collections & Exhibitions Department. The position is integral to the successful execution of the Museum’s ambitious schedule of exhibitions, installations, and gallery rotations.

The Senior Preparator assists with all aspects of installation and deinstallation, including but not limited to object movement, storage, packing and unpacking, inventory, mount making, construction, fabrication, lighting, painting, and associated technology. The Senior Preparator serves on exhibition teams for both in-house and traveling exhibitions.

Duties and Responsibilities – Essential Functions

• Prepare objects for display and storage, including creating specialized supports, mounting, matting, and framing; install and deinstall objects, mounts, casework, and graphics.
• Prepare, pack, and crate objects for transit, including the proper retrofitting of crates for reuse. Receive and release packed/crated objects and materials for loan, exhibition, acquisition consideration, and transfer purposes.
• Actively participate in all off-loading and loading of crates, exhibition furniture, or equipment and the conveyance of the same within the building or between buildings under the guidance of the Chief Preparator and/or Registration staff.
• Work collaboratively with internal or external contractors as needed for the construction, painting, and fabrication of exhibition materials, as well as installation, rigging, and construction associated with exhibitions and permanent collection installations.
• Fabricate materials associated with exhibitions and installations, such as exhibition furniture, object mounts and supports, matting, framing, walls, and other installation components; perform painting, installation, rigging, and related work as needed.
• Support the established gallery lighting program; install lighting for exhibitions and permanent collection galleries in accordance with display guidelines outlined by the registrars.
• Perform daily visual inspections and maintenance of exhibition galleries and gallery lighting; maintain and troubleshoot audio-visual equipment and report any irregularities to the Chief Preparator.
• Maintain tools, equipment, and supplies in proper working condition; submit requests for supplies and materials as needed to the Chief Preparator; maintain workshop and in-house production areas through regular cleaning, organization, and restocking.
• Collaborate with registrars to maintain and upkeep galleries, object storage areas, and department work areas; participate in periodic and annual collection inventories; perform object movement for photography of the collection.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum qualifications for consideration:

• Education: BA in Art, Art History, Museum Studies or related fields preferred.
• Professional Experience: 3-5 years professional experience installation, preparation, fine art handling, including managing schedules and contractors; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
  • Training and/or experience demonstrating working knowledge of general museum operating procedures.
  • Adheres to best practices for handling, installation, and movement of objects.
  • Enthusiastic, self-motivated, with excellent communication skills, successful in the planning and follow through of tasks/projects.
  • Able to lift heavy crates and art, including paintings, sculpture, and furniture.
  • Experienced in the use of power tools and equipment associated with woodworking, metalworking, construction, lighting, electrical, and audio-visual / computer displays.
  • Must be responsible, dependable, and able to work effectively in a team based multi-task environment.
  • Knowledge of The Mint Museum’s collections, goals, values, and mission.
  • Must maintain confidentiality.
  • Ability to lift 50 pounds.
  • Ability to drive a van and box truck.
  • Current with OSHA standards and guidelines.

Working Conditions

Normal office environment

Supervisory responsibilities

No

Disclaimer

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees for this job. The Mint Museum reserves the discretion to change this job description at any time.

Desirable Qualifications / Attributes

• The perfect candidate will be communicative, open to new ideas, and able to accept constructive criticism.
• Shows initiative and proficiency at problem-solving.
• Must be a self-starter, resourceful and comfortable working in a small team environment where both self-sufficiency and teamwork are essential.

Additional Education, Certification or Professional Designations

Knowledge and/or background in Fine Arts, design and/or Art History a plus.

Mission Statement

The Mint Museum welcomes all to be inspired and transformed through the power of art and creativity.

Vision Statement

The Mint Museum seeks to continuously enhance lives and create a more empathetic world by ensuring access and by engaging communities in a meaningful, lifelong relationship with art and design.

About the Mint Museum

As the oldest art museum in North Carolina, with one of the largest collections in the Southeast, The Mint Museum offers its visitors inspiring and transformative experiences through art from around the world via innovative collections, groundbreaking exhibitions, and riveting educational programs. The Mint Museum is a non-profit visual arts institution comprised of two dynamic facilities: Mint Museum Uptown and Mint Museum Randolph.

Located in what was the original branch of the United States Mint, Mint Museum Randolph opened in 1936 in Charlotte’s Eastover neighborhood as the state’s first art museum. Today, in a beautiful park setting, intimate galleries invite visitors to engage with the art of the ancient Americas, ceramics and decorative arts, fashion, European art, and African art, among other collections. Resources include a reference library with over 18,000 volumes, a theater featuring lectures and performances, and a museum shop offering merchandise that complements both the permanent collection and special exhibitions.

Mint Museum Uptown houses the internationally renowned Craft + Design collection, as well as outstanding collections of American, contemporary, and European art. Designed by Machado and Silvetti Associates of Boston, the five-story, 145,000-square-foot facility combines inspiring architecture with cutting-edge exhibitions to provide visitors with unparalleled educational and cultural experiences. Located in the heart of Charlotte's burgeoning center city, Mint Museum Uptown is an integral part of the Levine Center for the Arts, a cultural campus that includes the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts and Culture, the Knight Theater, and the Duke Energy Center. Mint Museum Uptown also features a wide range of visitor amenities, including the 240-seat James B. Duke Auditorium, the Lewis Family Gallery, art studios, a restaurant, and a museum shop.

For more information, visit mintmuseum.org