David Booth Fellowship in Painting Conservation at MoMA
About the job
September 2022 — August 2024
The David Booth Conservation Department at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is pleased to offer a two-year fellowship in paintings conservation, starting September 2022. The fellowship provides an opportunity to acquire comprehensive training in paintings preservation, conservation, and restoration in a museum setting. Working as part of the paintings conservation team, the fellow will assist conservators with all facets of the preservation, conservation, and restoration of modern and contemporary paintings, including acquisition, exhibition, treatment, collection care, and research.
Fellowship activities will involve collaboration with departments at the Museum, including curatorial, exhibition design and planning, registrars and art handling, and imaging services. Besides developing and refining advanced techniques in paintings conservation, the fellow will have the opportunity to develop and carry out research projects to be disseminated or published online, at conferences, and in peer-reviewed journals.
The Museum of Modern Art is committed to nurturing the next generation of curators, art historians, conservators and other arts professionals. This Conservation Fellowship is part of a distinctive museum wide fellowship program that offers opportunities for training and development through immersion in the Museum’s departments, working alongside and mentored by experienced staff members. All fellows also participate in a core methods and practice program with MoMA staff and invited guests which explores object-based research and inquiry; public engagement in a museum context; and arts leadership and the role of cultural institutions.
Responsibilities
- Conducts examinations and writes condition reports on paintings in the collection. Recommends and executes treatment of works of art and their optimal storage and exhibition conditions, in consultation with paintings conservators and museum colleagues.
- Records full photographic and written documentation of original condition and all stages of treatment of works of art.
- Assists in maintaining galleries and displays.
- Assists in advising curators, registrars, and exhibitions staff on the conservation guidelines to ensure protection of works of art during exhibition, and storage.
- Assists in advising curators on the condition of works of art as related to acquisition, preparation of works for exhibition, collection care, and loans.
- Works with conservation science colleagues to analyze artist and conservation materials, and interpretation of scientific data.
- Investigates, evaluates, and tests new materials and practices used by contemporary artists.
- Researches, develops, and tests materials and techniques for conservation use.
- Participates in courier activities as required.
Requirements
- Master’s degree in conservation or advanced certificate from a recognized conservation program, with a demonstrated concentration in the conservation of paintings.
- Examination and treatment of paintings at an advanced intern level.
- Experience with treatment of modern and contemporary works.
- Familiarity with digital imaging documentation, including ultra-violet, infrared, and photomicrography, and x-radiography.
- An understanding of the applications of analytical instruments, X-ray fluorescence, Fouriertransform infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy.
- Excellent speaking, reading, and writing skills in English. Proficiency in additional language(s) desirable.
- Proficiency with computer software, including image editing, and Adobe Photoshop preferable.
- Fully vaccinated with a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and/or the World Health Organization authorized vaccine
Reports to: Painting Conservators
Stipend: $50,000 plus benefits and vacation, with $3,500 annually for research and travel.
Application Instructions
In addition to your resume, please submit a detailed letter of interest and include the name of three references; letters from references are not required. Do not include treatment reports in the application.
Candidates invited for interviews will be asked to supply treatment reports at that time. Application deadline is March 14, 2022.
The Museum of Modern Art is an equal opportunity employer and considers all candidates for employment regardless of race, color, sex, age, national origin, creed, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or political affiliation.
The Museum of Modern Art’s Conservation Initiative is made possible through the David Booth Conservation Center Endowment Fund.