Exhibition Production Specialist at Harvard University
Job Title: Exhibition Production Specialist
Job Status: Full-time
Location: Cambridge, MA
About the job
Reporting to the Manager of Exhibition Production provides logistical support for the Museums’ exhibitions and loan out programs. Prepares, installs, handles, and packs artworks, casework, and graphics for gallery presentations throughout the Harvard Art Museums, while adhering to correct policy and procedural guidelines. Works as part of a larger team in Collections Management as well as with other Harvard Art Museums staff. This position is based in Cambridge, MA, and is fully on-site.
Position Description :
- Under the supervision of the Manager of Exhibition Production, provides logistical support to all aspects of installation and de-installation of artwork.
- Prepare galleries with touch-up painting. Light galleries to museums’ standards. Secure and alarm artwork. Install gallery labels.
- Support the Manager of Exhibition Production and Installation colleagues in the handling of oversize and complex artwork and casework.
- Light-duty fabrication of casework parts, blocks, and related fixtures. Modify and paint fixtures as needed.
- Maintain galleries, dusting exposed art and pedestals, cleaning Plexiglas and glass casework and re-lamping.
- Provide design-related support as needed, including full-scale mockups of artwork and casework, and testing of color samples, lighting, and AV presentations.
- As assigned by Manager, assist the Collections department in the preparation, packing, and handling of works of art for gallery installations, including reframing, glazing, and building of conveyances and handling mounts.
- Document notes in TMS for art handling, packing, and installation as needed.
- Operate trucks to transport supplies and materials, including crates and casework.
- Operate lifting devices, such as scissor lifts, forklifts, Genies, and hydraulic lifts.
- Work closely with photographers, conservators, curators, registrars, and other Collections Management staff in storage and exhibition-related duties.
- Work with contractors in exhibition and storage spaces as needed.
- Serve as courier as necessary.
- Perform related duties as required.
Specific/Additional Responsibilities:
- Develop creative packing solutions. Conduct the design, construction, handling, and packing/unpacking of crates and related conveyances for loans out and returning loans in. Contribute ideas and expertise to crate construction meetings with registrars, conservators, and shippers.
- Update department manuals of packing and installation procedures.
- Coordinate the shipment, packing/unpacking, and storage of Exhibition display materials, including casework, case accessories, crates, and packing materials. Maintain non-art storage facility in Franklin, MA, optimizing use of space and tracking units by inventory numbers. Rent and drive moving trucks and coordinate with contract movers as needed.
- Research and recommend lifting, rigging, and installation equipment, and develop strategies for handling oversized artworks.
Basic Qualifications :
Minimum of 5 years of exhibition installation and art handling experience in a museum environment, including experience designing and constructing crates and other packing solutions.
Must have a Massachusetts driver’s license and be able to acquire a DOT medical card.