The Amon Carter Museum of American Art seeks applicants for the position of Conservator of Photographs. This position is endowed by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The basic functions of the conservator will be to provide examination, treatment, and research of photographs in the permanent collection and works on loan; establish standards and monitor environment for collection display and storage. The Conservator will maintain the conservation laboratory including acquisition of equipment and supplies and long range planning for the facility. Other duties will include conducting research on the permanent collection to contribute to the field of photograph conservation, history, and technology; monitoring cold storage vaults in consultation with facilities and registrar staff; monitoring change in photographs through colorimetric readings before and after exhibition; consulting and collaborating with curators and preparation staff, other conservators (including those on contract to the museum), and regional colleagues; advising museum staff on procedures for safe artwork handling under normal and emergency conditions; responding to public inquiries about conservation; courier duties as needed.
Qualifications: Advanced degree in art conservation, specializing in the conservation of photographs; minimum five years’ experience working in a museum conservation facility and working with art museums in preparation and treatment of large numbers of photographs for major exhibitions; experience with current conservation equipment, including analysis using ultraviolet light, infrared light, x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, x-radiography, densitometry, colorimetry, spectrophotometry, and examination; knowledge of basic mechanisms and research trends in cold storage; demonstrated ability to recreate historic photographic processes preferred; working knowledge of chemistry and materials science; strong organizational skills; ability to analyze and solve problems and work effectively with others; excellent writing and communication skills, including demonstrated ability to write to specifications, document treatments, and prepare reports; familiarity with Microsoft Office and PC desktop applications. Background screen required.
Qualifications listed in the full position description on the Jobs tab at
www.cartermuseum.org. Reports to Deputy Director of Art and Research.
Application deadline is January 7, 2014. To apply, send letter, resume,
salary history, and references to human.resources@cartermuseum.org or to
HR Manager, 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107 or fax to
(817) 665-4315. EEOC. No walk-ins. The Amon Carter campus is smoke-free.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Position: Conservator of Photographs
Reports to: Deputy Director of Art and Research
Revision Date: November 13, 2013
Classification: Salaried/Exempt
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Provide examination, treatment, and research of photographs in the permanent collection and works on loan; establish standards and monitor environment for collection display and storage.
Responsibilities
- Establish examination and treatment priorities in consultation with curators for the conservation of photograph collections. Perform detailed examination of photographs to facilitate process identification for cataloguing. Write treatment proposals and reports for major/minor treatments of photographs.
- Inspect permanent collection photographs proposed for exhibition, publication, or loan and make recommendations regarding condition and handling.
- Inspect photographs on loan and those proposed for acquisition.
- Maintain the conservation laboratory including acquisition of equipment and supplies and long range planning for the facility.
- Conduct research on the permanent collection to contribute to the field of photograph conservation, history, and technology; represent the museum at national meetings.
- Contribute to museum publications and exhibitions and to outside publications.
- Identify storage and treatment needs for photograph collections. Maintain standards for housing and environment. Monitor cold storage vaults in consultation with facilities and registrar staff.
- Monitor change in photographs through colorimetric readings before and after exhibition.
- Consult and collaborate with curators, preparation staff and conservators (including those on contract to the museum), and regional colleagues.
- Advise museum staff on procedures for safe artwork handling under normal and emergency conditions.
- Participate in the planning of emergency response and disaster mitigation for the museum’s collection.
- Contribute to the maintenance of vendor files, inventories or supplies and equipment, and selection of the materials for the conservation resource library.
- Respond to public inquiries about conservation; provide assistance to external requests as time permits.
- Perform courier duties as required.
- Supervise Conservation fellows, interns, and visiting conservators; provide functional supervision for Installation and Preparation Services, Collection Management, and Facilities staff.
- Maintain confidentiality regarding all proprietary museum information.
- Other duties as requested.
Qualifications
- Advanced degree in art conservation, specializing in the conservation of photographs.
Minimum of five years’ experience working in a museum conservation facility and working with art museums in preparation and treatment of large numbers of photographs for major exhibitions.
- Experience with current conservation equipment, including analysis using ultraviolet light, infrared light, x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, x-radiography, densitometry, colorimetry, spectrophotometry, and examination.
- Knowledge of basic mechanisms and research trends in cold storage.
- Demonstrated ability to recreate historic photographic processes preferred.
- Working knowledge of chemistry and materials science.
- Strong organizational skills; ability to establish priorities and achieve goals.
- Ability to initiate and adapt to change, analyze and solve problems, able to maintain flexibility and work collaboratively.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, including demonstrated ability to write to specifications, document treatments, and prepare reports.
- Familiarity with Microsoft Office and PC desktop applications.