Job Posting: Architectural Conservator – The National Park Service (Lowell, MA/Boston, MA)

The National Park Service is hiring two architectural conservators in the Lowell, MA/Boston, MA area to join our regional office. It’s a fabulous opportunity to work on National Parks throughout the east coast and beyond. The application window is only two weeks (and started November 30).
See posting at: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/422321400
Job Title:  Conservator (Architectural)
Department:  Department Of The Interior
Agency:  National Park Service
Job Announcement Number:  GETT-16-24DEU
SALARY RANGE: $64,020.00 to $83,227.00 / Per Year
OPEN PERIOD: Monday, November 30, 2015 to Friday, December 11, 2015
SERIES & GRADE:GS-1001-11
POSITION INFORMATION: Full Time – Term NTE 13 months
DUTY LOCATIONS: 2 vacancies in the following location(s):
Boston, MA
Lowell, MA

Job Posting: Paper Conservator – Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX)

Paper Conservator
Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin 

Purpose
To manage, oversee, and supervise the paper conservation programs and the Paper Conservation Lab of the Harry Ransom Center. To provide complex conservation treatments to collection materials on paper.
Essential Functions
Perform paper conservation treatments of all levels of complexity. Supervise, train, and manage staff, interns, and volunteers in the Paper Conservation Lab in appropriate procedures and practices for the care of the Ransom Center collections. Oversee personnel safety training with regard to equipment, chemicals, and other materials used in paper conservation. Liaise and collaborate with curators, collection managers, administrative personnel, and other Ransom Center staff with regard to the care and treatment of collections on paper. Participate as part of the Preservation and Conservation Division’s senior team to strategically plan for the ongoing care of the Ransom Center’s collections. Take a leadership and educational role in all activities and programs of the division, and similarly support other areas of the overall institutional preservation endeavor. Pursue independent studies and professional opportunities as appropriate. Assist the associate director with project planning and grant writing.
Required Qualifications
Master’s degree in art, art history, or library and information science plus a certificate of advanced study in conservation, or Master of Science degree in Art Conservation. A minimum of four years of post-graduate experience applying conservation and preservation practices in libraries, special collections, archives, or museums. Experience should be primarily in paper conservation and include the treatment of works of art on paper, documents and manuscripts, and other paper-based works. Up to one year of experience in the conservation treatment of bound volumes or photographs will be considered as part of the four years of required experience.
Preferred Qualifications
More than four years of experience in conservation treatment of documents, manuscripts, and works of art on paper. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Extensive knowledge of materials and technologies encountered in the creation and conservation of the full range of works on paper. Superior knowledge of the nature of paper and inks, colorants, adhesives, and material technologies as applied to the creation of artistic, literary, and documentary works. Knowledge of basic research methods, exhibition standards, building environment systems, disaster planning and response, conservation trends, and collection surveys. Experience will include responsibility for collection management programs, laboratory management, and personnel training and supervision. Experience working with curators and conservators in a team environment.
Application procedure: please go to 
https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/hr/jobs/nlogon/search/0/ and refer to posting number 151125010607.  Applicants must upload a resume, submit a letter of interest and contact information for three references.
 A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.
The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.
The University of Texas at Austin is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a commitment to diversity at all levels. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability or veteran status. (Compliant with the new VEVRAA and Section 503 Rules)
If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification form, I-9. You will be required to present acceptable, original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Information from the documents will be submitted to the federal E-Verify system for verification. Documents must be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in dismissal.

AIC Ivory Position Paper

The Board of Directors of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works has recently approved a position paper prepared by Nina Owczarek, Stephanie Hornbeck, Jean Portell, and Terry Drayman-Weisser on the impact of U.S. government action on cultural property, legislation, and regulations relating to African elephant ivory.
The position paper is located on the AIC website at http://www.conservation-us.org/about-us/core-documents.
With thanks to everyone who assisted in the development of this paper,
AIC Board of Directors

Job Posting: Objects/Sculpture Conservator – RLA Conservation, Inc. (Miami, FL)

RLA Conservation, Inc. seeks to hire a full-time Objects/ Sculpture Conservator to be based in our Miami, Florida studio. The ideal candidate will hold a postgraduate degree (M.A. or M.S.) in conservation and have a strong background and interest in modern and contemporary art as well as other disciplines of objects conservation.  We are looking for an enthusiastic professional with excellent hand skills, critical thinking abilities, and verbal and written communication abilities, who works well as part of a team and can manage time and meet deadlines.  This position also requires occasional overnight travel.
Founded in 2008, RLA Conservation, Inc draws upon its founder Rosa Lowinger’s 30 years in private conservation practice and is considered a national leader in conservation of public art, buildings, contemporary three-dimensional art and sculpture.  We have offices in Los Angeles and Miami but work throughout the United States, with some work also in the burgeoning markets of Latin America and the Caribbean.  We are an equal opportunity employer with a uniquely high level of diversity amongst our team of 5 professionally trained conservators, 7 technicians, and 3 office staff.  We pride ourselves on being known as a great place to work and a firm that supports the personal and professional growth of its employees.  Please send a resume and cover letter to:  info@rosalowinger.com.
Key Responsibilities:.

  • Preparation of condition reports, treatment proposals, surveys, work schedules, and additional related documentation.
  • Hands-on treatments of a wide range of collections, with a specialty in modern and contemporary.
  • Outdoor sculpture conservation and maintenance, including supervision of skilled technicians.
  • Conducting of collections surveys.
  • Liaising with museum and private clients, including preparation of cost estimates in conjunction with lead conservators.
  • Triage and on-site collection recovery as needed.
  • Additional responsibilities as directed and supervised by the Lead Conservator

Qualification Requirements:

  • Postgraduate degree in Conservation of Fine Art, specializing in objects.
  • Equivalent experience will be considered if the individual is a professional level member of AIC.
  • Ability to work independently and contribute as an effective member of a team
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills in English.
  • Digital photography proficiency, computer proficiency
  • U.S. work permit
  • Active driver’s license and auto insurance

Also Desired:

  • Spanish language proficiency.
  • Strong background in modern and contemporary art.
  • Ability to work outdoors, on ladders, lifts, scaffolding, and be physically capable of carrying tools and equipment.

RLA offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits that includes:

  • Contribution towards health insurance.
  • Contribution towards smart phone plan.
  • Free eye exams and discounted eyeglasses.
  • Two weeks paid vacation to start and a third week after 3 years of employment.
  • 7 paid holidays
  • Annual contribution towards conference attendance.
  • Continuing Education opportunities
  • Paid sick leave
  • Participation in excellent retirement plan.

Upcoming Conference: APTCARN – Embracing Cultural Materials Conservation in the Tropics, November 25-27, 2015 (Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan)

ASIA PACIFIC TROPICAL CLIMATE CONSERVATION ART RESEARCH NETWORK
EMBRACING CULTURAL MATERIALS CONSERVATION IN THE TROPICS
THE 4TH APTCCARN MEETING IN 2015
Wednesday 25 to Friday 27 November 2015
Conservation Center, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

研討會海報-2

In 2015, APTCCARN (Asia Pacific Tropical Climate Conservation Art Research Network) will hold its 4th Meeting in Taiwan at the Conservation Center, Cheng Shiu University. With a focus on Asia Pacific’s diverse climate, history and future, the meeting aims to embrace cultural materials conservation in the region, our experiences and the future. Issues such as developing a regional practice of cultural materials conservation within the needs, resources, communities and geographic place will be addressed. This is in light of recent extreme weather events, the current reality of the environment and sustainable practices.
DATE AND VENUE
Wednesday 25 November to Friday 27 November 2015 at the International Conference Hall, Cheng Shiu University, Taiwan.
PROGRAM
Please see the preliminary program at:
http://2015aptccarn.csu.edu.tw

Job Posting: Conservation Studio Technician, Menil Drawing Institute – The Menil Collection (Houston, Texas)

The Menil Collection
Employment Opportunity 
Title: Conservation Studio Technician, Menil Drawing Institute
Department: Conservation
Reports to: Chief Conservator
General Responsibilities:
The Conservation Studio Technician, Menil Drawing Institute performs a variety of duties in connection with the preservation and management of works on paper in the museum’s collection and ensures that proper procedures are followed with regard to the care, registration, documentation, and exhibition of those works.
Specific Duties:

  1. Under the direction of the Paper Conservator, prepare safe housing for works on paper including mat cutting and hinging of artworks and constructing specialized housings for non-standard or unusually fragile drawings.
  2. Perform specialized handling of drawings including, but not limited to, the hinging of artworks.
  3. Construct specialized housing for works on paper.
  4. Serve as a research assistant to the paper lab.
  5. Assist with exhibition preparation, rotation, and upkeep.
  6. Manage digital image processing, printing, and filing.
  7. Collect, chart, and process environmental readings.
  8. Create, organize, and maintain files for works on paper.
  9. Provide administrative assistance in workshop and symposium planning.  Arrange travel, develop and manage itineraries and schedules, and perform related duties as needed.
  10. Collect micro-fade testing (MFT) data under the close supervision of the Paper Conservator.
  11. Support Proctor for drawing viewing room.  Monitor visitors as needed.
  12. As needed, assist in the safe transportation of drawings from storage to the viewing.

Qualifications:

  1. Bachelor’s degree and two to three years experience relevant to the position or the equivalent.
  2. Superior judgement and professional initiative.
  3. Interest and/or background in conservation, art or art history preferred.
  4. Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, TMS, Adobe Bridge/Photoshop and other standard office procedures and equipment.

Salary and benefits competitive and commensurate with experience.  Please send resume and cover letter to:  Director of Human Resources, The Menil Collection, 1511 Branard Street, Houston, Texas 77006.  Application materials may also be emailed to:  smmaloch@menil.org

Call for Papers – The 6th International Architectural Paint Research Conference (Columbia University, New York, NY)

Call for Papers – The 6th International Architectural Paint Research Conference

Dates: March 15-17, 2017
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Language: English
Website: www.apr2017.org
Powers of Ten: Expanding the APR Toolbox
Like the Charles and Ray Eames 1977 short film, Powers of Ten, Architectural Paint Research (APR) deals with magnitudes of scale, from a single pigment particle, to a painted house, to the decorative tastes of an entire region. In the spirit of the film, the 2017 APR conference aims to take a closer look at how we carry out our research at every level, from the micro to the macroscopic.
The 6th International Architectural Paint Research Conference organizing committee is sending out a call for papers and posters for its next meeting in New York City, March 15-17, 2017. Submissions are invited from APR specialists and advanced students, as well as members of related disciplines including art conservators, preservation architects, decorative painters, heritage managers and materials scientists.
There will be a session on APR standards led by the standards committee, as put into motion at the 2014 Stockholm APR conference.
Topics should ideally include but are not limited to:
Non-traditional or Overlooked Finishes: Projects where finishes identified through APR included unexpected color combinations, non-traditional use of traditional materials, finishes rarely discussed at previous APR conferences, or finishes that may be unique to a single geographic region.
Case studies with a Focus on Cross-section Microscopy: As always, APR case studies are welcome topics at the conference. We request that papers be well supported by cross-section photomicrographs and other analytical data that illustrate your interpretive process.
Research into paint materials and technologies: This can include archival research or research of a technical nature that sheds a new light on paint materials or finishes. Topics may focus on a particular studio or decorative painter/artist’s working methods, colourman’s practices, pigment manufacture, and/or the evolution of paint/pigment/varnish technology.
Replication of Historic Finishes: Spotlight on the challenges and solutions involved with replicating finishes identified through APR. Topics can include methods for removing overpaint, collaborating with decorative painters to replicate schemes, and/or the sharing of information that could only have been gleaned through the preparation/replication process.
Projects Revisited: Have you had the opportunity to re-visit an old project? If so, how have these projects fared over time? How has your work been received by the public? What lessons did you learn that carried over into future projects? 
Submitting an Abstract
The language of the conference will be English. To submit an abstract for a paper or poster, please submit a provisional title with a summary (500 word maximum) at http://www.apr2017.org/call-for-abstracts/. Please use the name of one author. The names of any co-authors can be submitted in the body of the abstract.
This year we encourage submissions from advanced students working on APR related projects for a dedicated “Student Research Session”. Select papers will be included in the final publication. When submitting your abstract, please indicate if this is a student submission.
Abstracts must be submitted by February 15, 2016.
Selected speakers and poster authors will be notified by April 16, 2016. Details regarding guidelines for the conference presentations and articles will be provided at the time of notification. Speakers will also be requested to submit their work in the form of a full-text, illustrated article for publication in the conference post-prints. This article will be peer-reviewed and due on November 15, 2016.
Poster authors may be asked to give a 5-minute presentation at the conference, but will not be responsible for an article.
If you have any questions, please contact Mary Jablonski mjablonski@jbconservation.com

2016-2017 Harper-Inglis Post-Graduate Conservation Fellowship – Library of Congress (Washington, DC)

The Conservation Division of the Library of Congress is now accepting applications for the inaugural Harper-Inglis Post-Graduate Conservation Fellowship for 2016-2017. The Fellowship is open to U.S. citizens recently graduated from a recognized art conservation graduate program with a specialization in book, paper, or photograph conservation. The Fellowship is made possible by the Harper-Inglis Memorial Trust Fund and is hosted by the Library’s Conservation Division, the oldest and largest conservation lab in the United States for the conservation of book, paper, and photograph materials.
Responsibilities: The Fellow will pursue an independent research project and have the opportunity to acquire hands-on experience by participating in lab activities as they are conducted by Conservation Division staff, such as: conducting surveys; conservation documentation, treatment, and housing; research and analysis; digitization and/or exhibit preparation; collections emergency response and recovery; and environmental monitoring and analysis. The Fellow can expect to interact with Library staff beyond the Conservation Division, including curatorial staff, staff responsible for exhibits and loans, and scientists in the Preservation Research and Testing Division.
Qualifications:
– U.S. citizen
– Graduate of a recognized art conservation graduate program or equivalent training
– No more than five years of relevant work experience
– Demonstrated experience conducting research
– Clear and effective writing and spoken communication skills
Term and Stipend: The fellowship begins October 3, 2016 and ends (or is extended for one year) on September 29, 2017 and comes with an annual stipend of $39,000. The Library is unable to provide additional benefits – including health, retirement, or transit benefits – as part of the fellowship.
Application Process: Use the link below to access the application form and instructions. Applications are accepted through December 31, 2015.
http://www.loc.gov/preservation/outreach/intern/HIcons.html
This fellowship is generously funded by the Harper-Inglis Memorial Trust Fund.
Elmer Eusman, Chief
Conservation Division
Library of Congress

Job Posting: Assistant Conservator – Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (Los Angeles, CA)

Assistant Conservator

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is looking for a well-qualified Assistant Conservator with a specialization in the conservation of objects. The Assistant Conservator provides support to the Head of Conservation to perform conservation activities related to the preservation of the cultural and natural science collections on exhibit and in storage. We seek an experienced individual who demonstrates professionalism, sound judgment, flexibility, and excellent attention to detail to effectively implement conservation treatments and other tasks as directed.
Responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to:

  • Examine objects, prepare conservation assessments, and propose treatments as required under the supervision of the Head of Conservation
  • Perform conservation treatments on objects as required under the supervision of the Head of Conservation
  • Prepare conservation documentation, including photography, condition reports, treatment proposals, and treatment reports
  • Enter conservation information in the KE EMu collections database system and maintain conservation records
  • Construct custom boxes and other housing for objects to help prevent damage during handling, storage, or transport
  • Assist in installation and de-installation of exhibit material under the supervision of the Head of Conservation, Registrar(s), and/or Collection Manager(s) as required
  • Assist in the crating, packing, moving, and storage of collections under the supervision of the Head of Conservation, Registrar(s), and/or Collection Manager(s) as required
  • Other conservation duties as assigned, such as mount making, environmental monitoring, integrated pest management, collections emergency preparedness, and purchase of laboratory supplies

This position has the following requirements:

  • Master’s degree in art conservation or equivalent with a specialization in objects conservation; additional education, training, and experience in conservation highly desirable
  • Minimum one (1) year of experience handling art, artifacts, or specimens, preferably working in a museum environment
  • Thorough knowledge of the ethics, best-practice standards, techniques, materials, and equipment used in the conservation of objects
  • Applicable fine art, craft, or fabrication skills and experience, including excellent hand skills
  • Excellent attention to detail and strong writing skills required for condition reporting and other documentation
  • Proficiency in digital photography and image processing software (e.g., Adobe Photoshop)
  • Strong computer skills (Microsoft Office Word and Excel) and demonstrated experience with museum collection databases; experience with KE EMu database highly desirable
  • Strong organizational skills for managing conservation records
  • Must have excellent team work, interpersonal, and communication skills to work closely with Museum Professionals (this includes but is not limited to Conservators, Registrars, Exhibits personnel, Technicians, Curators, Collection Managers, and Operations Staff) to ensure that all work is executed in a safe, proper and timely manner
  • Must be pro-active with strong problem solving skills
  • Work is at times very physical, requiring extended periods of standing, stooping, walking, lifting, pulling, pushing, reaching, object handling, and tool use
  • Required to wear a respirator when necessary

Salary is commensurate with experience plus excellent benefits. This is a permanent, full time, non-exempt position.
Review of applications begins immediately. Deadline for receipt of applications: Monday, November 30, 2015.
Interested candidates please visit www.nhm.org/jobs and click the link of the position for which you are interested or go directly to the online application by clicking https://home.eease.adp.com/recruit/?id=7144171. Please be sure to submit a letter of interest, a resume or short CV, and two professional references with your application.
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Please, No Phone Calls, No Fax.