SAINT LOUIS ART MUSEUM
Employment Opportunity
JOB DESCRIPTION: Associate Textile Conservator or Textile Conservator
Grade K or M (exempt)
REPORTS TO: Head of Conservation
SUPERVISES: No one
SPECIFICATIONS: Degree from an accredited conservation program or its
equivalent and 6 years conservation experience in textile conservation
preferred. Compensation will be commensurate with experience and has a starting
range in the low-$50,000s (associate), to mid-$60,000s (conservator) yearly
with annual merit raises and comprehensive benefits including support for
continuing education and conference attendance. Moving expense assistance is
provided.
JOB DISCRIPTION: The Saint Louis Art Museum seeks a collegial, collaborative,
and energetic textile conservator to join its active conservation team. SLAM is
one of the nation's leading comprehensive art museums with collections that
include works of art of exceptional quality from virtually every culture and
time period. A growing collection of over 3500 textiles date from Coptic to
contemporary arts. Multiple curatorial departments including Decorative Arts,
Asian arts, and Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas oversee the textile
collection. The museum's textile gallery hosts two exhibitions per year. As the
museum's textile conservator the candidate will conduct conservation
treatments, address display needs including mount systems, as well as storage
requirements. The ideal candidate will have a broad and solid foundation in
treatment techniques for a wide range of primarily flat textiles and be capable
of collaborating with other conservation staff to solve unique preservation
challenges. Knowledge of textile science, fabric structures, sewing
construction and needlework techniques required. Experience with costume and
historic upholstery conservation treatments are a plus. The candidate must be
organized with excellent time and project management skills.
DUTIES, WORK PERFORMED:
* Examine and assess physical condition of textiles
including deterioration, damage, and potential complications involved in
treatment.
* Design and carry out conservation treatment in
consultation with the curators.
* Design and construct mount systems for 2 & 3-dimensional
objects.
* Provide written and photographic documentation to record
condition of objects, treatments proposed, and treatments performed.
* Recommend other Conservators outside their field of
expertise and review treatment proposals.
* Examine textile works prior to acquisition to aid the
Curatorial staff in determining physical and aesthetic condition, as well as
authenticity of works.
* Examine works requested for loan to document their
condition and to determine suitability for travel and, and advise the Registrar
and others on any special packing and shipping considerations.
* Provide guidance to the Collections Care Technician on
the maintenance of textiles on display in the galleries.
* Advise the Registrar, Curators, and other museum staff
members on the handling, installation, storage, and maintenance of works in the
collection.
* Administer the workflow and assist in preparing,
monitoring and controlling the budget of the Textile Conservation Lab.
* Recommend acquisition of new equipment.
* Monitor and order conservation supplies.
The above statements of this job description describe the general duties and
level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. They do not
claim to describe all of the functions of this position. Employees may be
assigned other duties and the essential functions may change or be changed from
time to time.
Applicants should apply through the Museum's website -
www.slam.org<http://www.slam.org>. Additional questions regarding the position
or the collection should be directed to the Head of Conservation -
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. Applications submitted on
or before May 29th will receive priority consideration.
The Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to treating all
applicants and employees fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and
experience, without regard to sex, race, age, disability, religion, national
origin, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification
protected by law.
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