Position at Cleveland Museum of Art

Textile Conservation Technician
The Cleveland Museum of Art

The Cleveland Museum of Art is a fine arts museum with an
encyclopedic collection of 35,000-40,000 objects, including roughly
4,500 textiles.  The Museum's conservation department (consisting of
six full-time conservators, three conservation fellows, and four
support staff) includes labs for paintings, paper, objects, and
textile conservation.  The Textile Conservation Technician is a
member of the conservation department and reports to the Assistant
Conservator of Textiles.  The textile conservation department also
works closely with curatorial departments, specifically the
Department of Textiles and Islamic art.

The Museum is seeking a Textile Conservation Technician to work with
the Assistant Conservator of Textiles.  Primary responsibilities
involve using archival materials to rehouse the textile collection
and include constructing boxes and developing containers to suit
specific storage needs, cutting mats and mounting textile objects in
mats as appropriate, and developing prototypes of mounts to suit
specific display requirements.  Also responsible for developing and
implementing housekeeping plan for galleries, with emphasis on
textile objects and objects having textile component. Technician
assists Textile Conservator as needed, including monitoring the
physical care and well-being of the textile collection while in
storage and on display, inventorying tools, supplies and equipment,
and recommending purchases to the Textile Conservator, and assisting
with handling and mounting projects as assigned.

Other responsibilities include transporting textiles to and from
photography department and facilitating photography of the textile
collection, and stitching permanent accession number tape to textile
objects requiring such and assisting Registrar with placing
permanent painted numbers on contemporary fiber art objects or other
textile objects requiring such. Assists Textile Conservator and
Curator with placing textile objects in and removing objects from
storage.  Monitors light levels of textile objects or objects with
textile components on display in the galleries.  Monitors light
levels of loan exhibitions that include textile objects or objects
with textile components to ensure that they meet the stipulations of
loan contracts.  As needed, examines textiles entering the building,
particularly new acquisitions, for signs of insect infestation.  As
required, oversees the packing and unpacking of textile objects to
be loaned to other institutions.  Prepares monthly schedule of work
and reviews with textile conservator.  Acts as courier accompanying
works of art to and from other institutions as needed.

Qualifications:  Bachelor's degree in fine arts or art history (BA
or BFA), including coursework in art techniques, from four-year
college or university; one to three years related experience and/or
training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Must have good organizational, communication, and word processing
skills.  Should be familiar with the procedures, materials, tools
and techniques used in creating and caring for works of art,
especially as related to textiles. Must have a sensitivity and
aptitude to handle works of art, especially delicate textiles.  Must
have an understanding of carpentry techniques, museum design and
basic chemistry.  Must be able to use a mat cutter, hand tools,
scalpels, tweezers, needles, power tools including a sewing machine,
light meter, psychrometer, ultra-violet lamp, and microscope.

The position is available immediately; a complete job description is
available on request.  Applicants should submit via mail, fax, or
e-mail, a resume and cover letter, by April 12, 2002, to:

    Heather Weisenseel
    Human Resources
    The Cleveland Museum of Art
    11150 East Boulevard
    Cleveland, OH  44106
    Fax: 216-421-0277
    hweisenseel [at] clevalandart__org

The salary and benefits are competitive.  The Museum is an AA/EOE.
More information at <URL:http://www.clevelandart.org>

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 15:63
                  Distributed: Tuesday, March 19, 2002
                       Message Id: cdl-15-63-043
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