The Cleveland Museum of Art / Position announcement

[Heather Weisenseel <hweisenseel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

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@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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