Preparator Assistant

Thank you for your interest in employment opportunities at the Museum of Contemporary Art. The MCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Candidates may be contacted for interviews. However, due to the high level of interest in positions, the MCA contacts only a small percentage of applicants. Please submit your resume as either a PDF or Word document.

We have an opening for Preparator Assistants to support the Collections and Exhibitions (Curatorial Affairs) department at MCA Chicago. Reporting to the Lead Preparator, the Preparator Assistant assists in all production aspects of exhibition turnovers, including prefabrication of exhibition elements, technical setup and breakdown, and maintenance of galleries and art storage and assists with all art handling, including installation, packing, and shipping while implementing best practices. To be successful in this role, you must:

• Perform art handling and production tasks for exhibitions and collections as assigned.

• Aid with fabrication of display casework, furniture and/or artwork to artist's specifications for exhibitions.

• Participate in time-based media installations and deinstallations including completing associated documentation.

• Assist with incoming and outgoing shipments of artworks as needed.

• Aid with the care, movement, and storage of the permanent collection on and off site.

• Maintain tools and equipment as directed; inventory materials and advise staff on ordering as needed.

• Perform routine gallery maintenance.

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• At least 2 years of museum or gallery preparation experience.

• Knowledge of and experience with best practices in art handling, packing, transport, and installation of various types of artworks.

• General fabrication and construction skills including woodshop and carpentry experience, experience working with small mechanical and power tools, and familiarity with moving large/heavy objects and crates.

• Wall framing, sheathing, repair, and painting skills.

• Mathematics and measuring skills.

• Demonstrated ability to work with care and accuracy while performing job duties.

• Ability to work independently, with a partner, or with a larger team, to complete tasks in a timely manner.

• Strong verbal communication skills.

• Ability to stand for long periods of time.

$19 - $24 an hour

This is a part-time position and individuals must be available to work for periods ranging from one day to several weeks, Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm, as well as some weekend and evening hours as needed. Work opportunities are scheduled up to three months in advance although some exceptions may occur. Individuals must have the ability to safely lift up to sixty pounds and general mobility throughout the building is required. Must also be comfortable working at elevated heights and in awkward spaces when required.

Interested? APPLY NOW https://mcachicago.org/About/Employment

P.S. The MCA provides great benefits to part-time staff that include: visiting the MCA's galleries, curator led staff tours of MCA exhibitions, discounts at the MCA Store and MCA restaurant Marisol, discounts for MCA Stage and other programs, plus a wide variety of discounts at many cultural institutions in the Chicagoland area.

This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME Council 31.

The MCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V. In addition, we aspire to make the MCA community and our environment - staff, audiences, artists, programs, and exhibitions - reflective of the diversity of the city of Chicago and to capture the spirit of access, inclusion, and equity in all we do. We strongly encourage and welcome applicants from our BIPOC, disabled, and LGBTQIA communities as they must be centered in the work we do. If you have any difficulty using our online system and you need an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at: jobs@mcachicago.org.