Exhibition Manager, Art and Design Specialist at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Organisation: School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC)
Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Salary: See SAIC’s hiring range grade 5
Contract: Full-time, on-site; union position
Application deadline: Not specified

SAIC is seeking an Exhibition Manager to prepare, install, maintain and de-install exhibitions in its galleries. Working with the Director of Exhibition Operations and Senior Exhibition Manager, the postholder will focus on art preparation and gallery logistics while supporting exhibitions developed by staff, faculty and students.

SAIC’s exhibition spaces serve as teaching galleries, presenting work by emerging and established artists in exhibitions that are free and open to the public.

Responsibilities

The Exhibition Manager will serve as lead preparator for works including painting, photography, sculpture and works on paper. They will direct art handling and installation, including framing, mounting, packing and storage; design hanging hardware; plan gallery layouts; and help exhibiting artists resolve installation issues. They will also prepare artworks for shipment after exhibitions.

The role combines hands-on work with gallery operations. The postholder will hire, schedule, train and supervise student staff, contractors and temporary employees; manage purchasing and timesheets; maintain tools and materials; and monitor gallery conditions and safety procedures. They will share their preparation techniques with students and help maintain the spaces used to store artworks.

Candidate profile

Applicants must have at least two years of art handling and installation experience in a museum or gallery. SAIC seeks someone who can work with and mentor students, communicate across departments, meet deadlines and respond to the needs of curatorial staff. A bachelor’s degree in fine arts or a related field is preferred.

Experience with mount making, carpentry, supervision in an academic setting and gallery lighting is desirable. CAD, Adobe Creative Suite, Mac OS and registration experience are particularly valued. The work involves lifting objects of up to 30 pounds and working on ladders and at heights.