Director of Exhibitions Production [The Contemporary Austin, Austin, TX]

Description

The Contemporary Austin is hiring a full-time Director of Exhibitions Production to oversee the fabrication, production, and installation of all exhibitions, commissions, and curatorial projects at its two locations: the downtown Jones Center, a 7,000 square foot gallery space, and The Betty and Edward Marcus Sculpture Park at Laguna Gloria, a fourteen-acre outdoor sculpture park.  This position reports to the Senior Curator.

Responsibilities Include:

Exhibition Management:

• Organize exhibition planning and implementation meetings with appropriate staff. Ensure smooth communication between all parties involved in executing exhibitions. Work closely with Registrar to ensure shipping deadlines are met.
• Adhere to all deadlines for exhibitions, commissions, loans and curatorial projects.
• Work with Senior Curator and Exhibitions Department to develop exhibition expense projections for assigned exhibitions and make recommendations. Work with Senior Curator and Director’s Office for final budget sign-off and deal structure.
• Supervise the preparatory crew and manage the installation of new artwork which requires specialized installation and handling.
• Communicate with outside contractors, consultants and/or engineers regarding code and regulations for installation and production of specific artworks. Contract these parties as needed per project.

Production Management:

• Oversee all production of artworks for the museum.  This includes working closely with artists and artists’ studios to produce works for exhibitions, commissions, and curatorial projects, and coordinating and facilitating these projects for the museum.
• Manage all costs related to fabricated works and communicate these to the Senior Curator, Director’s Office and Accounting Department. Work with staff to create and evaluate exhibition and production budgets.
• Create manuals for the installation and maintenance of new artworks.
• Work with fabrication specialists and artists to produce the works within established deadlines and approved budgets.

General:

• Work with the existing staff on the daily operations and maintenance of Laguna Gloria and Exhibitions shop & warehouse.
• Provide careful consideration of the integration of the grounds and the artworks, with emphasis on details concerning installation and maintenance of artwork.
• Represent the curatorial voice in the museum in future development of grounds, including liaising with city regulatory bodies for special permitting of installed artworks, temporary and/or permanent.

How to Apply:

Please submit cover letter, resume, and 3 professional references in Word or PDF format to hr@thecontemporaryaustin.org.  No phone calls please.

Requirements

• Minimum 7-10 years experience in contemporary art fabrication and production
• Proficient in Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat Pro, SketchUp, and ArtBase
• Experienced in all aspects of installation techniques, tools, materials and supplies; should include basic rigging skills, forklift operation a plus. Familiarity with materials such as bronze, aluminum, stainless steel, wood, concrete, etc.
• BA or BFA in Studio Art or related field preferred
• Managerial experience strongly preferred