Paintings Conservator openings – Williamstown + Atlanta Art Conservation Center
Listing Start Date: May 21, 2025Expires: June 30, 2025n
We are hiring a Paintings Conservator at the Assistant or Associate Level at our Williamstown and Atlanta locations.
Description – Atlanta
The Williamstown + Atlanta Art Conservation Center (W+AACC) seeks a paintings conservator at the Associate or Assistant level to join our team at our Atlanta Art Conservation Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Williamstown + Atlanta Centers are nonprofit regional conservation centers that provide conservation expertise and treatment for collections belonging to 58 member institutions,nonprofit, corporate, and private stewards in the Southeast and Northeast regions. Our Atlanta Center is located in the facilities of the High Museum of Art in Chamblee.
You would be joining a team with one other paintings conservator to work on paintings that vary widely in age, style, and size. Local collections prominently feature artwork by 20th century African American artists, but the Atlanta Center also regularly treats Old Master paintings, murals, and contemporary art. The selected candidate will also work with Atlanta’s paper and object conservators, technicians, and Williamstown’s conservators in developing a cross-disciplinary, collaborative approach to treatment and care of art and material culture. Work is supported by a conservation analytical lab in Williamstown and close relationships with key academic departments to integrate technical analysis into conservation methodology. The selected candidate will have the opportunity to work closely with museums, academic institutions, private collectors, and the public. Paintings conservators at the Atlanta Center regularly perform structural work (i.e., lining, relining, tear repair), surface cleaning, varnish removal, filling, and retouching.
Outreach and professional development are integral to our mission as a regional center. The successful candidate will demonstrate an interest and experience in education and preservation outreach. Please see past issues of our Art Conservator publication to see what our community of conservators has been working on and the scope of projects that come through W+AACC.
Duties of this position:
- Design and carry out examination and conservation treatment on a wide range of paintings.
- Design and perform collection surveys, institutional assessments, and consultations.
- Complete work each day toward W+AACC projects.
- Perform onsite work which may involve examinations, treatments, and consulting.
- Collaborate with other conservation and collections professionals in developing and performing treatments and preventive care activities.
- Conduct research to understand objects and support recommended treatment protocols.
- Communicate with stewards regarding projects, in concert with administrative staff.
- Manage and oversee subcontractors as needed.
- Participate in interdepartmental projects.
- Interact professionally with a broad range of people concerning conservation and preservation, both in person, over the phone, and via electronic communications.
- Actively participate in W+AACC’s education programs and tours; participate in planning and implementing a new regional collection care outreach program.
- Work with colleagues in other specializations and oversee interns and volunteers as needed.
- Represent W+AACC in meetings with other professionals, potential clients, and donors.
- Remain current with theoretical discourse, best practice, and innovation in the field.
Applicant Requirements:
- A Master’s degree in conservation is preferred but equivalent education and experience will be considered.
- 1-5 + years of post-graduate conservation experience.
- Active membership in the American Institute for Conservation.
- Demonstrated versatility in performance of techniques and materials used in conservation.
- Experience with structural repair.
- Experience with the use of aqueous and solvent-based surface cleaning techniques.
- Experience with integrating technical analysis into treatment methodologies.
- Excellent communication, time management, and interactive skills for frequent collaboration on projects with other departments and member professionals.
- Ability to travel to onsite projects in the surrounding region and beyond, as required.
- Ability to work on scaffolding indoors and out, stand for prolonged periods, lift 40lbs.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
- Possess a valid driver’s license.
- Possess existing credentials permitting legal work in the United States.
Compensation + Benefits:
- The salary range for the assistant level is $56,000-$62,000. The salary range for the associate level is $65,000-$75,000. The salary offered will be commensurate with experience.
- A competitive benefits package is offered including health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, 403b with 5% employer match, holidays, vacation sick, personal, and research days.
- A professional development allowance of $1,000 and five research days are provided for workshops and conferences. Half of the cost of membership in the American Institute for Conservation is also provided.
To Apply send a letter of interest, a portfolio demonstrating three treatments that address the requirements of the position, and a CV to Jamie Cassavoy at jcassavoy@williamstownart.org.
Applications are requested as soon as possible. Interviews will begin as qualified applications are received. The position will remain open until filled.
Inquiries regarding the position can be directed to Amanda Kasman at akasman@willaimstownart.org.
Description – Williamstown
The Williamstown + Atlanta Art Conservation Center seeks a qualified and motivated paintings conservator at the assistant or associate level to join our team at our Stone Hill Centerlocation in Williamstown, MA. This is a fantastic opportunity for an early to mid-career conservator who seeks to gain experience in practical conservation treatment, project management, and teaching. This a one-year contract position with the possibility for renewal.
You would be joining a team of four multi-disciplined conservators that work on a wide range of paintings, from the 14th century to modern and contemporary. The selected candidate will work closely with our colleagues in our paper, objects, and furniture & frames, Atlanta’s four paper, paintings, and objects conservators, and a team technicians and specialists, in developing a cross-disciplinary, collaborative approach to the treatment and care of art and material culture. Work is supported by a conservation analytical lab and close relationships with key academic departments to integrate technical and art historical analysis into conservation methodology. The selected candidate will have the opportunity to work closely with museums, academic institutions, private collectors, and the public.
Outreach and professional development are integral to our mission as a regional center. The successful candidate will demonstrate an interest and experience in education and preservation outreach. Please see past issues of our Art Conservator publication to see what our community of conservators has been working on and the scope of projects that come through W+AACC.
Duties of this position:
- Design and carry out examination and conservation treatment on a wide range of paintings from the 14th century to the 21st century
- Design and perform a range of collection surveys, institutional assessments and consultations
- Complete work each day toward W+AACC projects.
- Collaborate with other conservation and collections professionals in developing and performing treatments and preventive care activities
- Communicate with collection stewards regarding inquiries and projects, in coordination with W+AACC’s administrative staff
- Interact professionally with a broad range of people concerning conservation and preservation, both in person, over the phone, and via electronic communications
- Perform onsite work which may involve organizational assessments, collection surveys, examinations, treatments, and consulting
- Work with colleagues in other specializations and oversee interns and volunteers as needed
- Actively participate in W+AACC’s education programs – teaching, lecturing, and leading tours including sessions of Williams College graduate art history class (ART508).
- Represent W+AACC in meetings with potential clients, donors, and other professionals
- Participate in staff meetings and in hiring new staff
- Stay current with theoretical discourse, best practice, and innovation in the field
Applicant Requirements:
- A Master’s degree in conservation OR equivalent educational experience
- To be considered at the associate level, 7+ years of post-graduate conservation experience is required.
- Active membership in the American Institute for Conservation
- Demonstrated versatility in the performance of techniques and materials used to treat a wide variety of paintings
- Experience with or strong knowledge of structural repair, including lining
- Demonstrated experience with the use of the Modular Cleaning Program and/or methodology for the cleaning of unvarnished surfaces (i.e. modern oil or acrylic)
- Experience with integrating technical analysis into treatment methodologies
- Excellent communication, time management, and interactive skills for frequent collaboration on projects with other departments and member professionals
- Ability to travel to onsite projects in the surrounding region and beyond, as required
- Ability to work on scaffolding indoors and out, stand for prolonged periods, and lift 40lbs
- Have a valid driver’s license, and be legally able to work in the United States
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Compensation + Benefits:
- The salary range for the assistant level is $56,000-$62,000. The salary range for the associate level is $65,000-$75,000. The salary offered will be commensurate with experience.
- A competitive benefits package is offered including health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, 403b with 5% employer match, holidays, vacation sick, personal, and research days.
- A professional development allowance of $1,000 is provided towards workshops and conferences and support for half of the membership dues in the American Institute for Conservation is provided.
To Apply send a letter of interest, a portfolio demonstrating three treatments that address the requirements of the position, and a CV to Maggie Barkovic atmbarkovic@williamstownart.org
Applications are requested as soon as possible. Interviews will begin as qualified applications are received. The position will remain open until filled.
Inquiries regarding can be directed to Maggie Barkovic at mbarkovic@williamstownart.org.
About the Centers:
The Williamstown + Atlanta Centers are non-for-profit regional conservation centers that provide conservation expertise and treatment for collections belonging to member institutions, organizations, nonprofit and corporate collection stewards, and private individuals that do not have their own conservation resources. Our state-of-the-art conservation center in Williamstown is in facilities of the Clark Art Institute. The Atlanta Center is located in an offsite facility of the High Museum of Art.
W+AACC’s mission is to protect, conserve and maintain heritage objects from all cultures; to provide examination, treatment, consultation, and related conservation services for member institutions and other non-profit organizations, corporations, and individuals; to conduct educational programs with respect to the care and conservation of works of art and objects of cultural interest; to participate in the training of conservators; to promote the importance of conservation and increase the awareness of the issues pertinent to collections care; and to conduct research and disseminate knowledge to advance the profession.
Our conservation and preservation work touches upon objects born of all cultures, all times, all geographies, and all belief systems. It is imperative that W+AACC conduct its work within an environment that transcends any race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, age, veteran status, citizenship, immigration status, disability, or protected class. At W+AACC, all perspectives are relevant, vital, and welcome in the development and implementation of the best solutions to conserve, preserve, and share our visual material culture.