Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Exhibition Professionals
Entry-level roles in exhibitions include preparators, art installers, and registrars—individuals who "track the art objects" and manage logistics. Louise's career path, starting as an art handler and preparator, highlights the value of hands-on experience, emphasizing that even a Head of Exhibitions benefits from "knowing how to do everything," enabling better communication and project management.
Project Management, Art Handling, Logistics, Collections Management, Internships
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Louise Leong
Head of Exhibitions
UC Santa Cruz Institute of the Arts and Sciences
University of California Santa Cruz, 2012
N/A
Fine Arts, Music
Arts, Entertainment & Media, Education
Operations and Project Management
LGBTQ, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Entry-level positions in exhibitions include preparators, art installers, and registrars. Registrars manage collections, track art objects, and handle logistics. Preparators physically handle artwork.
2. Relevant skills include project management, detail orientation, methodical analytical thinking, and creativity. Experience in areas such as picture framing, woodworking, or studio assistance can be valuable.
3. Internships as exhibition assistants or studio assistants provide valuable experience. Even office admin roles can lead to production-related positions. Knowing the technical aspects of installation enhances communication with team members and outside parties, even if it isn't required for all roles.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that undergraduate college students should consider?
Preparators or art installers are people who physically handle, install, and move artworks for exhibitions. Registrars, on the other hand, manage collections and track art objects. They are essentially the inventory keepers, responsible for knowing the location of all artworks and handling logistics, including shipping.
Other roles that can feed into this field include picture framers, who could work with either registrars or preparators. For registrars, individuals with an interest in library science and information management would be well-suited.
These roles require a combination of tracking skills, data management, and an understanding of logistics. While creativity is a plus, the ability to track information and manage data is crucial for registrars.
The speaker's personal experience as an art handler and preparator has given them a comprehensive understanding of exhibition logistics. They believe that any role providing exposure to these various aspects is valuable.
Professional colleagues in art shipping can offer opportunities for development. Many art shipping companies have training programs or classes that project managers can attend.
Internships are common, such as exhibition assistant or studio assistant roles. For students who excel at installation, opportunities may arise in active studio artist scenes, where production or studio assistants are needed.
These roles might begin with office administration but can progress to production work. However, not everyone possesses the necessary coordination skills for such tasks.
For the speaker's specific role, technical skills aren't always required, but an awareness and aptitude for project management are beneficial. Detail-oriented and methodical individuals with analytical thinking skills would likely succeed.
Creativity is also highly valuable. The speaker's personal experience with installing things has helped them translate knowledge to others. They enjoy knowing how to do everything, even if they don't always need to perform the tasks themselves.
This knowledge enables them to better explain processes to their team and to convey the needs of curators or artists to fabricators. Therefore, any position assisting in production or installation, such as picture framing or woodworking, can be a pathway into this field.
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