Position at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Assistant/Associate Conservator
Musical Instruments
Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Sherman Fairchild Center for Objects Conservation at The
Metropolitan Museum of Art seeks an experienced conservator of
musical instruments. Recognized as one of the finest of its kind,
the encyclopedic collection of the Museum's Department of Musical
Instruments covers all cultures and time periods. Of the
approximately five thousand objects, about eight hundred instruments
are on permanent display, while a select few are played periodically
at recitals. The Department has an active program of exhibitions,
acquisitions, and loans.

Primary Responsibilities and Duties:

    The successful candidate will assume responsibility for the care
    and technical investigation of the complete collection of
    musical instruments. These works encompass an extremely wide
    array of materials and production techniques, and treatment will
    focus mainly on their stability and presentability. Specialized
    treatments or procedures affecting the playability or acoustic
    quality of instruments will be carried out by external
    consultants. The conservator will collaborate with these parties
    and guide treatments where they affect aesthetics or concern
    original material. Duties include the execution and
    documentation of conservation treatments, preparation of
    condition reports for the purpose of acquisition or loan,
    advising on conditions of display and transport of objects, as
    well as the supervision of fellows, students, and interns. While
    the conservator's primary responsibility will be the collection
    of musical instruments, on occasion he or she may also be called
    on to help address the conservation needs of other curatorial
    areas.

Requirements and Qualifications:

    Applicants must have a master's degree from a recognized
    conservation program (or the equivalent), and at least three
    years of professional experience, preferably as a museum
    conservator. A specialization or background in the research and
    treatment of musical instruments is preferred, but candidates
    experienced in the treatment of objects with related aesthetic
    and structural issues are encouraged to apply as well.
    Communication and documentation skills are essential.

The Assistant/Associate Conservator position is full-time and
includes full benefits. Salary and title will be commensurate with
experience. The starting date is negotiable. Send cover letter,
resume and salary history as a Word attachment, only with the
position title in the subject line, to employoppty [at] metmuseum__org or
fax to 212-570-3882.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Human Resources Department
Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10028
212-879-5500
Fax: 212-570-3882


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 21:11
                   Distributed: Sunday, June 17, 2007
                       Message Id: cdl-21-11-025
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