Preparator/Fabricator (On-Call/Temp/Seasonal: September-December 2025)

Description

The Preparator/Fabricator (On-Call/Temp/Seasonal: September - December 2025) is a temporary hourly position that will work alongside the full time installation/fabrication staff. The schedule is flexible, with time frames ranging from 1-2 days up to weekly and multi-month projects up to a maximum of 120 days. The ideal candidate will be a team player, who will work to achieve deadlines collaboratively.

About the Museum

MASS MoCA is a vibrant non-collecting art museum with approximately 300,000 square feet of exhibition space. Half of that space is dedicated to rotating 10-month exhibitions of which we present 4 to 6 large-scale exhibitions per year, along with smaller projects. The additional space is dedicated to long-term exhibitions in conjunction with artists, estates, and collections that run from 10 months to 25 years. MASS MoCA frequently works directly with artists on the fabrication of new commissions and large scale site specific installations.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Art handling, including unloading and loading trucks, packing and unpacking fine art works, and working with registrars to safely install art.
• Construction and manual labor, including light demolition, moving large objects with material handling equipment (excluding forklifts), painting, sanding, cleaning and other tasks related to exhibition installation in a museum environment.
• Working with a team to assemble large and complex artworks.
• Custom fabrication based on skill and experience, ranging from woodworking to metalworking, sculptural processes, etc.
• Maintaining a positive rapport with colleagues and artists through challenging and complex installations.
• Maintaining safe working spaces through clear communication and tidiness.

Requirements

Qualifications

• The most competitive candidate will have experience working with artists to realize their vision.
• Minimum two years' work in the field of fabrication and art installation
• Bachelor's degree in Art and Design (or equivalent experience)—we are open to any combination of alternative experience and school that you feel qualifies you for this position. Please use your cover letter and resume to convey this experience and why you feel it is relevant to the position.
• Excellent work ethic, craftsmanship, practical problem-solving, creative thinking, embracing collaborative practice, and understanding of team spirit
• The ability to communicate clearly with colleagues, collaborators, and artists
• A high level of professional consideration for the art in our care
• Knowledge of standards for packing, crating, handling, and installing artworks
• Experience working in construction, in a workshop or fabrication shop

Preferred Skills

Please outline your experience with any of the following:

• Any combination of the skills in wood, metal, moldmaking, and plastics, along with experience in the broad range of hand and power tools for manipulating these materials
• Experience, confidence, ability in MIG, TIG, oxy-acetylene welding and cutting, arc welding, plasma cutting, and miscellaneous metal engineering machines
• Knowledge of health and safety measures essential to all of the above processes.
• Candidates can work comfortably and safely with height and has experience using ladders and scaffolding. Experience on scissor lifts is not required.
• Experience with AV equipment and installation
• Art-handling and packing etiquette, for installation and deinstallation.

Work Conditions

• Some duties of this position require being able to work outside, potentially in inclement weather for extended periods of time
• Potential for overtime and weekends during installation periods

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, and/or sit for extended periods of time with limited breaks
• Ability to use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arm, and reach above shoulder height
• The employee is regularly required to climb or balance, squat, kneel, and crouch.
• The employee must regularly be able to lift and/or move up to 50+ pounds and move heavy objects as required.
• Ability to climb ladders and operate mechanical lifts and power tools
• Ability, mobility, and license to drive a motor vehicle
• Acute vision, hearing, voice, smell, and sense of touch
• Employee is required to move about their work area, between buildings and the campus grounds, ascend and descend stairs
• Must be able to wear PPE when necessary.