The Reading Public Museum is seeking a detail-oriented, hands-on Preparator & Registrar to support the care, documentation, and presentation of the Museum's collections and exhibitions. The Preparator & Registrar plays a central role in ensuring artwork and artifacts are handled, displayed, documented, stored, and transported according to professional museum standards. This position works closely with the Collections & Exhibitions Manager and colleagues across the Museum to install and maintain permanent galleries; coordinate temporary and traveling exhibitions; manage collections records, loans, and shipments; and support the safe, timely completion of exhibition projects. The Museum maintains 14 permanent galleries, presents more than 10 temporary exhibitions annually, and offers seven touring exhibitions to museums nationwide. Gallery Preparation and Maintenance Install and deinstall individual objects and full gallery presentations. Prepare galleries through lighting, label mounting and cutting, painting, patching, framing, and other exhibition-related work. Mat and frame two-dimensional artworks and construct custom object mounts. Coordinate and oversee rotating installations in permanent galleries, including textiles, works on paper, fraktur, coverlets, and other collection objects. Conduct daily gallery checks and complete routine repairs and cleaning as needed. Perform quarterly gallery maintenance, including cleaning objects and platforms, and biannual cleaning and waxing of outdoor sculpture. Collaborate with the Buildings & Grounds department on larger gallery renovation and improvement projects. Safely operate equipment such as a Genie lift as needed. Collections Management and Registration Accession, house, inventory, and manage collection objects in accordance with Museum standards. Maintain accurate object locations and collection records in The Museum System (TMS) or other collections-management database. Manage collections storage and support ongoing inventories. Coordinate loan requests and prepare objects for incoming and outgoing loans. Maintain loan agreements, condition reports, insurance records, and related documentation for works on loan. Oversee incoming and outgoing art shipments and process gift paperwork. Manage rights and reproductions requests. Temporary and Traveling Exhibitions Coordinate, with the Collections & Exhibitions Manager, the installation and deinstallation of temporary exhibitions. Develop schedules and timelines to support efficient exhibition changeovers. Work collaboratively with Facilities, Education, vendors, and other Museum departments to execute exhibition projects. Assist with exhibition layouts, installation, deinstallation, and hands-on problem-solving to meet project deadlines. Troubleshoot in-gallery technology and coordinate with vendors to resolve issues promptly. Pack and condition-report artwork for outgoing traveling exhibitions. Serve as a courier for exhibitions and loans when required. Coordinate incoming and outgoing touring-exhibition shipments. Design, build, and retrofit crates in partnership with the Collections & Exhibitions Manager. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in museum studies or a related field required; advanced degree preferred. At least three years of preparator and/or registrar experience in a museum environment required. Demonstrated experience with professional art handling, collections care, exhibition installation, and object movement. Experience entering and maintaining records in a collections-management database, such as The Museum System (TMS), PastPerfect, or a similar system. Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook. Strong organizational, planning, communication, and multitasking skills. Ability to work independently, take direction, solve problems effectively, and complete projects accurately and on schedule. Exceptional attention to detail and a collaborative, team-oriented approach. Ability to lift and move up to 50 pounds. Ability to operate or willingness to learn to operate a 26-foot box truck, Genie lift, and forklift, as needed. Physical Requirements and Work Environment This position requires regular standing, walking, bending, stooping, reaching, lifting, and carrying while working in galleries, collections-storage spaces, workshops, loading areas, and outdoor sculpture locations. The successful candidate must be able to safely handle and move objects and materials weighing up to 50 pounds and navigate stairs, storage areas, and other Museum facilities. Work may involve working at heights and operating lifts or other equipment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Schedule This is a full-time, salaried, exempt position. Regular hours are generally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Evening, weekend, travel, and occasional nontraditional hours may be required to support exhibition installations, programs, events, loans, and Museum operations. Pay: $40,000.00 - $42,000.00 per year Benefits: 401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Employee assistance program Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Work Location: In person
Salary: $40,000 - $42,000 a year
Employment Type: Full-time
Qualifications
Benefits
401(k), Health insurance, 401(k) matching, Paid time off, Dental insurance, Life insurance, Employee assistance program