SAN JOSE MUSEUM OF ART
Job Announcement
Job Title: Associate Exhibition Designer
Department:Exhibitions
Reports to:Chief of Design and Installation
Status: Full time
Summary Job Description:
The San Jose Museum of Art (SJMA) has an exciting opportunity for an Associate Exhibition Designer, in ourExhibitionsdepartment. Come and be a part of a small team of creative and dedicated museum professionals, assisting with the coordination of exhibition design for nine to eleven exhibitions and artist projects annually, leading installation crew members, and coordinating projects with artists and works from the permanent collection.
The Associate Exhibition Designer assists the Chief of Design and Installation on all aspects of exhibition design, project management, installation processes and crew team building. Duties include extensive coordination with exhibiting artists, SJMA staff, and visiting or contract installation support staff.Design and exhibition oversight is combined with on-going production facility maintenance, and permanent collection management. The Associate Exhibition Designer will also focus on exhibition graphics, lighting, carpentry and exhibition furniture fabrication.
About Us:
Founded in 1969 by artists, SJMA presents modern and contemporary art exhibitions and programs; international in scope, it celebrates the cutting-edge vision of California and Pacific Rim artists. Given its location in the heart of Silicon Valley, the Museum has a substantial commitment to showing and nurturing visionary work in new media. SJMA’s permanent collection contains more than 2,500 works of art, including paintings, sculpture, installations, new media, photography, drawings, prints, and artist’s books. SJMA is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and is located on the Plaza de César Chavez in downtown San José. The Museum serves 100,000 people a year, including some 40,000 school children, and is the largest provider of arts education in Santa Clara County.
The Design and Installation Department creates award-winning exhibition environments with high production values, in concert with curatorial projects to advance the museum’s goals. Exhibitions and artist projects include high-tech cutting edge new media installations to traditional projects with modern and contemporary art.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Associate Exhibition Designer will create exhibition design and lighting for selected exhibitions, including coordination with project curators and educators. Responsibilities include logistical coordination and correspondence with SJMA staff, exhibiting artists, guest curators, guest registrars and guest installation assistants and couriers. Lead installation crew members with an emphasis on instruction, management and team building. Create installation schedules and manage crew personnel matters.Responsible for maintaining the premises and galleries, supplies of exhibition materials, and overseeing fabrication of all exhibition and project furniture. With Chief of Design, facilitate title graphics and vinyl production and installation. Work closely with Registrar to maintain, pack and ship art works from the permanent collection and borrowed materials, and fabricate art storage components.
Qualifications:
Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) required, Master of Fine Arts (MFA) preferred. Minimum five years’ experience as a lead exhibition crew member or preparator required, or equivalent combination of education and experience.Leadership, project management skills, and strong design experience required.Must possess excellent written and verbal communications skills, and show problem solving expertise. Strong computer aptitude and experience is required, with a focus on graphics applications – Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, In-Design, Pagemaker, Flexi-Sign, and Excel. Knowledge of carpentry shop equipment, hand and power tools, and state of the art safety standards and procedures required.Must have a valid California Driver’s license and ability to drive a truck.
The position requires a background check and the ability to work weekends and evenings as required.
SJMA offers a competitive benefits plan including medical, dental, vision and paid sick and vacation time. The museum offers a generous retirement program.
We are an equal opportunity employer. At SJMA, we value the diversity of individuals and the ideas, perspectives, insights, and valuesthey bring to the workplace.
To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to by Friday, January 5, 2018.
Due to the high volume of interest, regrettably, we cannot respond to individual applicants. If you are selected as a potential candidate, SJMA will contact you to schedule an interview.
No phone calls, please.