Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Art Technician

🎯 Role Definition

An Art Technician (also known as Gallery Technician, Art Handler, Preparator or Exhibitions Technician) is responsible for the physical care, preparation, installation and deinstallation of artworks across a wide range of media. The role requires technical fabrication skills for mounts and display systems, expertise in safe handling and packing of objects, accurate condition reporting, coordination with curators and conservators, knowledge of preventive conservation and environmental controls, and competent use of hand and power tools, rigging hardware, and crates. Art Technicians ensure exhibitions and loans arrive, are displayed, and depart in excellent condition while maintaining professional documentation and communication throughout the process.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Studio Assistant or Artist's Assistant supporting fabrication and set-up.
Gallery Assistant or Registrar Assistant with exposure to inventory and handling.
Logistics/Shipping Coordinator specializing in fine-art transport and packing.

Advancement To:

Senior Art Technician / Preparator overseeing exhibition builds and staff.
Collections Manager or Registrar managing care and movement of collections.
Exhibitions Manager or Head Preparator leading large-scale exhibition programs.
Conservator Technician moving toward object conservation specialization.

Lateral Moves:

Art Handler for private collections or fine‑art logistics firms.
Museum Fabricator working on bespoke mount, case, and display fabrication.
Installation Supervisor for commercial galleries, theaters, or events.

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Safely handle, move and install artworks of diverse materials and sizes (paintings, sculptures, fragile textiles, works on paper, video installations and mixed media), applying museum-standard handling techniques to minimize risk and damage.
Plan and execute installation and deinstallation of exhibitions using technical drawings, installation plans and curatorial direction, ensuring accurate placement, lighting, labeling and sightlines to meet exhibition design intent.
Fabricate custom mounts, brackets, armatures, pedestals and protective housings using woodwork, metalwork and archival materials so artworks are displayed securely and with minimal physical intervention.
Prepare detailed condition reports before and after transport and exhibition, documenting preexisting conditions with high-resolution photography, annotated notes, and standardized forms for registrars and conservators.
Pack and crate artworks for short- and long-term storage and transit, selecting archival-grade materials, designing crate solutions, and preparing shipping documentation to protect objects during local and international transport.
Coordinate with couriers, art shippers, lenders and customs brokers to facilitate timely pick-up, import/export paperwork, and safe transit while complying with loan agreements and insurance requirements.
Conduct preventive conservation procedures including surface cleaning with approved methods, environmental monitoring (temperature, humidity, light), and implementing pest management and storage rotation protocols.
Operate rigging and lifting equipment, scaffolding and aerial lifts for safe installation of large-scale sculptures and suspended works, completing risk assessments and following fall-protection and OSHA/MHSE best practices.
Read, interpret and implement technical drawings, installation maps and exhibition plans, communicating discrepancies and solutions to curators, designers and conservators to maintain fidelity to installation concepts.
Maintain and operate workshop tools and machinery (table saws, drill presses, routers, welding and hand tools) to produce exhibition hardware and support ongoing fabrication, while enforcing safety and maintenance protocols.
Oversee condition verification and inventory reconciliation during incoming and outgoing loans; ensure object numbers, accession metadata and location tracking are accurate in the collections management system.
Assist with the installation, calibration and troubleshooting of media and AV equipment for contemporary and new-media works, coordinating with audiovisual technicians and artists to ensure proper operation and safety.
Supervise and train temporary staff, volunteers and interns in proper handling, packing and installation techniques, delegating tasks during exhibition builds and ensuring quality control.
Implement and maintain secure storage systems and shelving layouts to maximize space and minimize object risk, including appropriate padding, mounts and environmental controls.
Prepare and install labels, didactic materials and wayfinding elements securely and unobtrusively to museum standards, ensuring correct typography, spacing and placement.
Respond to emergency situations affecting collections (water, fire, structural issues) by following emergency response plans: triage affected objects, coordinate salvage, and liaise with conservators and facilities teams.
Maintain and update workshop inventory of tools, fasteners, archival supplies and spare hardware; request procurement of specialized materials and maintain supplier relationships for custom fabrication.
Collaborate in pre-installation walk-throughs, scheduling and resource planning with exhibition teams to estimate labor, materials and time required to meet installation deadlines.
Ensure compliance with insurance, lender conditions, health & safety regulations and institutional policies throughout handling, storage, and transportation activities.

Secondary Functions

Assist in inventory audits and barcode/RFID tagging projects to improve collections tracking and accessibility.
Contribute to development and revision of handling manuals, emergency response procedures and standard operating procedures for exhibitions and storage.
Support condition-monitoring programs by setting up data loggers, taking environmental readings and contributing to long-term climate control reports.
Provide preparatory and logistical support for conservation treatments under conservator instruction, including cleaning, light surface treatments and mounting for examination.
Design and prototype innovative mount and display solutions for unusual or fragile objects, collaborating with curators and conservators to balance aesthetics and object safety.
Participate in cross-departmental meetings (curatorial, design, facilities and education) to advise on technical constraints and offer practical solutions for program delivery.
Assist with photography capture setups for condition documentation and online collection records, including staging, lighting and handling for digitization.
Support outreach activities, public programs and educational installs when technical expertise is required for object display or handling demonstrations.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Professional art handling and packing techniques for two‑dimensional and three‑dimensional works.
Custom mount and cradle fabrication using woodworking, metalworking and archival materials.
Proficient use of hand and power tools (saws, drills, sanders, routers), workshop machinery and small welding equipment.
Rigging and lifting competency: use of hoists, slings, dollies, pallet jacks, scaffolding and aerial lifts with safe rigging practices.
Condition reporting and object documentation with high-resolution photography, templating and standardized reporting formats.
Knowledge of preventive conservation practices: humidity/temperature control, light management, integrated pest management and safe cleaning protocols.
Crate design and construction for domestic and international shipments, including shock mitigation and vibration control methods.
Experience with collections management systems (e.g., TMS, KE EMu, PastPerfect) and basic inventory control workflows.
Basic AV/media installation skills and troubleshooting for time-based and interactive works.
Understanding of import/export regulations, customs paperwork, loan agreements and insurance requirements for artwork movement.
Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, installation maps, exhibition floor plans and spec sheets.
Proficiency with digital tools for documentation and communication (MS Office, digital photo workflow, mobile documentation apps).

Soft Skills

Strong attention to detail and commitment to object safety and conservation ethics.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills; comfortable liaising with curators, conservators, registrars, artists and contractors.
Problem-solving mindset with the ability to design pragmatic solutions under time and budget constraints.
Project and time management skills with the capacity to prioritize multiple exhibits and loan schedules.
Physical stamina, manual dexterity and spatial awareness for lifting, positioning and installing artworks safely.
Adaptability and calm under pressure during installations, emergencies and deadline-driven situations.
Instructional and leadership ability to train and supervise assistants, vendors and interns on technical tasks.
Professional discretion and respect for confidential or sensitive collections and loan information.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent; demonstrated technical experience in a workshop, gallery or shipping environment required.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree or bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, Museum Studies, Art Conservation, Technical Theatre, Industrial Design or related field.
Certificate or coursework in collections care, conservation techniques, carpentry or metal fabrication is advantageous.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Fine Arts / Studio Arts
Museum Studies / Museology
Art Conservation / Preservation
Industrial Design / Woodworking or Metalworking
Technical Theatre / Stagecraft

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1–5 years of progressive experience in museums, galleries, artist studios or fine-art logistics.

Preferred:

3+ years handling and installing a variety of artworks, demonstrated experience with condition reporting, mount-making and crate construction, and direct collaboration with curatorial and conservation teams.