Museum Prep I, On-Call

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art in the United States and a thriving cultural center for the Bay Area. We cannot imagine life without art; it inspires and connects us every day. Now more than ever, these connections matter and are aligned with our values.
Inclusive: We strive to be a museum of many voices in dialogue.  
Passionate: We believe working with art is more than a job or trusteeship - it's a way of life.  
Brave: We are committed to approaching our work with courage and a sense of adventure, always ready to explore new perspectives.
Empathic: We aim to act like a person, not an institution. 
SFMOMA is a place for the infinitely curious to explore, support, and experience the art of our time. We believe that modern and contemporary art can influence the way we think, view the world, and embrace the many voices and perspectives around us. We aspire to foster an environment that elicits joy, nurtures a sense of belonging and purpose—where difference is seen as a strength, and every one is appreciated for their whole self.
Schedule: Full Time, On-Call, fully onsite
Under supervision of the Head Preparator and reporting to the Assistant Head Preparator, the Museum Preparator I is responsible for the preparation and handling of art objects in exhibitions and the collection to connect people to the art of our time. This generalist position collaborates extensively throughout the Collections, Exhibitions, and Design Division and other museum departments. The position focuses on logistics related to care, access, handling, framing, and storage of collection and loaned artworks at both of the Museum’s locations at 151 Third Street and South San Francisco in the execution of the museums programs as well as furthering development of SFMOMAs professional standards of art handling.
A successful candidate will begin to learn the systems and practices of the collections teams over the first month to quarter with SFOMOMA. This will include working with project points, co-points, registration, conservation, and other preparators while working under the delegation of project points. Within the first year the candidate will proactively further their institutional understanding, art handling skills, and become a positive contributor to the successful completion of projects.

Responsibilities & Duties

• Team Participation
• Encourage and contribute to an inclusive, rewarding, and inspiring workplace, where innovation, discovery, and constant learning cultivate a deep sense of belonging and shared responsibility within the Preparator team.     
• Share in fostering a culture of safety, inclusivity, and equity.  
• Work in a healthy and flexible style, and models empathy and understanding.   
• Participate in nurturing collaboration and partnership across teams with fluid communication and respect for diverse expertise essential to an art museum.    
• Demonstrate a commitment to the museum’s strategic focus of making programming that engages visitors and inspires individuals to return and recommend the museum to their family and friends.  
• Represent the museum at the local, national, and international levels.   
• Participate in professional networks, workshops, and programs to stay current with relevant practices, methods, and technologies, as well adding new skills to share with the department.   


• Art Handling
• Uphold constant standards in collection care and installation of artwork. 
• Work collaboratively and closely with the preparator team, often under the direction of Project Point and Co Point, accepting shared knowledge and offering experience to the tasks assigned. 
• Facilitate the safe movement, packing/unpacking, installation, and proper lighting of artwork in concert with the SFMOMA exhibitions teams, utilizing proper handling and security techniques.  
• Ensure that cleanliness of work areas, storage, and galleries are maintained with focus on safety for people and artwork. 
• Participate in the construction or implementation of exhibition elements including walls, pedestals, boxes, fixtures, mounts, housings, and other finished structures related to the installation and display of exhibitions and works of art.  
• Participate in the training and development of procedures and standards to improve the movement, handling, packing, and installation of art.  
• Apply skills to aid in the activities of the in-house framing staff. 
• Participate in collections inventories.  
• Participate in the planning, access, organization, documentation, and movement of works to be stored in new storage spaces.
• Represent SFMOMA to other institutions, both national and international, to faci