Conservator

The Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) is seeking a talented Conservator to join our dedicated Collections and Exhibitions team on a full-time basis.

Mona challenges conventions through its eclectic and provocative collection of art and artifacts, sparking dialogue and redefining the museum experience. This role offers the opportunity to work autonomously and as part of a small, collaborative team, contributing to the preservation of a world-class collection and the Museum’s temporary exhibition program.

Mona’s private Collection is diverse – from ancient Egyptian funerary objects, works of Australian modernism, bibliophilic paraphernalia, to International and National contemporary art. This position shares responsibility with Mona’s Conservator Objects & Time Based Art for the care of Mona’s Collection and loaned objects, in storage and on display, including off-site projects as required. The Conservator will be responsible for the examination, treatment, and preventive care of objects, ensuring their long-term preservation. This role involves hands-on conservation work, documentation, and collaboration with Mona’s curatorial and research teams. The position is located primarily at Mona’s offsite store, with regular work at the museum.

The Gig:

• Actively participate in the care of the Collection by developing conservation strategies, procedures and workflows, ensuring Mona meets the highest standard of museum collection management and artwork display.

• Collaborate with the Collections Registrar, Collections & Exhibition Preparatory team and Exhibition Technical Services (ETS) team to evaluate new acquisitions and associated storage and display considerations, ensuring Mona has a comprehensive understanding of each artwork.

• Conduct research and execute specialised conservation treatments across diverse media, ensuring the preservation and integrity of cultural artifacts 

• Apply interventive conservation treatments, leveraging proven expertise to stabilise and restore objects while adhering to ethical standards.

• Participate in exhibition planning meetings, advising on risk mitigation, including installation and display requirements. Liaise with artists, their studios, producers, and institutional and private lenders, when appropriate. 

• Collaborate with Mona’s Production team, providing advice and guidance where it relates to artwork production.

• Advise and collaborate with Technicians to enact preservation and maintenance tasks in a dynamic museum environment.

• Participate in Mona’s preventive conservation program, liaising with internal stakeholders to deliver environmental monitoring, Disaster Recovery Planning and Integrated Pest Management across Mona’s sites.

• Maintain Conservation documentation and record management including condition reporting, treatment proposals and reports, maintaining Collection artwork files and the Collection Management System (Vernon).

The You:

• A tertiary qualification in Cultural Materials Conservation (essential)

• At least 10 years of professional experience in conservation within a museum, gallery, or similar cultural institution (desirable)

• Specialisation in Object Conservation and experience working with range of art mediums (highly desirable)

• Excellent problem solving ability, flexibility and the capacity to work on multiple projects simultaneously (highly desirable)

If you have the requisite skills, and you seek to change both the art world and yourself, tell us how at: https://mona.net.au/connect/employment 

Applications will be processed as they are received. If you would like to be considered for this role, please apply now.