Outdoor Art Technician

The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Founded by philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges is a public non-profit charitable organization.

Position Title: Outdoor Art Technician

Position Type: Full-Time

FLSA Classification: Exempt

Department: Curatorial & Art Management

Reports to: Head of Art Preparation and Collection Care

Date Reviewed: 12/21/2025

Crystal Bridges is a museum of American art located in Bentonville, Arkansas. We explore the unfolding story of America by actively collecting, exhibiting, interpreting, and preserving outstanding works that illuminate the American heritage and artistic possibilities. Founded by Alice Walton in 2005, the museum opened in 2011 and is a public, non-profit charitable organization with free admission.

The Momentary is a contemporary art space that opened to the public on February 22, 2020, in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. The Momentary is a venue for the music, art, and food of our time, and a catalyst for creativity and economic vitality. An extension to Crystal Bridges, the Momentary is a ‘living room’ where community gathers to be inspired, connected, and joyful.

You belong here: make the most of this moment.

Reporting to the Head of Art Preparation and Collection Care, this role is broadly responsible for the implementation of initiatives focused on installation and care for outdoor sculpture on the grounds of Crystal Bridges and AWE ecosystem properties. The Outdoor Art Technician will represent the Art Preparation and Collection Care team on a committee including Registration, Trails and Grounds, Construction and Curatorial specifically tasked with acquisition, installation, routine care, conservation and relocation of outdoor sculpture.

With an emphasis on improved stewardship of the Museum’s outdoor sculpture collection, the Outdoor Art Technician will develop and execute long‑term plans for maintenance and preventative care for objects in bronze, steel, enameled and powdercoated surfaces, fiberglass, glass, aluminum and concrete. The Outdoor Art Technician will also assist as needed with general art handling responsibilities, such as accessing works in storage vaults, loading and unloading fine art trucks, transportation, installation, deinstallation, and related tasks for artwork in special exhibitions and the permanent galleries, both inside the museum and on the museum grounds.

• Contributes to pre‑acquisition reviews of outdoor sculpture, highlighting logistical and budgetary needs regarding installation and maintenance
• Coordinates all aspects of installation in collaboration with Trails & Grounds, Registration, Curatorial and other department representatives. This includes managing a budget for footings, risers or other artwork interfaces, contracted service providers and equipment rentals, as well as drafting service provider agreements for contracted service providers.
• Manages the unloading of incoming outdoor artwork at museum campus, ecosystem properties, offsite storage, etc. Advance coordination of staging or laydown spaces and use of contracted service providers for oversized unloading may be required.
• Documents installation specifications, installation/handling notes, maintenance and conservation treatments in digital and physical files, including up to date schedule and budget information for known preventative maintenance needs
• Develops budget proposals for annual maintenance and specific conservation needs
• Trains and supervises peers and other staff for special projects related to the installation or care and maintenance of outdoor artwork
• Creates staffing plans for weekly, monthly and annual artwork maintenance needs
• Oversees a thorough digital log of outdoor art maintenance activity
• Coordinates ongoing access and infrastructure needs such as lighting, drainage, water, power or vehicle access with Trails & Grounds and Construction departments and proposes updates to infrastructure as needed in…