Art Handler Exhibitions and Operations

Full time

Title:
Art Handler for Exhibitions and Operations

Post closes on Wednesday, October 14, 2026 at 11:55 PM EST.

About Virginia Museum of Fine Arts:

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond is one of the largest comprehensive art museums in the United States. VMFA’s growing encyclopedic collection houses more than 50,000 works of art spanning 6,000 years of world history.

Our holdings include the largest public collection of Fabergé outside of Russia, the finest collection of Art Nouveau outside of Paris and one of the nation’s finest collections of American art. VMFA is also home to important collections of Chinese art, English silver, French Impressionism, Postimpressionism, British sporting art, and modern and contemporary art, as well as renowned South Asian, Himalayan, and African art.

Recently named the 11th-best art museum in the United States by The Washington Post, VMFA is the only US art museum open 365 days a year with free general admission.

VMFA is a state-supported, privately endowed educational institution created for the benefit of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its purpose is to collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret art, to encourage the study of the arts, and thus to enrich the lives of all.

About the Department:

The Collections Management department plays a vital role in the preservation and presentation of all objects and paintings in the care, custody, and control of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Members of the department are responsible for safe handling of the art, its storage, data management, and provenance research.

General Information:

The Collections Management department of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts invites applications from individuals skilled in art handling, project management, and fabrication for the role of Art Handler for Exhibitions and Operations.

This position plays a critical role in the planning and installation of special exhibitions, gallery rotations, packing and transport of artwork, and procurement. To be successful in this role you need to embrace flexibility with a positive demeanor and utilize critical thinking and problem-solving skills while navigating shifting priorities. We are looking for someone who thrives in a fast environment with changing priorities and works really well on a team;

is able to pivot quickly between projects to meet urgent business needs; is comfortable navigating ambiguity and initiating structure when needed; demonstrates the ability to embrace changes and adapt to new methods quickly; can proactively identify potential roadblocks and help to develop creative, robust solutions; exercises sound judgement to resolve issues with limited information; is comfortable navigating gray areas; and with high-level direction.

Minimum Qualifications:

Considerable knowledge of art installation methods, design and engineering techniques, and of conservation-appropriate handling, packing, and storage practices related to the exhibition, transportation, and preservation of art objects.

Significant project management experience and proficiency in the use of Asana or similar project management software.

Experience with lifts and significant skill in the operation of hand and power fabrication tools as well as other material handling equipment.

Ability and knowledge to participate in proper maintenance and organization of art storage areas.

Good judgment, flexibility, and willingness to adapt to shifting priorities and deadlines.

Additional Considerations:

Documented success as a professional Art Handler in a museum or gallery environment.

Proficiency in the use of Collections Management Systems (preferably TMS) and Microsoft 365.

Experience with the Commonwealth of…