Institute Contemporary Art Preparator

The ICA invites applications for the position of Preparator. The Preparator supports and assists all aspects of art and exhibition space preparation, installation, and de-installation.

Institute for Contemporary Art MBU

Institute for Contemporary Art

Designed by Steven Holl Architects and located at the corner of Broad and Belvidere, the Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA) at VCU presents the art of our time and provides an open forum for dialogue and collaboration across the region and throughout the world. With free admission, the ICA is a major resource for VCU, Richmond, and beyond.

Reporting to the Senior Preparator and a member of the exhibitions and programs team, the Preparator supports and assists all aspects of art and exhibition space preparation, installation, and de-installation. The Preparator demonstrates a solid foundation of skills that are emblematic of the industry, gained from employment at other fine art museums, cultural institutions, commercial galleries, design/build firms, or through artist assistant positions.

Responsibilities include experienced art-handling, audio-visual, and fabrication skills with demonstrated proficiency in at least one of those areas. Preparators help guide Art Handlers/Installers in complex installation or de-installation projects. They have excellent communication skills and the ability to listen to, comprehend, and execute tasks in a timely and effective way.

• Collaborate with artists, curators, and project stakeholders to develop new commissions, from initial concept discussions through installation.

• Contribute to the ideation and planning of artist-led projects, ensuring alignment with curatorial objectives, budgets, timelines, and spatial requirements.

• Produce exhibition layouts, installation plans, scale drawings, and technical documentation to support the realization of new commissions and temporary exhibitions.

• Coordinate with artists, fabricators, registrars, and installation teams to translate conceptual proposals into practical exhibition solutions.

• Conduct site visits, spatial assessments, and feasibility studies to inform exhibition design and artwork placement.

• Support the development of exhibition through the testing and refinement of gallery layouts, visitor flow, and interpretive elements.

• Prepare presentation materials, floor plans, and visualizations for internal review, artist consultations, and stakeholder approvals.

• Maintain accurate records of design iterations, installation requirements, and project specifications throughout the exhibition development process.

• Perform basic cutting using contractor-style table saws and/or sliding table saws.

• Perform basic boring using drill presses, handheld drills and drivers, rotary hammer drills, specialty bits and anchors, etc.

• Assist with framing, sheet rocking, taping/mudding, sanding, finishing and demolishing walls.

• Independently patch small sections of walls, floors, and ceilings and paint entire surfaces to industry standards.

• Support with the installation and de-installation of environmental elements like carpet, curtains, and glass panels, etc.

• Perform and assist with other fabrication and de-installation tasks as needed and assigned.

• Assist in the installation and de-installation of time-based/new media-based artwork.

• Read drawings, plans, spec sheets and help pull equipment from A/V inventory.

• Assist in the preparation, installation, and de-installations of complex, multi-channel audio-visual environments by preparing surfaces to project on, securing ceiling/wall-mounted projectors, calibrating projections via laser…