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- Tasks: Conserve and enhance fine art paintings while assessing their condition and stability.
- Company: Join English Heritage, a leading charity safeguarding England's historic sites for future generations.
- Benefits: Enjoy a meaningful role with opportunities for professional growth and a chance to make a real impact.
- Why this job: Be part of a passionate team preserving history and uncovering hidden stories in art.
- Qualifications: A background in art conservation or related fields is essential; skills in chemistry and manual dexterity are a plus.
- Other info: This role involves managing multiple properties, offering a unique blend of hands-on work and leadership.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Rachel Turnbull is a fine art conservator working for English Heritage. English Heritage is a registered charity and is one of the most important guardians of historic sites in England. English Heritage cares for over 400 historic buildings, monuments and sites spanning over 6,000 years of history.
Responsibilities:
- Conserving paintings, making them stable and aesthetically improving their look through cleaning.
- Auditing and checking the condition and stability of the collection. This involves viewing every one of our 1300 paintings once every four years and assessing damage and potential causes of that damage as well as future risks.
- Carrying out technical examination of paintings to establish their age and attribution, or to find out more about how they were made. This can lead to exciting new findings, like hidden images beneath what you can see today, or to confirming who painted something.
- Caring for and treating paintings, usually those in oil paint on canvas or wooden panel supports. It requires a highly diverse range of knowledge and skills: structural work to canvas or wood (knowledge of a material's mechanical response to its environment); cleaning surface dirt or old resin varnish with aqueous methods or solvents (knowledge of chemistry); retouching losses to the original paint (manual dexterity, good colour vision); understanding technical findings (knowledge of art history); refitting paintings in frames (carpentry skills); understanding the causes of degradation in paintings (amongst others, knowledge of the response of paintings to temperature, relative humidity and light).
As a cluster manager, I have overall responsibility for five properties within the English Heritage charity.
Senior Collections Conservator (Fine Art) employer: OAT Futures
Contact Detail:
OAT Futures Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Collections Conservator (Fine Art)
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the conservation field. Attend art conservation workshops, seminars, or exhibitions to meet people who work in similar roles. This can help you gain insights into the industry and potentially lead to job referrals.
✨Tip Number 2
Stay updated on the latest techniques and technologies in art conservation. Follow relevant journals, blogs, and social media accounts to learn about new methods and materials that are being used in the field. This knowledge can set you apart during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Consider volunteering or interning at museums or galleries. Gaining hands-on experience in a conservation setting will not only enhance your skills but also demonstrate your commitment to the field when applying for the Senior Collections Conservator position.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare for potential interviews by familiarising yourself with English Heritage's collection and their conservation practices. Understanding their specific challenges and successes will allow you to tailor your responses and show how you can contribute to their mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Collections Conservator (Fine Art)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Familiarise yourself with the responsibilities of a Senior Collections Conservator. Highlight your experience in conserving paintings, auditing collections, and conducting technical examinations in your application.
Showcase Relevant Skills: Emphasise your diverse skill set, including knowledge of materials, chemistry, art history, and manual dexterity. Provide specific examples of how you've applied these skills in previous roles.
Tailor Your CV: Customise your CV to reflect your experience related to fine art conservation. Include any relevant qualifications, certifications, and past projects that demonstrate your expertise in the field.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that not only outlines your passion for art conservation but also explains why you want to work with English Heritage specifically. Mention any alignment with their mission and values.
How to prepare for a job interview at OAT Futures
✨Showcase Your Technical Knowledge
As a Senior Collections Conservator, you'll need to demonstrate a deep understanding of the materials and techniques used in fine art conservation. Be prepared to discuss specific methods you've used in the past, such as cleaning techniques or structural repairs, and how they relate to the preservation of paintings.
✨Highlight Your Attention to Detail
The role requires meticulous attention to detail, especially when auditing and assessing the condition of artworks. Share examples from your previous experience where your keen eye for detail made a significant difference in the conservation process.
✨Discuss Your Problem-Solving Skills
Conservation often involves unexpected challenges. Prepare to talk about a time when you faced a difficult situation with a painting and how you approached it. This will show your ability to think critically and adapt to new information or conditions.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Art History
A strong background in art history is crucial for this position. Be ready to discuss your favourite periods or artists and how your knowledge has influenced your work as a conservator. This will help convey your genuine passion for the field.
