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Collections Technician - Museum and gallery technician

Collections Technician - Museum and gallery technician

Creative and design

Level 3 - Technical Occupation

Collections technicians are specialist practitioners who contribute to operational running of collections and exhibitions.

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Reference: OCC1469B

Status: assignment_turned_inApproved occupation

Technical Education Products

ST1469:

Collections technician - Museum and gallery technician

(Level 3)

Approved for delivery

Employers involved in creating the standard:

Natural History Museum, Crown Fine Art, Wysing Arts Centre, Imperial War Museum, Reading University, Duxford Aviation Society, University of Cambridge Museums, Plymouth City Museum & Art Gallery, Museum of Zoology, Cambridge Ashmolean Museum, Oxford Museums Association, Cambridge Museum of Technology, Head of Museum Development Yorkshire, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, Victoria and Albert, CCSkills, Historic England, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, Bradford Industrial Museum, Natural History Museum

Summary

Collections technicians are specialist practitioners who contribute to the conservation, preparation, planning, technical and operational running of collections and exhibitions. 

Collections technicians can be found working across a wide range of specialist areas of practice including remedial and preventive conservation, exhibition preparation and execution, art handling, loans and transporting collections amongst many others.

Their work will vary depending upon the specific job role and institution. They are most likely to work in one of two specialist areas of practice: 

Museum and gallery technician who will undertake work which may be focused on loans, exhibitions and storage of collections.

Conservation technician working under the supervision of trained conservator-restorers to undertake treatment to collections or implementing preventive conservation measures.

Roles could be in local or national heritage institutions such as a museum, gallery or archive service; as well in private sector organisations that provide services to heritage institutions, or private owners or commercial organisations in the wider arts and cultural heritage sectors. In doing so they may work across a range of collections, such as in a historic property. Or their work might be directed towards a particular type of object or collection such as books, sculpture or metals.  

They also complete documentation associated with collections management, risk assessment and object handling. They must work within their organisation’s policies and procedures at all times, and are responsible for ensuring that their tools and equipment are health, safety and security compliant.

Collections technicians may support wider organisational activities such as providing objects for learning sessions in a safe and responsible way, selecting and handling objects for external clients, showing others how to safely handle objects, or accompanying visitors and or clients to object stores.

Collections care technicians may be expected to work with conservators, curators, artists, scientists, contractors, art handlers, and exhibition managers. They may be expected to accompany, sometimes alone, the transit of objects, nationally and internationally, and work both independently and as part of a team.

Employers involved in creating the standard:

Natural History Museum, Crown Fine Art, Wysing Arts Centre, Imperial War Museum, Reading University, Duxford Aviation Society, University of Cambridge Museums, Plymouth City Museum & Art Gallery, Museum of Zoology, Cambridge Ashmolean Museum, Oxford Museums Association, Cambridge Museum of Technology, Head of Museum Development Yorkshire, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, Victoria and Albert, CCSkills, Historic England, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, Bradford Industrial Museum, Natural History Museum

Typical job titles include:

Art and collection technicianeco
Art handlereco
Collections conservation technicianeco
Conservation science technicianeco
Conservation technicianeco
Curatorial assistanteco
Exhibition technicianeco
Museums assistanteco
Specialist conservation technicianeco

Keywords:

Collections
Collections Technician
Conservation
Exhibitions
Object Handling

Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)

K1: Audience demographics, their make-up and their impact on the organisation.
K2: Materials, structure and context of objects in their area of practice.
K3: Tools and equipment needed in their area of practice.
K4: Statutory and sectoral quality and policy standards within own area of work.
K5: Principles behind the care of objects and the impact of this on decision making.
K6: Cultural, historic, and spiritual context of objects and structures and how to operate within these ethical frameworks.
K7: Principles behind the safe handling and movement of objects and collections.
K8: Sources of information required to fully assess options and strategies.
K9: Factors to be considered when estimating the time and resources required to complete a task.
K10: Legal requirements and obligations relating to health and safety and the organisation’s associated policies and procedures.
K11: Organisation's process for identifying and managing risk, including documentation requirements.
K12: Security issues impacting cultural institutions.
K13: Organisation’s disaster and emergency response systems, associated policies and procedures and the role that they play within this.
K14: Record keeping and data management procedures and the impact of this on other areas of work.
K15: The 10 agents of deterioration and how these impact collections care.
K16: Environmental conditions for the objects and collections under their care.
K17: Wider heritage sector, improved sustainable practice and how this is being implemented in their organisation.
K18: Personal development plans, incorporating Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Result-orientated and Time-bound objectives to develop personal organisation skills in line with the organisation's goals and deadlines.
K19: Methods and approaches for communicating with internal and external stakeholders.
K24: The materials for use to support display, packing, storage and in-transit design.
K25: Guidelines and documentation for transporting objects using a range of transportation methods to meet courier requirements for loans and touring exhibitions.
K26: The documentation associated with the entry and exit of objects, such as works on loan, acquisitions or objects left for identification by the public.
K27: Guidelines for loans such as those provided by the UK Registrars Group and internal policies, where applicable and the need for compliance with these.
K28: Strategies for widening access, inclusion and diversity related to area of work.

S1: Assess condition, stability and possible risks to an object in relation its location or intended use.
S2: Identify and minimise challenges in environmental and biological conditions related to objects and or collections.
S3: Select tools and equipment related to the specific task.
S4: Assist with the identification of faults and maintenance of tools and equipment.
S5: Contribute to designing, preparing, and building containers, fixings, supports and packing for objects based on their specifications.
S6: Undertake safe handling and movement of objects considering the physical safety of themself and others.
S7: Carry out planned reviews to enable improvements to storage and display areas.
S8: Keep storage areas and associated workspaces clean and tidy in line with policies and procedures.
S9: Assist with object collections following care procedures.
S10: Handle objects in a way that minimises risk to the object in line with organisations and sector guidelines.
S11: Identify and select viable options before making decisions as to the final agreed approach.
S12: Carry out procedures for assessment management and mitigation of risk.
S13: Complete and maintain records and databases in line with organisational standards.
S14: Document and report information about the condition of objects as per the organisation’s policies and procedures and industry guidelines.
S15: Undertake and report on tasks within agreed timeframes and budgets and in line with curatorial and or collections care requirements.
S16: Undertake work in a way that takes into account the specific security requirements of objects and collections.
S17: Adapt communication to meet the needs of the audience, for example, internal and external stakeholders.
S18: Develop a personal professional development plan linked to personal and professional development needs.
S21: Identify the materials needed to make displays, mounts, cases and commissions in line with budget constraints and resources.
S22: Undertake object installation and de-installation in line with agreed plans, health and safety procedures and deadlines

B1: Keeps up to date with industry best practice and seeks to continuously improve and develop.
B2: Take personal responsibility for sustainable outcomes in how they carry out the duties of their role by reference to environmental good practice.
B3: Take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work.
B4: Acts in a professional and ethical manner, embracing equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
B5: Operate within the limits of own responsibility and seek support when required.

Duties

Duty D1

Undertake and support safe handling, installation, packing and movement of collections within exhibitions, displays or storage

Duty D2

Support senior colleagues in monitoring the condition, safety and security of collections, ensuring that any changes, deterioration and damage are reported following organisation procedures.

Duty D3

Assess and manage risk to collections on display and in storage, and to provide support to senior colleagues in mitigating against these risks.

Duty D4

Operate and maintain tools and equipment, and store these in line with organisation standards.

Duty D5

Work in compliance with occupational health, safety and environmental requirements to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of self, others and objects.

Duty D6

Work with professional judgement and ethics in their area of practice.

Duty D7

Work in a sustainable way, championing green initiatives in the workplace.

Duty D8

Collaborate with stakeholders and work with team members.

Duty D9

Take responsibility for own personal development. Keeping up to date with emerging technology and improvements in their field.

Duty D10

Complete, maintain and update records of conservation activities in line with organisation procedures.

Duty D11

Support the organisation’s emergency preparedness e.g. for fire, flood, pest outbreak, theft, vandalism or accidental damage, and deliver own role within the organisation’s systems, policies and procedures.

Duty D12

Design, fabricate and install bespoke display, transit and interpretation solutions, which may include mounts and showcases.

Duty D13

Safely and securely transport collections using moving materials, equipment, and or transportation vehicles.

Duty D14

Take responsibility for monitoring and recording entry and exit of objects, such as works on loan, acquisitions or objects left for identification by the public.