Assistant Paper Conservator in Los Angeles, California at The J. Paul Getty Trust

The Getty Research Institute’s (GRI) Conservation and Preservation department seeks applicants for a limited-term, four-year position of Assistant Paper Conservator.

The Assistant Paper Conservator will join a dynamic team of conservators, mount-makers, pre-program and graduate interns, and will report to the GRI’s Head of Conservation and Preservation. The Assistant Paper Conservator will primarily oversee the preservation, examination, documentation, and treatment of the Richard Hunt archive, and other archives acquired as part of the African American Art History Initiative (AAAHI) such as the archives of Evangeline J. Montgomery, Alvin D. Loving, Maren Hassinger, and Robert Farris Thompson.

Hunt was an acclaimed sculptor and prolific creator of public art and monuments in the US. His archive includes personal papers, models, maquettes, sculptural objects, sketchbooks, related works on paper, studio notebooks, and photographs. The archive was acquired as part of the African American Art History Initiative (AAAHI), a program focusing on the history, practices, and cultural legacies of artists of African American and African diasporic heritage. AAAHI aims to provide a more robust and accurate history of American art, one that will have a decisive impact on the narrative of global culture. Established by the GRI to create a center for the study of African American art, the initiative has several major areas of activity, including acquisitions in Special Collections and the Library, oral histories, research projects, internships, and fellowships in the Scholars Program. The initiative’s work is disseminated through exhibitions, publications, and public programs, and through partnerships with institutions across the country.

The Getty Research Institute’s mission is to cultivate advanced knowledge of art and its varied histories. As a part of the J. Paul Getty Trust based in the city of Los Angeles, the Getty Research Institute (GRI) is an international center with an extensive library, special collections, array of programs, and a knowledgeable and diverse staff. We are committed to preserving, creating, and sharing resources related to the history of art, conceived in the broadest terms.

The Assistant Paper Conservator will perform examination, documentation, treatment and custom housing for the Richard Hunt archive and other archives acquired as part of the African American Art History Initiative. They will assess the condition of the collections and establish priorities for their care and treatment; examine and evaluate the items in the collections, make recommendations and carry out conservation treatments. The Assistant Paper Conservator will also be encouraged to develop research on the materials and processes in both archives and disseminate findings. They should be interested in outreach and education of the public on the field of Conservation, and may supervise interns, provide training to staff, interns, professionals, and the general public as needed. They may also participate in exhibition installations.

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master's in conservation or equivalent degree preferred
• 2-4 years conservation conservatin experience in the conservation of paper-based items and archival material