Organizer Information
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) is a leading art and design school located in downtown Chicago, Illinois. With more than 150 years of history, SAIC offers interdisciplinary education across art, design, and related fields. The school operates galleries, specialized facilities, and educational exhibition spaces connected to its academic programs and the wider Art Institute of Chicago community.
The position is based within SAIC’s Department of Exhibitions, which organizes exhibitions and projects involving artists, faculty, students, and curatorial staff. Its exhibition spaces function as teaching galleries and are open to the public.
Title & Description
Exhibition Manager, Art and Design Specialist at SAIC
Exhibition Manager, Art and Design Specialist is a full-time, on-site position within SAIC’s Department of Exhibitions. The successful candidate will focus on art preparation, installation, maintenance, de-installation, and gallery logistics.
The role combines practical art-handling expertise with administrative and supervisory responsibilities. The Exhibition Manager will work closely with the Director of Exhibition Operations, Senior Exhibition Manager, Exhibitions Coordinator, artists, students, contractors, and other departments to deliver exhibitions and gallery activities.
The Role Overview
- Job Category: Academic Administration
- Employment Type: Full-time
- Work Arrangement: On-site
- Job Classification: Exempt
- Grade Level: 5
- Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Requisition Number: EXHIB002937
- Reporting to: Director of Exhibition Operations and Senior Exhibition Manager
- Union: AFSCME Council 31 bargaining unit
- Salary: SAIC provides an estimated hiring range based on the position grade. Final offers depend on experience, skills, qualifications, and other job-related factors.
- Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package, paid time off, and other employment benefits are available according to SAIC policies.
Position & Tasks
The Exhibition Manager serves as a lead preparator for traditional art media including painting, photography, sculpture, and works on paper. Responsibilities include matting, framing, glazing, stretching, hinging, mounting, packing, storage, transportation, installation, and de-installation of artworks.
The position also involves designing and maintaining artwork hanging and mounting infrastructure, preparing gallery configurations, installing signage and lighting, maintaining tools and materials, and monitoring gallery temperature and humidity.
Administrative duties include hiring and scheduling student staff, contractors, and temporary employees; overseeing payroll and timesheets; coordinating facilities schedules; maintaining training manuals; supervising work-study students; and supporting gallery opening and closing procedures.
The Exhibition Manager assists artists with installations and troubleshooting involving hanging methods, electrical systems, and equipment. The role also includes preparing works for shipment to museums, galleries, and lenders and corresponding with artists regarding exhibition planning.
Categories
- Art & Design
- Exhibition Management
- Art Handling
- Gallery Operations
- Museum & Cultural Administration
- Installation
- Photography
- Sculpture
- Painting
- Works on Paper
Eligibility
Applicants should preferably hold a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts or a related field and must have at least two years of demonstrated art-handling and art-installation experience in a museum or gallery.
Experience working with and mentoring students is required or strongly relevant. Applicants should have knowledge of artworks and the ability to follow detailed instructions, work under pressure, meet deadlines, communicate effectively, and make sound decisions.
Knowledge of construction techniques, carpentry, supervision in an academic environment, gallery lighting, CAD, Adobe Creative Suite, Mac OS, and registration systems is desirable. Mount-making experience is an additional advantage.
The role also requires physical ability to bend, stoop, stretch, lift objects weighing up to 30 pounds, work on ladders and at heights, and use basic tools.
Program Benefits
As a full-time SAIC employee, the successful candidate receives access to the institution’s comprehensive benefits package and paid time off. The position also provides professional experience in exhibition production, art handling, gallery operations, artist support, student supervision, and academic exhibition programming.
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: Ongoing
- Position Status: Active job posting as provided
Location
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Additional Details
This is a professional employment position rather than an exhibition open call for independent artists. The successful candidate will work directly within SAIC’s exhibition infrastructure and will interact with artists, students, curators, exhibition staff, contractors, and other institutional departments.
The role is particularly suited to professionals with hands-on experience in art preparation and installation who are also comfortable with gallery administration, staff supervision, and educational environments.
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation during the application process may contact SAIC’s Human Resources department through the accessibility information provided on the official employment page.