Conservator (Textiles) x2 roles South Kensington, England
Job description
Roles available
1 x 9-month fixed term contract from July 2023 to end March 2024
1 x up to 12-month fixed term contract commencing August 2023 to cover maternity leave.
Background
The V&A is the world’s leading museum of art, design and performance, home to 2.3m objects spanning 5,000 years of human ingenuity from around the world. Founded in 1851 to raise the standard of British design and make works of art available to all, today the V&A’s purpose is to champion creative industry, inspire the next generation, and spark everyone’s imagination. The V&A has one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of textiles representing the decorative arts of many periods and cultures.
The Textile Conservation Team is responsible for assessing objects, providing advice, and carrying out treatments on all textile related objects from the archaeological to the contemporary, including dress and accessories, flat textiles, furnishings, tapestries, carpets, upholstery, and broader organic materials such as leather, feathers, fur, and plastics. The Textile Conservation Team works closely with the Costume Display Team and collaborates with specialists in other V&A Conservation studios to treat mixed-media objects. We prepare objects for gallery displays, short and long-term loans, and temporary exhibitions.
Purpose of job
We are seeking two textile conservators to join the team and assist with the delivery of the Museum’s public programme. The work will be varied with opportunities to work on a range of different object types and to develop your conservation skills. Current projects include preparation of objects the new V&A East Museum and Storehouse, temporary exhibitions featuring fashion and theatre and performance costumes, and gallery re-displays in South Kensington.
You will undertake all aspects of practical preventive and interventive conservation on textiles from the Museum’s collections, including assessment and technical examination, and advise on the best handling, storage, and safe display of textile objects. You will be required to have a good practical knowledge of textiles and related materials, their structure, degradation processes and conservation techniques, and the ability to evaluate conservation problems, develop solutions and produce practical work and documentation of a high standard.
To apply, please submit your application online by Sunday 11 June 2023 at 23:59.
