Top Tips On Hiring Union Art Handlers

By Arthur Fisher


the following guidance is designed to offer help to galleries, museums and other art venues who regularly use fine art handling in their premises. In fact union art handlers are a go to resources for many of these institutions both large and small. You can find handlers working across the sector in locations including museums, universities, galleries and other institutions that have art collections and exhibits.

It is not difficult to understand why this job benefits from the support of a union organization. It may involve heavy lifting of large scale works, a task that benefits insurance as well as union protection and support. As well art handlers have the opportunity to train in the safe and efficient methods for transporting artworks.

Another area where art handlers must be proficient is in protecting works of art throughout this process. Many are extremely valuable and even priceless. It is easy to see how much responsibility the handler has to protect and safely install and transport works of art.

In large cities which are known as art capitals there are ample jobs for handlers. Examples are New York City, Los Angeles and other locations where major museums and galleries find homes. It is not uncommon for art handlers to network through a community of like minded professionals in these cities.

The tasks that these professionals undertake are wide and varied. They may spend time packing and unpacking artwork when it has been shipped from one museum to another. In fact many museums regularly loan works to others for touring exhibitions.

The ability to pack works safely for travel and shipment is an important skill that requires much experience. It is important for protecting the museum or institution from the loss of significant revenue through damage during transport. Another area where handlers devote their time and skill is in installation.

This task may range from hanging paintings that are framed to installing very large sculptural pieces. Thus handlers must be knowledgeable about how to display artwork in a way that is safe for visitors. They often employ secure bolts and fixtures to keep artwork safely positioned while it is on display.

For art handlers who belong to a union there are many resources available to offer support and development in their careers. For example, a union website offers help and advice as well as the chance to network with others in the field. In addition, the union is available to help with settling issues of concern between employees and their employers. For further help and practical tips on the topic above there are many sources of information available online. Union websites as well as blogs that are dedicated to the career of art handling offer a wealth of resources for helping professionals who work in this sector. These sites may also include reader forums which are a chance to share tips and network with colleagues across the sector. As well there are trade magazines devoted to this field which offer practical articles and tips.




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