Exhibition Art & Scenic Technician

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

About the role

As a member of the art and scenic team, you play a key role in the upkeep, preservation, and redesign of the artistic aesthetic of the space in keeping with the design intention of the exhibition designers, ensuring the highest quality for our guest experience. The Exhibition Art and Scenic Technician is an important role within the scenic and art department and reports to the Manager of the department. They work directly with art and mechanical elements, carpentry tools, chemicals, paints, and rigging in our immersive arts exhibition. This position will be responsible for the maintenance and preservation of a wide variety of installations, materials, and mechanisms, as well as the design, fabrication, and installation of new exhibit elements to meet the growing needs of the exhibition. In addition to routine maintenance and inspections, the Exhibition Art and Scenic Technician will be involved in the installation of future exhibition development and growth.

Responsibilities

• Perform inspections and carry out routine maintenance of art throughout the exhibition, including show graphics, scenic elements, murals, sculptures, overhead installations, dioramas, textiles, rockwork, furniture, and mechanical elements.
• Be a collaborative and constructive member of the overall team in Exhibitions, bringing constructive ideas to leadership.
• Take action and track timely fixes and repairs of any immediately solvable safety and guest experience issues.
• Operate with autonomy and initiative while problem-solving a wide range of art damage.
• Maintain a safe and clean working environment both in the exhibition while working and in the back-of-house workshop.
• Design, fabricate, theme, and install new or rework existing exhibition elements to better serve guest experience.
• Take creative direction, work through an iterative design process, and produce finished parts for use in the exhibition.
• Document repairs, maintenance, upgrades, reworks, changes, and new designs.
• Keep detailed, up-to-date records for all exhibition elements and processes.
• Ensure appropriate PPE is used based on SDS standards as they apply to hazardous materials, including reactive epoxies, sculpting materials, and paints.
• Analyze, observe, and propose ideas for improvements to elongate the lifespan and quality of the artistic imagery.
• Communicate effectively with your team and pay close attention to detail.
• Balance both the care of the visual aesthetics and functional mechanics aspects of the exhibition art through attention to detail.
• Regularly track work conducted in our maintenance and inspection database and ensure the accuracy of the data being entered.
• Use Google Drive to organize files, share files, send meeting planners, and direct emails.
• Execute work related to chemicals or tools with the greatest respect for training delivered and best practice safety standards.

Requirements

• 3-5 years of professional experience working in museum, public installations, immersive arts, scenic design production, or theme parks in one or more of the following disciplines:
  • Art restoration and art preservation: fine art, artistic painting/murals, installation art maintenance
  • Digital Fabrication: 3D printing, CNC Milling, laser cutting, vinyl cutting, and vacuum forming
  • CAD designs, parametric modeling
  • Metalworking: welding, grinding, cutting, assembly
  • Woodworking: finish carpentry, scenic design
  • Sculpture: casting and mold making, additive and subtractive sculpting, mixed media and multimedia
  • Scenic Artist
  • Mechanical prowess in design or engineering
  • Rigging
• Experience with design software, such as Illustrator, Photoshop, Rhino, Fusion 360, Blender.
• A strong embracing attitude that safety is of the utmost importance to our culture at Meow Wolf.
• Prior work experience in the scenic arts, immersive arts, amusement park, themed entertainment, recreation facility, or public art exhibitions.
• Creative problem-solving, brainstorming, and flexibility to collaborate with others in creating solutions.
• Prior work experience in a design or fabrication-related field.
• Experience working with power tools and heavy equipment.
• A collaborative, can-do attitude working as a positive member of the team.
• Education or formal training in the scenic arts, fine arts, graphic design, and asset management.

Nice to have

• Demonstrated flexibility and receptiveness to change.
• Dual language skills, especially but not limited to English and Spanish.
• Prior work experience using aerial work platforms and fall protection.
• OSHA 10 General Industry certification.
• A portfolio or past work in the fine arts.
• Workshop tools and heavy tool experience, such as air work platforms.

Schedule

This is a full-time position, working an average of 40 hours a week. It requires a flexible schedule to accommodate both times the exhibit is closed to the public as well as normal operating hours. Evening, overnight, weekend, and holiday work are required as job duties demand.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Must be available to work a flexible schedule including weekdays, weekends, evenings, and holidays.
• This job primarily operates in an indoor setting with exposure to noisy environments, working around dust and fumes, dim lighting, strong visual effects including strobing lights, special effects, fog machines, and small and/or enclosed spaces.
• Physical ability to walk, stand, take stairs/elevators, climb ladders, and navigate the elements during the day and night.
• Employees may be required to lift up to 75 lbs.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Job duties will include the use of maintenance shop tools, paints, cleaning equipment, cleaning agents, and chemicals.
• All employees will comply with company and OSHA standard workplace safety protocols.

Onboarding

• Exploring Meow Wolf Origins.
• Attending Meow Wolf’s Immersiversity.
• Reviewing Meow Wolf’s purpose and corporate policies and training.
• On-the-job training will be provided to introduce you to the equipment and systems to set you up for success.

Benefits

• Medical Insurance options: PPO & HDHP
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• HSA, HRA, and FSA options
• 401k Retirement Plan
• Company-paid Life Insurance Policy and Disability Coverage(s)
• Voluntary Critical Illness and Life Insurance Policies
• Company-Paid Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Parental Leave for 12 weeks
• Discount off Meow Wolf Gift Shop Merch and Cafes
• Admission to Meow Wolf attractions for employees and guests