The Shop Manager position primarily supports our Artist Studio program, wherein we provide six NYC-based early career artists with a free private studio space for an eleven-month period as well as access to our shared shop and media lab, a stipend, and exposure through both public open studios and studio visits with invited curators. Although the Smack Mellon shop is primarily used by the artists in our studio program, Smack Mellon staff, exhibition artists and outside professionals who have been hired to work on our exhibitions and building maintenance will occasionally use the shop as well. This position was designed for an artist with a developed woodworking background, who would benefit from access to a woodshop.
The Shop Manager is responsible for maintaining the shop equipment and the workspace, keeping inventory of tools and equipment, tracking tools borrowed by studio artists to use in their studio and making sure they are returned to the shop, repairing the tools and equipment when possible, emptying the dust collector, taking out the trash, and making sure that anyone who uses the shop cleans up after each use. The Shop Manager is also responsible for evaluating the skill level of each artist to determine if they can use each piece of equipment, before they are permitted to use it. The Shop Manager is not responsible for teaching artists how to use the equipment.
The Shop Manager position is a work exchange position that includes a monthly stipend of $300 and a time commitment of approximately 8-10 hours per month. The Shop Manager will be able to use Smack Mellon’s shop equipment for building their own projects, will have access to the Smack Mellon Media Lab, and will have a small area of the shop for storing projects and materials. There will not be room for large projects to be stored in the shop because it is a shared space.
Required Skills:
- Knowledge of how to safely use and maintain the tools in the shop which now includes: a table saw, band saw, circular saw, drill press, sanders, compound miter saw, compressor and hand tools.
- Must have skills and knowledge to make recommendations for purchasing new and replacement tools and equipment, as well as how to install the new equipment.
- The Shop Manager must have a high level of interpersonal skill to communicate clearly, respectfully, and professionally, with the artists in our studio program in order to maintain a safe and friendly environment.
- Candidates should be proactive in communicating with the staff and artists, and be familiar with fine arts practice.
Other responsibilities:
All Smack Mellon staff are expected to work during our annual benefit event or other large-scale events as necessary. Because of Smack Mellon’s proximity to the East River, flooding can and does occur at the lower studio level, where the woodshop is located. In the event of a flood warning, all Smack Mellon staff are expected to come in to help move equipment to the gallery level and help clean up if flooding occurs.
Time Commitment:
The Shop Manager is expected to work on the premises on average 2 hours a week, at a time they designate, to maintain the shop and to meet with artists as needed. The Shop Manager will be responsible for managing their own hours as needed to set up the shop equipment and evaluate the studio artists’ knowledge of the safe use of each piece of equipment. The Shop Manager will be available to meet with artists at mutually agreed upon times and will be available by email.
To apply:
Please send a resume and letter of interest to Kathleen Gilrain, Executive Director:
