Nottingham Cathedral: Restoring Pugin Trainee Wall Painting Conservator
The International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works
- Nottingham
- £13.00 per hour
- Temporary
- Full-time
Day rate: £13 per hour, 37.5 hours per week
Value: £10,725.00
Contract length: 22 weeks
Responsible to: Project Manager, Onsite (PM),
Lead Conservator, Onsite (LC)
Employer: Cliveden Conservation Workshop Ltd.
Funding: The National Lottery Heritage FundOverall purpose of the post
This traineeship offers recent conservation graduates and early career conservators an exciting opportunity to join the Cliveden Conservation team and work with them on the Delivery Phase of the Restoring Pugin project. Working with our highly experienced and dedicated team of wall painting conservators, you will gain invaluable practical experience and learn the skills and techniques required to pursue a career in the specialism. With conservation philosophy at the core of all that we do, this traineeship aligns with our values, offering the opportunity to make an active contribution to our work within Nottingham Cathedral,
and to meet the wider aims of the project. Cliveden Conservation are committed to sharing knowledge, establishing best practice, pursuing professional development and protecting the environment.Principle duties and responsibilities● You will work with the Cliveden Conservation team of wall painting conservators as they embark on the repair, conservation and restoration of the historic fabric and decorative paint schemes within the chapels and ambulatories of the Cathedral's East End.
● You will support the team of Conservators as they continue the schedule of wall painting investigation trials, using the established methodologies and techniques to define and record the earliest schemes of decoration.
● You will contribute to the team as they produce stencils from tracings and drawings, which will be used to recreate repeating designs across the walls and ceilings of the chapels and ambulatories.
● You will support the team as they conserve the resulting paint exposure windows which are to remain visible, and prepare the remaining elevations for the reinstatement of the earliest decorative schemes.
● You will assist the team in keeping written and photographic records to be included within final reports which will be deposited within the Diocesan Archives and Nottinghamshire County Archives.
● You will contribute to the project's social media output, writing occasional articles, blogs and posts about your role.
● You will play a key role in sharing details of this phase of the project with wider audiences including visitors, volunteers, students and children, participating in a range of public engagement and consultation activities.
● You will undertake relevant training including health and safety training, mental health awareness training and mentoring and professional development sessions.For the full job description and person specification please email:
NOTE - for applicants not local to Nottingham, support for travel and accommodation will be offered.Personal SpecificationQualities: Knowledge & ExperienceEssential:
● An undergraduate degree in a relevant conservation subject (either paint or object based).
● A keen interest in materials and desire to learn about the conservation of wall paintings.
● A willingness to work as part of a team, and to share thoughts, ideas and information.Desirable:
● A postgraduate degree in a relevant conservation subject.
● Experience of working within the heritage sector.
● Experience of working within places of worship.
● Experience working with people from a wide range of different backgrounds.
● Experience of desktop publishing/design packages, including CAD and Adobe Photoshop.
● Experience of creating online content, with an enthusiasm to contribute to the project's online presence.Qualities: Skills & AbilitiesEssential:
● Good written communication skills with a working knowledge of Outlook and Microsoft 365.
● Good verbal skills and a willingness to speak with a range of audiences (with support).
● Excellent organisational skills and an understanding of the importance of working systematically and documenting progress.
● The ability to work independently under guidance and to meet deadlines.Desirable:
● Experience of working or volunteering at public events.
● The ability to communicate with a range of different audiences.Qualities: Characteristics & AttributesEssential:
● Have a strong attention to detail.
● Have a desire to practice, refine and improve existing skillset.
● A genuine interest to work within the heritage sector.
● Be friendly, approachable and keen to contribute to the wider team.
● Able to think critically and creatively in order to effectively overcome challenges.
● An understanding of and commitment to both equality and diversity are essential.
● You understand and empathise with the Christian values inherent within this project.Desirable:
● You are seeking to pursue a career as a professional conservator with a specialism in decorative surfaces and polychrome.Other requirementsEssential: This traineeship is based at Nottingham Cathedral in England, and the ability to be based in Nottingham for the duration of the project is essential.
Desirable: Travel to events on an occasional basis may be necessary.
The International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works