The roles of art handlers and art installers differ in the art logistics industry. Yet, many people treat them interchangeably. While they indeed can complete each other’s duties in certain cases, there is a difference between art installer and art handler job descriptions. Let’s find this difference out and understand who you need to hire for specific art-related tasks.
What Is the Difference Between Art Installer and Art Handler Jobs?
When we talk about an art handler, we mostly mean the tasks of packing, moving, transporting, and storing art. The art handler’s work is physical and logistical, focused on moving art from one place to another with proper respect for safety standards. Art handlers pack artworks using archival materials, load and unload art to and from trucks, and move art within or between facilities. Skills required from art handlers relate to physical strength, spatial awareness, knowledge of packing materials’ properties, and an in-depth understanding of weight distribution and rigging basics.
Art installers, in their turn, work within the presentation and display domains of art logistics. They focus on placing art in the right place for it to perform its function in the chosen space. Art installers’ core responsibilities include artwork hanging, mounting, and installation of complex and large-scale artworks in internal or public spaces. They follow installation instructions, working directly with artists and curators to bring their vision to life.
The skillset required from an art installer includes precision measurement and leveling skills. They must be able to read architectural drawings and make sense of installation mechanics. Besides, an art installer’s desired skill is a strong aesthetic sensibility and a proper understanding of contemporary art practice.
Where Do These Roles Overlap?
After deciphering the difference between art installer and art handler roles, we need to give credit to their similarities. In smaller art institutions and galleries, one person may typically do both jobs, handling the artwork from delivery to installation. Many professionals combine skills of handling and installation, moving fluidly between roles across their careers. In the UK, such specialists are referred to as art technicians, while in the USA, these roles are often treated distinctly.