Call for Applicants
Curator of Exhibitions and Public Programs | Full-time position
Gallery 44 is a dynamic space and a leading artist-run centre led by a dedicated group of artists, curators and educators. We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual to join our team. The Curator of Exhibitions and Public Programs works on behalf of the Board, staff and members of Gallery 44, in consultation with the Exhibition Programming Committee, to develop and administer Gallery 44’s exhibitions and public programs. The main responsibilities of this position are to oversee two exhibition spaces (the Main Gallery and Vitrines), and coordinate the publishing program, which includes exhibition catalogues. The Curator also coordinates all other exhibition-related programs, as well as auxiliary public programs, which may take a variety of forms such as performances, lectures, artist talks, reading groups, screenings, et cetera.
Major Responsibilities Include:
Programs: In consultation with the Exhibition Programming Committee and the Executive Director, the Curator develops and implements all exhibitions-related programming as well as auxiliary public programs, including, but not limited to, artist talks, panel discussions, tours and accompanying publications. The Curator of Exhibitions and Public Programs coordinates with guest curators and writers, and they themselves curate and/or write about exhibitions. Additionally, this position oversees the artist-in-residence and writer-in-residence programs, with support of the Executive Director and gallery staff.
Promotion: Assists in the promotion of exhibitions and public programs, contributing to marketing plans, producing press materials, overseeing the production of promotional materials and updating the website.
Administration: Coordinates calls, submissions, and submission reviews, assists with grant-writing by preparing information specific to exhibition programs, liaises with artists, prepares contracts and contributes to annual and project budgets, coordinates shipping and oversees exhibition installation. Sits on the Gallery’s Access and Inclusive Action Committee, and contributes to tasks related to its annual work plan, including ongoing research, policy development and review, and liaising with community advisors. The Curator of Exhibitions and Public Programs also trains and supervises interns to assist with administrative tasks.
General Office: Assists in day-to-day office duties such as answering telephone and walk-in inquiries, talking to student groups, assisting with G44 member inquiries and transactions, assisting with mailings, attending staff meetings, and other general office tasks as needed.
Requirements:
● Strong knowledge of contemporary photography (preferably with an MA, MFA or equivalent in art history, visual culture, curatorial studies)
● Experience in a non-profit art gallery, artist-run centre or equivalent
● Artistic or curatorial practice
● Strong research skills
● Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
● Strong administrative skills
● Excellent interpersonal skills
● Excellent writing, editing and oral presentation skills
● Ability to work collectively and independently
● Experience with Mac computer systems including office productivity suites, database software and Adobe Creative Suite
Assets:
● Publishing experience
● Program development, public relations and communications experience and interest
● Have participated in recent anti-racism, anti-oppression and/or conflict resolution training*
*Recent training is an asset but not a requirement for the position. G44 will provide opportunities to complete ongoing training and development in these areas.
Salary: $40,000 plus benefits following a probationary period. This position is a one-year contract, with the expectation to renew, and carries an expected start date of January 4, 2021. The job entails working 35 hours per week, including some evenings, and every-other Saturday.
G44's staff is composed of five permanent positions with clear and defined roles for each area. Our culture is based on a healthy and positive work environment and empowers staff in personal and professional growth.
G44 provides:
- Access to regular professional development funding and group training responsive to issues in our sector and specific to our workplace
- Regular performance evaluations through a 360-review process involving Board representatives and community evaluators.
All our team members maintain independent artistic, curatorial, and writing practices. G44's policies and procedures support these endeavours, including granting leaves for artist residencies and development.
Applications: Please submit a cover letter outlining your interest in the position and your relevant experience, a CV, three references,** two writing samples, and any other support material you feel is pertinent to jobs@gallery44.org.
**References should include: two past supervisors, and one artist you have worked with on the presentation of an exhibition in the last two years.
Deadline: November 29, 2020 by 5 PM. Late applications will not be considered.
Gallery 44 is committed to equity and anti-racism in all aspects of its operations. G44 welcomes applications from all qualified candidates, and strongly encourages applications from members of equity-seeking communities, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour, persons with disabilities, and persons of equity-seeking sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions. Our commitment to employment equity is one step in a series of organizational initiatives that acknowledge the systemic exclusion of these groups from the Canadian art world and workforce, both currently and historically.
If contacted for an interview, we will ask if any accommodations are needed to ensure you have access to a fair and equitable process.
We thank all applicants for their interest. Due to the volume of applications anticipated, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
About Gallery 44
Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography is a charitable, non-profit, artist-run centre committed to supporting multi-faceted approaches to photography and lens-based media. Founded in 1979 to establish a supportive environment for the development of artistic practice, Gallery 44’s mandate is to provide a context for meaningful reflection and dialogue on contemporary photography.
Gallery 44 is committed to programs that reflect the continuously changing definition of photography by presenting a wide range of practices that engage timely and critical explorations of the medium. Through exhibitions, public engagement, education programs and production facilities our objective is to explore the artistic, cultural, historic, social and political implications of the image in our ever-expanding visual world.
