Gallery Assistant

Posting #24-07x

**Part-Time, Contract**

**Monday April 15, 2024 to Saturday May 31, 2025**

Queen’s Square

Cambridge Art Galleries - Idea Exchange, Cambridge Public Library, is a cultural community hub that fosters creativity, community engagement, and artistic expression. As we celebrate our 20th anniversary of the biannual contemporary têxtile exhibition, we seek a dedicated Gallery Assistant and Art Education Intern to contribute to our milestone Fiberworks exhibition, including collection care, and collaborate with prominent partnerships and educational growth.

**What You’ll Do**

As a Gallery Assistant Art Education Intern, your key responsibilities include:
**Curatorial**:

- Collaborate with curatorial teams to develop and curate a special section for the 20th Anniversary Fiberworks Exhibition. This section is focused on exhibition education and community engagement.
- Assist the Curatorial Assistant with the overall installation and de-installation plans. Assists with hands-on exhibition installation when required.
- Assist the curatorial team with liaising with external partners including francophone arts organizations for collaborative initiatives.
- Support in the care, documentation, exhibition, and conservation of the collection.
- Conduct research on exhibition topics and themes. Research and support equity initiatives, including working with diverse voices in developing content

**Education**:

- Support work with the Education and Outreach Facilitator, library staff, and external partners to implement strategies and programs that support public engagement with exhibitions and the permanent collection.
- Assist in planning and coordinating community engagement events, including Fiberfest and summer outreach events. Host community outreach events.
- Engage with local artists, organizations, and community members to encourage participation and facilitate educational programs.
- Produce educational exhibition interpretations for gallery patrons of all ages in collaboration with the Education and Outreach Facilitator by using various interactive and intellectual interpretation techniques to foster critical thinking at all learning levels.
- Assist in the development and delivery of curriculum-based educational tours for school groups, including homeschool groups, from elementary to secondary students.

**Administration and Marketing**:

- Attend team meetings and provide regular updates on project progress. Minute taking at assigned meetings. Meet with the Director weekly.
- Researches and writes original content and interpretive material for social media to engage the public with exhibitions and the permanent collection; coordinates the production of this material with the gallery Director and marketing team.
- Serves as an ambassador for Cambridge Art Galleries by being an active presence in the visual arts as well as with the general public. Networks with curators and educators from other institutions and visual arts community members to promote the exhibition program and encourage collaborations.
- Provides key support for exhibitions and related programs, including taking minutes of planning meetings, scheduling, data entry, budget tracking, contract preparation, and correspondence.
- Assists with event hosting requirements for Gallery programs, exhibition openings, and events.
- General administration tasks related to gallery operations

**You are seeking**:

- Hands-on experience in curatorial practices, event planning, and community engagement.
- Networking opportunities with professionals in the cultural sector.
- Mentorship from experienced gallery staff.
- Curatorial practice and facilitating art education programs.
- Collection care experience.

**What You’ll Need to Succeed**

To be qualified for and successful in the role, you should have:

- Required - Bachelor's degree
- Preferred - Degree in art history, fine arts, cultural studies, education, art administration, art & health, museum studies, or a related field.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and basic graphic design software.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Demonstrated interest in community engagement, cultural diversity, and the arts.

**Other Info**:
Young Canada Works at Building Careers in Heritage (Graduates) requires all of the following requirements:

- are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, or have refugee status in Canada (non-Canadians holding temporary work visas or awaiting permanent resident status are not eligible);
- are legally entitled to work in Canada (have a valid social insurance number);
- are between 16 and 30 years of age inclusively at the start of employment; and
- are a college or university graduate (certificate, bachelor's, master's or doctorate).

**Note**: Priority will be given to graduates that have not previously participated in YCW internship programs and that are unemployed or underemployed.