Curatorial Assistant
- Program stream:
- Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations
- Job title:
- Curatorial Assistant
- Organization name:
- Grenfell Art Gallery
- Job location:
- Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador
- Length of assignment:
- 2025-04-22 to 2025-09-02 (16 weeks)
- Hourly wage:
- $20.25
Applications are requested for the position of Curatorial Assistant at Grenfell Art Gallery in Corner Brook, NL.
The Grenfell Art Gallery is a program-centred art museum that serves as an active educational resource for Memorial University of Newfoundland and as the public art gallery for the Western Newfoundland region and beyond. By providing relevant, accessible, and educational exhibitions, programs, and publications the Grenfell Art Gallery cultivates a generative engagement with art and culture. The Gallery maintains an active permanent collection of significant works by Newfoundland, Canadian, and international artists. We are propelled by the belief that art is fundamental to understanding the world and ourselves, and is an engine for innovation, public engagement, and experiential learning.
Grenfell Art Gallery is committed to cultivating a generative engagement with art through exhibiting, researching, collecting, and nurturing innovative cultural practices, Grenfell Art Gallery is located in Western Newfoundland in the picturesque city of Corner Brook. The gallery engages in collaborative partnerships with like-minded local, regional, national and international artists, organizations, and institutions.
As a space of innovation, public engagement and experiential learning it features a 2,000 sq. ft. climate-controlled exhibition space and an active collection of contemporary and historical art, specializing in, but not limited to, the art of Newfoundland and Labrador. In addition to year-round programming, the gallery undertakes numerous outreach initiatives and offers a network of artist residency across the province. The Gallery acknowledges with gratitude that the land on which we gather and labour is in traditional unceded Mi'kmaw territory.
The ideal candidate for the Curatorial Assistant position will possess a strong interest in the arts and museum operations, and the ability to effectively manage multiple tasks. They should demonstrate excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills, with a particular focus on and interest in visual art, visitor engagement, exhibition coordination, and data management.
Field of Study:
Art History, Museum Studies, Visual Arts, Library Science, or a related field is preferred.
Candidates with experience or education in arts administration, cultural studies, or curatorial studies will also be considered. While not required, any additional qualifications related to museum management, archival practices, or digital data management will be considered an asset. Strong interest in visual arts, arts administration, and collections management is an asset.
Skills and Experience:
- Strong written and verbal communication skills are required, with the ability to create compelling promotional materials and interact with diverse groups of people.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to handle multiple tasks and deadlines.
- Ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams, including staff, artists, and visitors.
- Very good interpersonal skills.
- High attention to detail, particularly with data entry, cataloging, and condition reports.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Especially Excel) and familiarity with data-entry and collections management tools is an asset.
- Experience in social media management and content creation for platforms like Instagram and Facebook using Meta Business Suite.
- Experience using graphic design tools (e.g., Canva, Adobe Photoshop).
- Intermediate research skills.
- Must be able to work independently for periods of time.
- Experience working with or handling artworks in a professional setting is an asset.
- Specialized knowledge of art studio practices is an asset.
- Event-planning experience is an asset.
The Grenfell Art Gallery is committed to accessibility; however, certain tasks may not be suitable for all employees. For instance, responsibilities such as moving artworks or heavy objects will be assigned to staff who are able to perform these tasks, with other duties redistributed fairly to ensure an equitable workload for all. This reallocation of labour may be applied to other areas such as writing, public speaking, or other areas that may present barriers to applicants for a variety of reasons.
Interested candidates who do not have all the listed skills or traits above are skill encouraged to apply. Grenfell Art Gallery is a part of Memorial University, and is committed to enriching learning and teaching work environments the foster development.
Hourly wage: $20.25.
To apply for this position, in addition to registering and meeting the eligibility requirements for Young Canada Works, please send the following documents in PDF format to Jane Walker at jvwalker@mun.ca:
1. a letter of intent / cover letter
2. a current resume
3. the names and contact information for two references
Grenfell Art Gallery and Memorial University are committed to employment equity and diversity and encourage applications from all qualified candidates, including women, people of any sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression: Indigenous peoples; visible minorities and racialized people; and people with disabilities.
We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
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