Education and Outreach Assistant

Program stream:: Young Canada Works at Building Careers in Heritage
Job title:: Education and Outreach Assistant
Organization name:: Doris McCarthy Gallery
Job location:: Toronto, Ontario
Length of assignment:: 2025-09-08 to 2026-03-31 (28 weeks)
Hourly wage:: $22.00

The Doris McCarthy Gallery, University of Toronto Scarborough seeks an Education and Outreach Assistant for a contract to take place from September 8, 2025 – March 31, 2026. The placement has a strong public function, with the candidate responsible for researching and delivering exhibition interpretation; assisting with marketing and outreach, gallery programs, and exhibition coordination; and monitoring the gallery during public hours.

Under the supervision of the Exhibitions and Programming Coordinator, the Education and Outreach Assistant will research exhibitions to create educational and interpretative materials to augment gallery programming, including the development of education guides and delivery of exhibition tours. They will support the gallery’s marketing strategies, developing promotional and outreach initiatives, with a focus on social media. The Education and Outreach Assistant will assist with the coordination and presentation of programs and events (eg. opening receptions, artist talks, workshops, panel discussions, performances). They will be responsible for opening, monitoring, and closing the gallery during public hours, interacting with gallery visitors, providing information about exhibitions and events, and responding to inquiries. They may also assist with administrative tasks: updating contact lists and attendance records, maintaining equipment inventory lists and program RSVP spreadsheets, compiling information to be used in exhibition or program reports, filing, etc.

Candidates with previous experience working with art galleries and artworks will be given priority. Excellent interpersonal and research skills are required. Candidates who demonstrate attention to detail will be considered better suited to working in this environment. Candidate should be resourceful, show initiative, and feel comfortable working independently.

Rate of pay is $22 / hr. Candidates must be available to work 31.25 hours / week, Tuesday to Friday (9:30 am to 4:30 pm) and Saturday (10:30am to 5:30pm). The position is hybrid, with a minimum of 3 days / week in-person and up to 2 days / week remote. Additional in-person work will occasionally be required to assist with programs and events. This position is funded in part through the Young Canada Works at Building Careers in Heritage program, and all applicants must be registered in the YCW candidate pool and meet the current YCW-BCH eligibility criteria. An individual may be eligible for an internship if they:

- 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.

Details: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/funding/young-canada-works/students-graduates/careers-heritage-graduates.html

Interested candidates should email a cover letter and CV to Erin Peck, Exhibitions and Programming Coordinator, at erin.peck@utoronto.ca no later than July 7, 2025. We thank all applicants for their interest but advise that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

The Doris McCarthy Gallery is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons / persons of colour, women, Indigenous / Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. Candidates are encouraged to self-identify in their cover letters.

The Doris McCarthy Gallery aims to make our recruitment, selection, and hiring processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodation for applicants with disabilities. If you require any accommodations at any point, please contact erin.peck@utoronto.ca

The Doris McCarthy Gallery is a professional public art gallery within the University of Toronto Scarborough that advances artistic innovation, critical thinking, and cultural exchange through engagement with contemporary art.