Assistant Curator
- Posted on:
- 2026-04-14 9:20:37 a.m.
- Program stream:
- Young Canada Works at Building Careers in Heritage
- Job title:
- Assistant Curator
- Organization name:
- The Visual Arts Centre of Clarington
- Job location:
- Bowmanville, Ontario
- Length of assignment:
- 2026-10-26 to 2027-03-26 (22 weeks)
- Hourly wage:
- $19.35
The Visual Arts Centre of Clarington (VAC) is a not-for-profit art gallery and arts education centre in Bowmanville, ON. The VAC is dedicated to delivering contemporary art to the Clarington Community, the wider Durham Region, and beyond. It has a 50-year history of community engagement, connecting people of all ages and backgrounds in a creative place for art making and learning. The VAC occupies a four-story 1905 Mill, which holds exhibition and studio spaces, including a fully equipped pottery studio, a painting studio, and a rustic loft gallery.
Educational and public engagement programs are offered to kids, youth, and adults, while exhibitions of contemporary art show Canadian regional and national artists' works in various stages of their careers. The VAC is a safe space where ideas are exchanged, questions are asked, and connections are made.
Assistant Curator
22-week position
Starts: Monday, October 26, 2027
Ends: Friday, March 26, 2027
Wage: $19.35/hr for 37.5 hrs/wk
Application deadline: Friday, September 18, 2026
Description of tasks:
-Working with the Curator to coordinate and develop the VAC’s 2026/2027 exhibition programmes
-Developing a curatorial plan for the VAC’s 2026 community exhibitions
-Developing a curatorial plan for the VAC’s exhibitions in public ancillary spaces
-Coordinating and managing the logistics of installations and takedowns of exhibitions
-Liaising with preparators and various contractors working on exhibitions
-Researching and developing exhibition-related reading material for education staff
-Working with the Curator to develop marketing, brochure and web copy to promote exhibitions
-Animating and supervising the gallery space during public hours 5 days/week. This includes welcoming visitors, leading tours, and providing general information about the VAC.
-Being involved in day-to-day ongoing programming tasks such as event coordination, booking tours, and delivery of programmes
-Working with volunteers and interns to train on exhibition content
-Evaluating each exhibition upon completion to provide feedback on improvement for future development
Candidate Profile:
-Post-secondary graduate from studies in Art History, Curatorial Studies, Visual Arts, Visual Studies, or a related field is mandatory
-Excellent written and oral communication skills, including public speaking and presentation experience
-Excellent Organizational and Research Skills
-Ability to multi-task and work well independently and within a team
-Experience working within an educational and creative setting
-An enthusiastic and energetic communication style
-Strong interpersonal skills
-Proficiency in the use of Standard Office software as well as Communications/document sharing software (such as Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Drive)
-Ability to work all twenty-two (22) weeks (mandatory)
-Eligible for the Young Canada Works Program for Building Careers in Heritage
-Ability to speak French is an asset
An individual may be eligible for a YCW-BCH 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.
The Visual Arts Centre of Clarington is an equal-opportunity employer committed to employment equity and building strength through diversity. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and encourage women, visible minorities, and Indigenous peoples to apply. Acknowledging that we are not a fully accessible building, we make every accommodation possible to ensure that we are inclusive in our hiring process.
Applicants are encouraged to apply through the YCW website and by emailing Samantha Lance at curator@vac.ca, on or before Friday, September 18th, 2026.
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