Curatorial Assistant
- Program stream:
- Young Canada Works at Building Careers in Heritage
- Job title:
- Curatorial Assistant
- Organization name:
- Halton Region Museum
- Job location:
- Milton, Ontario
- Length of assignment:
- 2017-09-18 to 2018-01-30 (18 weeks)
- Hourly wage:
- $17.00
LOCATION: HALTON REGION MUSEUM, MILTON
POSITION: CURATORIAL ASSISTANT INTERN, HERITAGE SERVICES
SALARY RANGE: $17/hour
Note: Applicants will be considered for interviews based on the information provided in their application to the Region of Halton including a current resume and cover letter. We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those under consideration will be contacted. This position is being offered on a full-time temporary basis working 30 hours per week from September 2017 through January, 2018. Due to the expected volume of applications, we are only able to accept online submissions. Hard copies will not be considered.
ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION
The Heritage Services section is part of the Legislative and Planning Services Department of the Regional Municipality of Halton. Heritage Services preserves the material and cultural heritage of Halton Region, acquires and shares knowledge of the Region’s historical and natural world and encourages discovery, appreciation and understanding of the Region’s heritage. Based in the Kelso Conservation Area in Milton, Ontario, Heritage Services offers travelling exhibits and off-site public programming and supports the preservation and appreciation of the heritage of Halton Region through partnerships with museums, archives, historical societies, cultural organizations and attractions.
PURPOSE OF POSITION:
To work with the Assistant Curator/Collections Coordinator to complete collections management projects such as the rehousing and organization of framed works, small objects and textiles; completion of collections inventory; data-cleaning of PastPerfect collections database and de-accessioning. Additionally, the Curatorial Assistant will work with the Education/Community Coordinator in the planning and development of school and public programs, as well as assisting with the delivery of onsite and outreach programs for school and community groups. The Curatorial Assistant will also support exhibit-based work with the Heritage Partner Network, assisting with small-scale exhibition projects as needed.
PREFERRED BACKGROUND:
Applicants should be recent graduates of a college or university program such as museum studies, gallery studies, archival studies, museum management and curatorship or collections conservation and management. The position will be of particular interest to those looking to complement their education by gaining work experience in the heritage field. This position requires experience and/or training in preventive conservation and collections management techniques as well as experience with public programming in formal and informal education settings. Previous work or volunteer experience with a museum or cultural institution is an asset, as is experience in research and handling collections materials. Applicants should have a high degree of computer literacy, including experience with databases, digital imaging and digital photography hardware and software. Demonstrated high-level organizational, research and writing skills are necessary.
Applicants must:
•be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, or have refugee status in Canada (non-Canadians holding temporary work visas or awaiting permanent status are not eligible);
•be legally entitled to work in Canada;
•will be between 16 and 30 years of age at the start of employment;
•be willing to commit to the full duration of the work assignment;
•not have another full-time job (over 30 hours a week) while employed with the program;
•be an unemployed or underemployed college or university graduate, that is, not employed full-time;
•be a recent graduate who has graduated from college or university within the last 24 months at the start of employment;
•not be receiving Employment Insurance (EI) benefits while employed with the program; and
•not have previously participated in or been paid under this or any other Career Focus internship program funded under the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy.
Working Conditions: A valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle are required since there is no public transportation to the museum site and the position will also involve working at off-site locations. The successful candidate will be made an offer of employment on condition that the Regional Municipality of Halton receives a current (obtained within the past six (6) months), original and acceptable Criminal Record Check, by your first day of employment.
DUTIES:
Under the supervision of the Assistant Curator/Collections Coordinator and with volunteers and other staff as required, the Curatorial Assistant will to complete tasks relating to Heritage Services exhibitions, programming and collections. Projects will include ;
• Improve the Heritage Services’ PastPerfect database by cleaning data and adding additional research to artifact records
• Lead the rehousal of the framed works collection
• Assist with research requests as they are presented;
• Assist with the physical deaccessioning of Heritage Services collection
• Assist in the development and completion of small Heritage Network Partner exhibit projects ;
• Assist with the delivery and organization of museum’s educational programs to students of various ages from visiting schools (both onsite and outreach programming);
• Support Heritage Services’ educational programming for the 2017 Halton Children’s Water Festival and Forest Festival;
• Assist with other duties as assigned.
How to apply:
Summer job postings will be posted on the Halton Region web site as below (date to be
announced) and will remain open for two weeks. Human Resources must receive all internship applications
through online submission only. Direct emails or hard copy submissions will not be accepted. Potential
applicants are encouraged to contact Halton Heritage Services with any questions about this position
prior to applying.
Apply Online: www.halton.ca/jobs
Halton Region Museum is located within the Town of Milton, in the Regional Municipality of Halton, west of Toronto. Milton, Ontario is Canada's fastest-growing community and a place of opportunity for families, individuals, visitors and investors. The area is considered part of Escarpment Country and the Halton Region Museum is located itself at the foot of the Niagara Escarpment within Kelso Conservation Area.
In June, 2014, Regional Council approved the Halton Region Museum Master Plan which details a long-term plan and vision to transform the Halton Region Museum into the Halton Heritage Centre (HHC). The Master Plan outlines a new and innovative model for the delivery of regional heritage services in which the Heritage Services department will not only continue to care for the Region’s own collection but will provide professional services in exhibit planning and design, public program development, collections management and artifact conservation to regional heritage and cultural partners. All programs and projects over the next few years are structured to build capacity within the Halton Region Museum to complete its transition to the Halton Heritage Centre.
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