Waterloo Region’s leading public art gallery, the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, connects people and ideas through art. Its nationally acclaimed exhibitions and programs welcome all to be inspired and challenged through a deepened understanding of ourselves, our cultures, and our communities.

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Curator, Exhibitions & Programs and working under the direction of the Program Lead, the Program Coordinator supports the Gallery’s mission of connecting people and ideas through art with high-quality, innovative programming that engages active participation across the community and extends knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the visual arts. The incumbent is responsible for conceiving, developing, facilitating and evaluating a range of interpretive programs for participants of all ages and experiences, working closely with curatorial and other KWAG staff. KWAG believes that our exhibition program is experimental, contemporaneous, responsive to community needs, and adopts a radical pedagogy that reflects artistic and political currencies; we seek a programmer with the same demonstrated urgency, awareness and commitment.

Primary duties include assisting with the administration of both exhibition-related and serialized education programs, as well as recruiting and training of Artist Instructors and tour guides. The Program Coordinator supports the Lead to conceive, develop, measure, and deliver onsite programs for schools aligned with the current curriculum and is responsible for implementing and evaluating educational, interpretive and skills-development programs while strengthening the Gallery’s collaborative networks.

Key Responsibilities:

•         Conceives, develops, facilitates and delivers programs relevant to the temporary exhibitions (themes and materials) and Permanent Collection of KWAG, taking advantage of on-site and on-line opportunities

•         Delivers exhibition-related children, youth, adult, and family art-making programs

•         Able to work well in advance, fully articulating programs and providing materials for marketing and communications at least 3-6 months in advance (on average)

•         Responsible for coordinating the annual student exhibition, Expressions, including oversight of the delivery and installation of student artwork, as well as InSights, an artist-in-residence program in regional secondary schools

•         Facilitates the Gallery’s Youth Council and other specialized programs

•         Programs and delivers artistic workshops, and engages external artists to devise programs that support Curatorial content

•         Cultivates, develops and delivers custom programs for community groups through partnerships that further the Gallery’s mission

•         Designs and adapts activities for ability and age to ensure programs are inclusive and accessible

•         Evaluates programs upon completion, providing methods of improvement and gathering targeted feedback and statistics to be used for program development and grant reporting (capturing quantitative and qualitative outcomes)

•         Assists in facilitating bookings for school programs, studio workshops and classes, camps and tours, including Studio Assistants and Art Facilitators

•         Supports administration of PD Days, March Break and Summer Art Camps

•         Develops, organizes, and manages content for outreach and off-site programs

•         Researches and sources appropriate art materials, and prepares materials for visual arts-based educational programs including classes, workshops, camps and offsite events

•         Supports smooth operation of the studio, including overall organization of space, maintenance of materials and equipment, and future planning for growth or infrastructural upgrades (including to improve accessibility)

•         Cultivates dynamic and respectful appreciation of cultural diversity in all areas of program content and delivery, utilizing effective strategies for inclusion

•         Conveys and demonstrates positive impact of contemporary art on community and well-being while using a variety of gallery interpretation techniques to foster critical thinking

•         Assists the Program Lead and Curator in the development of promotional plans and strategies for programs, and assists with the preparation of materials and descriptive text for proposals, program promotion and reports

•         Supports regulatory compliance and safety and security requirements throughout program implementation

•         Considers and integrates best practices for accessibility

•         Maintains contact lists and database for programs and tour bookings

•         Ensures that website and internal calendar are current with all program information

•         Researches best practices in the sector and participates in professional development opportunities when available

•         Ensures knowledge of art education remains current through immersion, participation, independent research about new programs and offerings at other institutions; willing to experiment to open new paradigms

Preferred qualifications & Skills:

•         You have a love and personal commitment to contemporary visual art and its various disciplines, expressions in community, and its centrality to a healthy and happy life

•         You regularly visit contemporary art galleries and are knowledgeable about innovative, radical, and emergent trends, media and practice, exploring the full potential of what meaningful programming can be in times of change and crises

•         You intimately understand how to develop and facilitate programs that directly appeal to the themes and materials of temporary, rotating exhibitions and are personally excited about working closely to support exhibitions

•         2-3 years of successful relevant experience in a contemporary public art gallery or art museum, or participation in other contemporary art experiences, residencies and/or artist-run platforms, with experience delivering public, cultural and/or education programs to culturally and socially diverse audiences

•         Knowledge of visual art, art history, studio art practices, and current trends in art education and interpretation in the art museum setting

•         University degree in a relevant discipline

•         Demonstrated computer skills in Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, Word)

•         Strong time-management and organizational skills with the ability to prioritize

•         Experience monitoring and updating budgets

•         Demonstrated ability to work with accuracy and attention to detail

•         Excellent interpersonal and communication (oral and written) skills to communicate with a wide variety of individuals of all ages and backgrounds

•         A proven ability to work independently as well as collaboratively and flexibly with others

•         A meaningful understanding of and genuine commitment to diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, equity and accessibility; respects diversity and promotes inclusion in the workplace

•         Clear Police Vulnerable Sector Check

•         Certification in First-Aid is an asset (will be required upon commencement of position)

•         Knowledge of critical theory is an asset

Working Conditions:

This is a fully on-site position, with all hours worked at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery. Hours are typically worked between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. However, the employee must be able to work a flexible schedule to meet programming needs to include weekends, holidays and special events (overtime will be given off in lieu).

Salary and Benefits:

This is a full-time position at 35 hours/week with a salary of $45,000. Three weeks of vacation and a health benefits package are also offered.

Equity and Access:

The Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery is committed to being an inclusive and respectful workplace that reflects the diversity of our community. We encourage and welcome applications from Indigenous, Black and Racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQ+ persons.

Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery is an accessible venue that has been recognized with Gold Certification from the Rick Hansen Foundation. Upon request, the Gallery will work with applicants with disabilities to provide accommodation through the hiring process.