Job Posting

Art Gallery Assistant

PoMoArts is seeking a creative, detail-oriented, and enthusiastic individual with knowledge of contemporary art practices to support our 2023 gallery exhibition program. Shadowing the Gallery Manager, this role will be directly involved in executing all aspects of planned art exhibitions including shows for group and solo artists, scholarship recipient shows and mentorship activities, and ceramic artist-in-residence shows. The Gallery Assistant will also participate in the planning and development of “Art4Life” PoMoArts’ annual exhibition designed for children, as well as research and help develop plans for 2024 exhibitions.  In 2023, this role will also assist with a Youth Pride exhibition, The Shuffle Port Moody Art Walk, and PoMoArts 25^th Anniversary exhibition. This position provides the opportunity to gain practical, hands-on experience in all aspects of gallery operations with a focus on exhibition installation, community engagement, and curatorial research and development.

The Gallery Assistant position and its duration are subject to funding approval through the Canada Summer Jobs program.

About the PoMoArts

Housed in the historic Old City Hall and Appleyard House buildings in the heart of Port Moody, PoMoArts is a cultural hub for arts and education. With a mission to promote participation in the arts, we offer a full range of visual, ceramic, theatre, music, and media arts programming for people of all ages and experience levels to explore their creativity and develop artistic skills. We are also home to a public art gallery, showcasing the work of emerging and established artists in a variety of mediums through a professionally curated exhibition program.

PoMoArts is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from qualified individuals from diverse backgrounds, and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, or (dis)ability.

Responsibilities

Reporting directly to the Gallery Manager, the specific responsibilities include:

• Performing exhibition and gallery research
• Installing and de-installing artwork
• Helping to create, coordinate, and edit exhibition didactic materials such as wall text and labels
• Assisting with in-person opening receptions, artists talks, and other gallery events, including the preparations, set up and take down, filming and editing of materials for virtual events and managing live-streaming.
• Managing artist contacts and correspondence
• Assisting in the development and design of invitations, catalogues, and promotional material for artist talks, special events, and gallery activities
• Planning and facilitating community engagement projects for upcoming exhibitions.
• Coordinating with the Marketing team to write social media posts and promote gallery exhibitions and events
• Acting as a gallery guide, responding to public inquiries during exhibitions
• Assisting in the documentation of exhibitions, updating and maintaining archive of gallery materials, as well as organizing hard copy exhibition history into digital formats
• Performing other curatorial and administrative tasks as required

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education or demonstrated experience in fine arts, art history, arts administration, museum studies, cultural studies or a related field
• Have a strong interest in gallery programming and public engagement
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Strong organization, time management, and creative problem-solving skills with an eye for detail
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to engage with socially, culturally, and ethnically diverse audiences
• Advanced research skills
• Visually creative with the ability to design and assemble invitations, catalogues, and promotional material for artist talks, special events, and gallery activities
• Experience or knowledge of how to properly handle and hang artwork for display
• Physically capable of doing manual labour as part of gallery installation, including painting and repairing walls; moving plinths; climbing ladders; and hanging, packing, and storing artwork
• Good with hands and dexterity with small tools (hammer, drill, utility knife, wire, etc.)
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook); experience using Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign) and photo-editing software an asset
• Knowledge of a second language is considered an asset
• Ability to work flexible hours, including occasional evenings and weekends as required for gallery openings and special events.
• This position requires the completion of a successful criminal background check prior to commencing employment.

Eligibility Requirements for the Canada Summer Jobs Program:

• Must be between 15 and 30 years of age at the start of the employment
• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, for the duration of the employment
• Have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations

Remuneration

$16 / hour

This a full-time (35 hours/week) 16-week youth employment opportunity scheduled to take place from May 1 – August 18, 2023.   

How to Apply

Please submit your application to , according to the following guidelines:

• PDF format only with your COVER LETTER and RESUME in the same document
• Your cover letter should clearly indicate why you are interested in this position, what you hope to learn, and what impact it will have on your professional development
• Must use “Art Gallery Assistant” as the subject of your email

PoMoArts is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from qualified individuals from diverse backgrounds, and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, or (dis)ability.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Visit pomoarts.ca for more details.