Gallery Assistant
/Organization:
PoMoArts
Deadline:
Mar. 16, 2025
Organization Description:
PoMoArts, the Port Moody Arts Centre Society, is a not-for-profit community-arts organization that creates art experiences to engage, challenge, and awaken opportunities for connection. We provide art education, exhibitions, and community art experiences in the City of the Arts with various partners and artists each year.
We are supported by a thriving community of artists, volunteers, donors, businesses, associations, and decision-makers. We are an arts centre run primarily by artists, committed to developing, promoting, and celebrating meaningful arts experiences in Port Moody. We offer a full range of visual, ceramic, fibre, media, performing arts and music programs for people of all ages and experience levels. We curate exhibitions of local and regional artists, emerging and established. We create meaningful community art experiences with our partners that explore social issues, lift voices of those less heard, and support community dialogue.
Website:
Job Description:
PoMoArts is seeking a creative, detail-oriented, and enthusiastic individual with knowledge of contemporary art practices to support our 2025 gallery exhibition program. Shadowing the Exhibitions 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 help develop plans for 2026 exhibitions and assist with a Youth Pride 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.
This full-time (35 hours/week) 16-week youth employment opportunity is scheduled to take place from April 28 – August 15, 2025. The position and its duration are conditional upon Canada Summer Jobs funding.
Responsibilities:
Reporting directly to the Exhibitions 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, artist talks, and other gallery events, including the preparations, set up and take down, as well as photographing, filming and editing of materials.
• 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
• 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.)
• Visually creative with the ability to design and assemble invitations, catalogues, and promotional material for artist talks, special events, and gallery activities
• Advanced research skills
• 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.
Other Eligibility Requirements for the Canada Summer Jobs Program:
• Must be between 19 and 30 years of age at the start of the employment for this position
• 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
How to Apply:
Please submit your application to submissions@pomoarts.ca, according to the following guidelines:
• PDF format only with your COVER LETTER and RESUME
• 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 “Gallery Assistant” as the subject of your email
• Application Deadline: March 16th, 2025
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.
Remuneration:
18/hour
Contact Name: Kate Feltren
Contact Email: submissions@pomoarts.ca
Contact Phone: (604) 931-2008
