Job Description

The Art Gallery of York University (AGYU) is seeking applications for a senior contract position to fill the role of Curator of Collections and Contemporary Art Engagement. This is a 15-month contract position with the potential to renew.

Working in co-operation with all AGYU staff and in consultation with the Director/Curator, the Curator of Collections and Contemporary Art Engagement plays an integral role in all aspects of AGYU\xe2\x80\x99s operations from program development and audience engagement to collections and facilities care. The position is distributed into 2 overlapping disciplines encompassing Curatorial and Registrarial roles. This is a unique position meant to combine an in-depth knowledge of international contemporary art practices with an interest and knowledgebase in art collecting ethics, care, and engagement.

The position has been developed to assist with the transition of the Art Gallery and the University\xe2\x80\x99s art collection into our new facilities, which includes a new stand-alone gallery and the renovation of our current galleries into a Visible Vault for the art collection. As the gallery makes this transformation, the Curator of Collections and Contemporary Art Engagement will work to make the University\xe2\x80\x99s art collection more accessible for student, faculty, and general research; develop a contemporary exhibition and discursive program in relation to the collection; and work with an Acquisitions Committee to oversee policies and practices related to the sustainable and ethical care, growth, and repatriation of the collection.

The successful candidate must have demonstrated an anti-racist commitment to creating and building an inclusive social practice and work environment. They will have a long history of amplifying the voices of Black and Indigenous artists and artists of colour with a vision toward dismantling colonial biases.

About AGYU

The AGYU is located in Tkaronto/Toronto on the Keele Campus of York University in the Jane and Finch community. We acknowledge the Anishinaabe for being care takers of this land for thousands of years, and recognize the Haudenosaunee and the Huron-Wendat for stewarding the land. The AGYU occupies treaty land currently held by the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.

We are a socially minded public non-profit contemporary art gallery that is responsive to the work and research of artists and the engagement of audiences through exhibitions, performances, lectures, public events, and publications. AGYU is an affiliated and supported unit of York University and is funded as a public art gallery through the Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, foundations, embassies, other cultural institutions, and through our membership.

Established as a public art gallery in 1988, the AGYU is focused on contemporary artistic, curatorial, and social art practices. AGYU\xe2\x80\x99s programs have an international reach with a strong program of community engagement. It is a social and collaborative environment that engages with the public and works with a multiplicity of contributors and audiences from local and international artists to community and student groups. AGYU is an artist- and research-centered organization that has a commitment to building audiences for contemporary art. In 2019, York University announced a generous financial gift from philanthropists and art collectors Joan and Martin Goldfarb. This substantial gift is funding a stand-alone arts facility, which will be the new home of the Gallery, with a name change to the Joan and Martin Goldfarb Gallery of York University (GGYU). Planning is well underway for this capital expansion, which will result in a multi-site art institution opening in 2024.

Requirements: Experience Requirements:

Must have worked as a curator within a public arts organization or institution for a minimum of six years. At least two years\xe2\x80\x99 experience working with public or private art collections. Must have experience relevant to the exhibition and presentation of contemporary art. Must demonstrate recent contribution to the development of critical thought in the procurement, presentation, acquisition, and deaccession of art collections in the public realm.
Post-Graduate MA degree with emphasis on fine art, art history, curatorial studies, or archival studies, or equivalent experience.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge of art collecting practices both public and private, with a discursive understanding of best practices in relation to building and caring for a legacy art collection.
• Essential that the candidate have critical and discursive skills to both support and critique art institutional thinking from art collection practices to working with a diversity of artists\xe2\x80\x99 practices.
• The ability to implement anti-racist and anti-oppression working methodologies when engaging artists and audience is essential. These practices will be applied to the acquisition, exhibition, loan, and maintenance of York University\xe2\x80\x99s art collection.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for writing publications, press releases, grant and fundraising applications, speaking with the media and public advocacy is a necessity.
• Must have experience developing and presenting exhibitions from public and private art collections, mounting exhibitions within gallery spaces.
• Experience commissioning artworks and working with artists in a social engaged manner is essential.
• The candidate must be knowledgeable of potential partners having knowledge and networks within public museums and galleries both local and international. This knowledge will be applied to potential exhibition collaborations, commissions, and co-ownerships in relation to York University\xe2\x80\x99s art collection.
• Knowledge and networks within community and education-based art organizations to develop cooperative programs as well as gain knowledge of contemporary art practices.
• Knowledge of government granting agencies at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels with a proven track record of grant writing with successful outcomes. Knowledge of individual donors, collectors, and businesses and corporations who are ethical donors and receptive to supporting contemporary art an asset.
• Understanding and working knowledge of museum standards in relation to artwork storage and preservation. Practical experience with art-handling and shipping is a must with professional knowledge of insurance protocols and condition reporting.

Tasks:

• Raise, develop, and control collection-related exhibitions budgets.
• Raise, develop, and control education and outreach budgets related to art collecting.
• Manage budgets for restoration of art works and maintaining art collection database.
• Working with insurance providers to determine the appropriate coverage for the University\xe2\x80\x99s art collection.
• Responsible for setting up the Visible Vault and study area, ensuring security and environmental controls are in place. Determine restoration and care needs for the University\xe2\x80\x99s art collection.
• Establish protocols and best practices for acquisition and deaccessioning artworks.
• Develop programs that are directed at promoting and making the art collection accessible to scholars, students, and community members.
• Work with Advancement in vetting artwork donation requests and bringing these requests to the Acquisition Committee.
• Develop contracts for new acquisitions and loans.
• Generate revenue related to artwork acquisitions, and prepare foundation and project grant applications in relation to the art collection and collection related exhibitions.
• Overall management of the art collection, cataloguing, photography, maintenance and restoration, deaccessioning, lending, borrowing, international and domestic shipping, customs, insurance, inventory, climate control, security, and archival and storage spaces in line with the AGYU strategic plans and vision.

Additional Info: Salary

This is a full-time Confident Professional Managerial (CPM) position with a base salary of $93,000 annually. It is currently a 15-month contract position with the hopes of becoming a permanent post.

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