TD Associate Curator: Indigenous Exhibitions and Collections
Hours of work: Five days a week, typical work week Monday to Friday with some evenings and weekends mandatory.
Position Conditions: Term-limited, grant funded, for a period of two (2) years from date of hire.
Remuneration: Salaried position $55,000 CAD per year.
Employment location: Hybrid, with on-site, remote, and research travel components.
Reports to: Director | Curator
Revised Deadline: April 15, 2025 (or until position is filled).
APPLICATION PROCESS
All applications will be reviewed by a hiring committee including Indigenous representation.
Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
TO APPLY:
Please submit a resume that clearly indicates your relevant work experiences, a cover letter that describes your interest in the position at the Gallery and your qualifications in one pdf.
The email subject line should read TD Associate Curator: Indigenous Exhibitions and Collections. Send to collections@artsudbury.org and copy to director@artsudbury.org
DESCRIPTION
The Art Gallery of Sudbury | Galerie d’art de Sudbury (AGS) in partnership with the TD Ready Commitment Program announces a new fulltime two-year curatorial position.
TD ASSOCIATE CURATOR: INDIGENOUS EXHIBITIONS AND COLLECTIONS POSITION SUMMARY
As a key member of the programming team, the TD Associate Curator: Indigenous Exhibitions and Collections is responsible for creating, planning, executing, and evaluating exhibitions, projects, and public programs that highlight First Nations, Inuit, and Mètis art and culture and supports Indigenous relations. The position focuses on Indigenous-led and centered research and projects complementary to or situated within exhibitions and other programming initiatives, working collaboratively with artists, relation-makers, and curators to engage communities. The TD Associate Curator will work in a collaborative manner with gallery staff to deliver dynamic, engaging, and innovative programs. This role requires a commitment to fostering an inclusive and respectful environment for all, particularly with Indigenous communities, artists, and relation-makers.
CONTEXT
1. We are caring for our Collections, including Indigenous works, and actively adding new Indigenous works to the Collections.
REVISED 24 MARCH 2025
2. We are researching new curated projects and programs, including exhibitions of Indigenous art and artists, and at the same time, presenting exhibitions in alternate spaces.
2. We are planning and building our new Gallery and museum spaces that will open to the public in early 2027, featuring the installation of artworks and exhibitions in a major gallery space dedicated to Indigenous artists and works of art.
Over two years, the activities and work plan of the new Indigenous curatorial and collections position could be touching on all three spheres. As with other staff team members, providing feedback and contributing professional expertise to the planning and design of the new Gallery spaces, which includes a new gallery dedicated to Indigenous artists and art of the near regions, will occupy some part of the position’s workplan.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
This position will have the following responsibilities:
Temporary Exhibition and Project Development (40%)
⦁ Conceptualizes and curates public programs focusing on Indigenous artists and
communities, including ceremonial and educational events, cultural activities, and/or exhibitions.
⦁ Liaises with communities, Elders, artists, colleagues and institutions.
⦁ Proposes and contributes to dialogue regarding special commissions by Indigenous artists and craftspeople as well as Indigenous touring exhibitions.
⦁ Performs research; curates exhibition and project content.
⦁ Reviews and evaluates exhibition and project proposals.
⦁ Acts as the lead curatorial position for the installation of the opening exhibition in the new Indigenous gallery at the Art Gallery of Sudbury | Galerie d’art de Sudbury (Cultural Hub, Sudbury ON).
⦁ Identifies and helps to facilitate connections between Indigenous artists and communities with Indigenous cultural belongings in the Gallery collections.
⦁ Develops programs that bring attention to Indigenous artists and neighbouring regions.
Collections Development and Management (30%)
⦁ Provides an Indigenous perspective on collections policies, collections care, documentation, as well as access to and use of collections.
⦁ Works with other Collections and Curatorial staff to ensure best practices in the care and protection of Indigenous art and cultural belongings in the permanent collection as well as artworks or belongings on loan.
⦁ Working with the Acquisitions Committee, assists in developing a collecting plan for Indigenous art and cultural belongings that furthers Gallery mandate as an art museum.
⦁ Researches and recommends artworks and cultural belongings for acceptance into the Gallery permanent collection.
⦁ Provides content information to the Art Gallery collections management database; verifies accuracy of existing records and set priorities for documenting the collection.
⦁ Maintains familiarity with the art market, maintains cooperative contacts with dealers and cultivates close relationships with collectors.
⦁ Evaluates loan requests from other institutions.
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Actively stewards potential collection donors as appropriate and engages in stewardship at special events as appropriate.
Public Engagement (20%)
⦁ Accepts or initiates opportunities to collaborate with museum and visual arts colleagues and counterparts in other institutions when possible.
⦁ Builds relationships with Indigenous community leaders, artists, relation-makers, curators, institutions, and other collaborators to foster cooperative community engagement.
⦁ Engages in media interviews related to Gallery collections, exhibitions and the cultural belongings that Gallery stewards (if/as necessary)
⦁ Acts as an ambassador for the Gallery while supporting and promoting the work of Indigenous artists.
Administrative (10%)
⦁ Develops and manages budgets for exhibitions and projects.
⦁ Negotiates loans and agreements with galleries, collectors, artists, and other institutions.
⦁ Performs general administrative duties associated with the exhibitions department, including coordinating contracts, shipping, travel, schedules, and correspondence for exhibitions and public programs.
⦁ Assists with the preparation of reports and data for various internal committees and reporting requirements.
⦁ Works within a defined grant budget (TD Ready Commitment).
⦁ Based on programming requirements and in support of gallery events, some evening and weekend work may be required.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
⦁ Knowledge of Indigenous culture, history and cultural belongings, with a particular focus on northeastern North America and Indigenous art.
⦁ Demonstrated knowledge of and training in Indigenous studies, art history, visual arts, and/or museum studies, acquired through a university degree or relevant diploma in museum studies, cultural heritage conservation & management or an equivalent combination of education, Traditional Knowledge, and relevant work experience.
⦁ Demonstrated track record of creating and mounting exhibitions and projects and overseeing the production of new work and commissions.
⦁ Experience working in and with Indigenous communities and knowledge of Indigenous cultural practices.
Other Qualifications include:
⦁ Indigenous citizenship in or membership with a recognized Indigenous Government/Organization (including Ontario Coalition of Indigenous People)
⦁ Excellent interpersonal and communications skills, working with staff as well as artists, curators, lenders, donors, and the public.
⦁ Strong knowledge of contemporary art.
⦁ Good oral and written presentation skills for public presentations, project proposals, grant submissions, publications and other communication needs.
⦁ Ability to build positive and effective relationships with communities, staff, members, donors, artists and the broader audiences the Gallery serves.
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Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Art Gallery of Sudbury | Galerie d’art de Sudbury respectfully acknowledges that we are located in Robinson-Huron Treaty (1850) territory and the lands on which we gather are the traditional lands of the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek and within the traditional territory of the Sudbury Metis Regional Council. The large area we consider Greater Sudbury also exists within and adjacent to the territorial lands of the Wahnapitae First Nation and the Sagamok Anishnawbek. We honour, recognize and respect these Indigenous Peoples as the traditional stewards of the lands which we share today.
ART GALLERY OF SUDBURY / GALERIE D’ART DE SUDBURY
The Art Gallery of Sudbury / Galerie d’art de Sudbury (the Gallery) is a dynamic bilingual, tri-cultural public visual art gallery and art museum. It is the only public art gallery in 38,000 square kilometres making it a key cultural hub in Northern Ontario where the community celebrates creativity, diversity, and artistic expression. The Art Gallery of Sudbury / Galerie d’art de Sudbury is a key art educational, cultural and tourism destination in Northeastern Ontario, engaging with local, provincial, and national communities through innovative visual art, art-making, and cultural experiences, and creating meaningful engagement opportunities in dialogue with contemporary artists and its permanent collection for all. The Gallery is operating from alternate locations during the delivery of this project (170-172-174 Elgin Street, Sudbury ON).
TD READY COMMITMENT PROGRAM
Change is a fact of life. It can renew our perspective of the world or how we act within it. While change helps some of us get ahead, it can leave others behind. To help create the conditions so everyone has the chance to succeed in a changing world, TD is targeting $1 billion by 2030 towards community giving in four areas that support change, nurture progress and contribute to making the world a better, more inclusive place. Based on internal and external research conducted in 2018, we identified four areas that we call the Four Interconnected Drivers of Change – Financial Security, Vibrant Planet, Connected Communities and Better Health. When they are addressed together, they can help people feel included and able to reach their goals in the future.
