Curatorial Coordinator, Indigenous & Canadian Art at the Art Gallery of Ontario

Curatorial Coordinator, Indigenous & Canadian Art

Temporary Full-Time; Contract until March 31, 2027
Hourly Rate: $36.49 – $45.61

The Art Gallery of Ontario is currently seeking a Curatorial Coordinator, Indigenous & Canadian Art to join our Curatorial Administration team. Under the direction of the Fredrik S. Eaton Curator, Canadian Art, the incumbent will coordinate administrative functions for the Indigenous & Canadian Art Department, focusing on the permanent collection, acquisitions and exhibitions; and provide administrative support for the department’s curators.

Responsibilities:

Coordinates the curatorial planning, preparation and implementation of Indigenous & Canadian Art exhibitions, including:
◦ Assists curatorial team with exhibition development and project execution;
◦ Works closely with artists, external curators and museum partners on execution of exhibitions and disseminates relevant information to AGO departments (Registration, Exhibitions, Conservation);
◦ Prepares/tracks loan requests, loan agreement forms, acts as main point of contact with lenders;
◦ Creates tombstone labels in consultation with the artists and curators;
◦ Arranges for the photography of works and installations;
◦ Prepares shipping notices for movement of works after consulting lenders regarding special handling, crating needs;
◦ As required, manages all other exhibitions related administration, including maintaining checklists, creating presentations, books artist, guest curator, and courier air travel, per diems and hotel accommodations, creates event RSVP list;
◦ Works with colleagues across the AGO to plan and run exhibitions-related events including artist/donor/lender dinners, opening receptions and public talks, group tours, private tours;
◦ Troubleshoots and resolves issues by working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders in a timely manner;
◦ Develops positive working relationship with artists and lenders;
◦ Assists with image procurement and caption information for exhibition publications.
Coordinates activities related to acquisitions of works of art, including:
◦ Coordinates with donors, dealers, artists, and the curatorial team to process all Indigenous & Canadian art acquisitions; acts as main point of contact with dealers/ artists to coordinate shipping of artwork and payment of invoices;
◦ Coordinates Curatorial Committee meetings including coordinating meeting dates and viewing of proposed acquisitions; preparing shipping notices, drafting agenda and minutes, presentations, speaking notes; overseeing research report editing process and copy editing/writing text as required, and notifying vendor/donor as requested; coordinating deed of gift and title of property;
◦ Monitors payments of appraisals and reimbursement by donors;
◦ Coordinates, submits, and tracks all Canadian Cultural Property Review Board (CCPERB) applications, including arranging photography, condition reports and overseeing OS reports editing process and copy editing/writing text as required;
◦ Main point of contact with donor during donation process, including advising them of CCPERB process, approval timelines, appraisal amounts, and CCPERB determination;
◦ Solicits appraisals and works closely with appraiser to ensure accuracy, relays information to donor and maintains diplomatic relationship regarding final value and CCPERB outcome;
◦ Coordinates with curatorial team and colleagues in Registration and Collections Management to ensure accurate database records and accession files are maintained;
◦ Prepares change of records forms for collections management to update collections database;
◦ Alerts donors when Indigenous & Canadian gifts are exhibited/loaned;
◦ Prepares lists and sources photography/orders new photography as required of proposed Indigenous & Canadian works for deaccessioning; prepares shipping notices for works leaving the premises; tracks sales, payments, and titles of transfer for deaccessioned works; maintains master lists of deaccessioned works as well as charts of purchases using deaccessioned funds; and disseminates relevant information to AGO departments (Registration and Finance).
Coordinates the curatorial planning, preparation and implementation of the Indigenous & Canadian collection installations in the J.S. McLean Centre for Indigenous & Canadian Art, and other gallery spaces throughout the AGO, and related programing, including:
◦ Coordinates Indigenous & Canadian Art rotations in department-specific gallery spaces as well as any installation of works from the department in other galleries, including creating and maintaining checklists;
◦ Tracks installations and movement of works in the J.S. McLean Centre for Indigenous & Canadian Art;
◦ Prepares and tracks loan requests, loan agreement forms, acts as main point of contact with lenders;
◦ Prepares shipping notices for movement of works after consulting lenders regarding specific handling, crating needs;
◦ Creates tombstone labels for all Indigenous & Canadian works: formats, checks information, shares with curators, revises, submits all relevant change of record forms to Registration;
◦ Creates project-specific webpages in consultation with the artists and curators;
◦ Orders photography of objects and installation views;
◦ Supports the department’s programming initiatives, such as study days, Indigenous gatherings, McCready lecture, guest lecturer visits among others.
Donor Relations:
◦ Acts as departmental liaison with Curatorial Committee members and donors;
◦ Works closely with and maintains positive relationships with 20-24 Committee members (many of whom are AGO Board Members), works on donor special requests, as required;
◦ Maintains and develops positive relationships with key Indigenous & Canadian Art donors;
◦ Oversees and coordinates all VIP passes for art fairs;
◦ Assists Development colleagues with donor Circle communications and activities as needed;
◦ Prepares committee communications including member welcome packages and group digests;
◦ Prepares yearly AGO Foundation reports and sources images.
Department Administration:
◦ Identifies and tracks department priorities; schedules and sets agenda for weekly department meetings;
◦ Develops and tracks department budgets; tracks and submits for processing all department-specific invoices from external vendors;
◦ Coordinates onboarding and provides ongoing support for research assistants, fellows, interns, temporary staff;
◦ Orders supplies for department;
◦ Coordinates broader curatorial initiatives and liaises with internal and external stakeholders;
◦ Schedules meetings and appointments for Indigenous & Canadian Art curators;
◦ Makes complex travel arrangements and completes expense claims and credit card reconciliations;
◦ Drafts general department correspondence;
◦ Tracks and submits attendance;
◦ Maintains files and prepares files (hard copy and electronic) for archiving of the department;
◦ Shares information with various AGO departments by uploading and maintaining exhibition documents on dartboard, and reviews communications for the broader public.
Coordinates and tracks requests and inquiries from general public, assists with external researcher projects, and other AGO staff and compiles appropriate information to facilitate response.
Responds to donation/purchase offers. Identifies and recommends changes to procedures.
Other duties and projects as assigned.

Qualifications:

3-5 years directly related administrative experience in an arts organization, with a focus on Indigenous & Canadian Art
Comprehensive knowledge of collection and digital asset management systems, like The Museum System (TMS) and NetX
Demonstrated knowledge of office practices and procedures
Well-developed negotiation, organizational, interpersonal, and verbal and written communication skills
Knowledge of contemporary art practices as well as direct experience working with both living artists and artist estates and representatives
Detail-oriented with experience proofreading, editing, and formatting reports and documents
Experience working with large collections
Post-secondary degree or diploma in arts and culture, or equivalent work experience
Knowledge of foreign languages an asset

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility:

At the AGO, we lead global conversations from Toronto through extraordinary collections, exhibitions, and programs, reflecting the diverse community we serve. Committed to fostering inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility, we embed these values into our strategic plan and ongoing priorities.

To Apply:

Please submit your resume and cover letter outlining your relevant experience and qualifications online at jobs.jobvite.com/ago/jobs/viewall.

Applications will be accepted until April 22, 2025.

The Art Gallery of Ontario is an Equal Opportunity Employer.