Associate Director, Artspeak

Artspeak is seeking an Associate Director to join our team in Vancouver

Employment Type: Part-time, permanent (24 hours/week)
Start Date: September 2026
Application Deadline: Open until filled

Working closely with the Director/Curator, the Associate Director will play a key leadership role in the organization’s administration, communications, fundraising, project coordination, and day-to-day operations. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the future of a dynamic artist-centred gallery committed to supporting contemporary art, critical dialogue, and underrepresented voices.

We’re looking for someone who is collaborative, organized, and passionate about the arts and nonprofit leadership. If you’re excited by building meaningful relationships, supporting artists, and helping shape the next chapter of our organization, we’d love to hear from you.

About Artspeak

Artspeak, established in 1986, is a non-profit artist-run center and a registered charitable organization. Artspeak, is an exhibition and programming space that encourages dialogue between contemporary visual art and writing. Artspeak is committed to intersectional participation and exchange. In particular, Artspeak features work that crosses the boundaries between the two disciplines and under its current Director, makes visible the work of Black/African diasporic, Indigenous, POC cultural practitioners within the regional specificity of the DTES. Artspeak continues its work as a platform for art criticism from underserved perspectives predicated on the belief that art criticism should be an accessible dialogue—a tool through which we question, celebrate, and talk back to the global world of contemporary art. Artspeak produces innovative exhibitions and publications that create an idea-highway between Vancouver and the world.

Position Overview

Working closely with and reporting to the Director/Curator, the Associate Director provides organizational leadership in the areas of fundraising and development, administration, marketing and communications, project coordination, and facilities management.

The Associate Director plays a central role in supporting the strategic and day-to-day operations of the gallery, ensuring organizational stability, effective internal systems, and the successful delivery of exhibitions, public programs, publications, and special projects. The position contributes to fostering a collaborative and responsive organizational culture grounded in accessibility, care, accountability, and equity-informed cultural practices.

The Associate Director oversees administrative operations including financial tracking, expense reporting, policy implementation, record management, and operational systems. They lead communications strategies across print, digital, and social media platforms to ensure strong public engagement and visibility for the gallery’s activities and initiatives.

In collaboration with the Director/Curator, the Associate Director coordinates exhibition production timelines, artist logistics, installation planning, public events, and institutional partnerships. The role also includes stewardship of gallery facilities, ensuring spaces remain safe, functional, welcoming, and responsive to the needs of artists, audiences, and staff.

The Associate Director may supervise interns, volunteers, contractors, and temporary support staff. This role requires exceptional organizational and interpersonal skills, the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously, and a demonstrated commitment to contemporary art, artist-run culture, and community engagement.

For more details about the position, download the full job posting (PDF).

How to Apply

Please email your cover letter and CV to hiring@artspeak.ca. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Please see www.artspeak.ca for more information.

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