Visual Arts Centre of Clarington
Permanent Part-Time
25 – 30 hrs per week
$18.50/hr
Application deadline: Friday, May 17

The Visual Arts Centre of Clarington (VAC) is seeking a self-motivated and energetic professional responsible for overseeing the gallery’s education and public programs. Reporting to the Curator of Exhibitions and Education, the Education Coordinator will play a critical role in managing the VAC’s weekly classes, school programs, and pottery open studio program. Working in a creative and vibrant setting, the candidate will be managing programs that are offered to people of all ages and interests and will work towards creating engaging sustainable programs that align with the VAC’s mission and mandate. Duties include planning, coordinating, and managing various public programs, including workshops, classes, and gallery tours. The Education Coordinator will also be responsible for managing studio materials and related budgets, coordinating program schedules, working with programming staff to research and develop exhibition-related educational programs, training volunteer docents, animating the gallery during public hours, and leading gallery tours.

The Visual Arts Centre of Clarington (VAC) is a not for profit public art gallery and art education centre located in Bowmanville, ON. The VAC is dedicated to the delivery of contemporary art to the Clarington Community, the wider Durham Region, and beyond. It has a 43-year history of community engagement, and connecting people of all ages and backgrounds in a creative place for learning and discovery. The Centre occupies a four-story 1905 Mill, which holds exhibitions spaces and studio spaces including a pottery studio equipped with kilns, as well as a painting studio, and a loft gallery. Educational and public engagement programs are offered to kids, youth, and adults, while exhibitions of contemporary art show the works of Canadian regional and national artists in various stages of their careers. The VAC is a safe space where ideas are exchanged, questions are asked, and connections are made.

Description of tasks:

• Managing, planning and coordinating all classes, school bookings, pottery programs and other public programs. This includes being the point of contact for registrations and inquiries, scheduling classes and studio sessions, managing logistics, and working with programming instructors.
• Working with the Curator of Exhibitions and Education to develop ways of growing VAC’s educational and public programs.
• Working with the Curator of Exhibitions and Education to develop seasonal public program sessions and education programs related to the VAC’s exhibitions.
• Working with the Curator of Exhibitions and Education to program ancillary exhibitions
• Managing materials. This includes managing a materials budget and tracking inventory and orders, and developing efficient uses of the gallery’s use of materials for programming.
• Managing an education budget.
• Training volunteer gallery attendants on exhibition content and ways to engage the public.
• Researching and developing reading material and educational programs for the VAC’s exhibition programs.
• Leading formal and informal tours.
• Working with main office staff members to animate and supervise the gallery during public hours. This includes welcoming visitors and providing general information concerning the VAC’s programming and history.
• Evaluating programs to provide feedback on improvement for future program development.

Skills & Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in the fields of arts management, visual studies, or education
• Knowledge of current education field and practices.
• Experience developing arts education programs to support learning related to contemporary art exhibitions.
• Knowledge of Ontario curriculum and familiarity with the school system.
• Public speaking skills and experience in leading gallery-based education programs for a wide range of age groups and diverse audiences
• Background in program management and logistics
• Excellent organizational skills
• Excellent interpersonal communication and customer skills
• Excellent oral and written skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic and changing environment
• Ability to work a varied schedule with the expectation to work some evenings and weekends
• Understanding in communicating and engaging with culturally diverse communities
• Administrative experience and comfort in Google suite
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with colleagues as a collaborative team player
• A creative and innovative thinker, resourceful in developing and executing exciting and inspired ideas and concepts

Suitable candidates can submit their resumes to:
The Visual Arts Centre of Clarington,
PO Box 52 143 Simpson Avenue
Bowmanville, ON L1C 3K8
905-623-5831

or to:
Sandy Saad, Curator of Exhibitions and Education: curator@vac.ca

The Visual Arts Centre of Clarington is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to employment equity and building strength through diversity. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and encourage women, visible minorities, and Indigenous peoples to apply. Acknowledging that we are not a fully accessible building, we attempt to be as inclusive as we can in our hiring process.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Email: curator@vac.ca Phone: (905)-623-5831 ext. 3
Visit: www.vac.ca Follow us: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.