Art Gallery jobs in Canada

Direct message the job poster from Ottawa Art Gallery | Galerie d\'art d\'Ottawa

Application Deadline: October 17, 2025

Start Date: Negotiable

Full-time, Permanent Position

The Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG) is seeking an enthusiastic, community-minded Assistant Curator to join our curatorial team. This is a unique opportunity for an early- to mid-career arts professional who is excited about working collaboratively, engaging deeply with artists and communities, and supporting exhibitions and projects that are meaningful, inclusive, and responsive.

We are looking for someone who is outgoing, curious, and passionate about the role of art in public life—someone who values conversation, consultation, and co-creation. At OAG, we welcome a range of experiences and pathways into curatorial work. Whether you bring formal academic training or lived and community-based knowledge, we encourage you to apply.

About the Position

Reporting to the Chief Curator, the Assistant Curator plays a key role in developing and supporting the delivery of the Gallery’s exhibitions and related programs. Working alongside the curatorial team, you will assist in research, development, community engagement, planning, and coordination of exhibitions, acquisitions, and publications, related to both contemporary and historical art and extending the reach of the Gallery through outreach activities, networking, and partnership-building.

This position is ideal for someone who enjoys working in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment, and who is committed to practices that are dialogic, relational, and inclusive. You will work directly with artists, curators, and community partners to shape meaningful, multi-vocal programming that creates safe spaces of consultation, and opportunities to address gaps in representation, for those who identify as Indigenous Peoples, Black, people of colour, Francophone, D/deaf and disability artists, women and 2SLGBTQQIA+. You’ll also contribute to the broader institutional vision of OAG—helping to amplify underrepresented voices, explore new curatorial models, and create spaces of belonging through art.

You will collaborate closely with the broader staff team on public and educational programs, and with external partners and artists on projects and initiatives. You will report to the Chief Curator, and work alongside the Curator and Curatorial Coordinator, and in partnership with the Collections and Building Manager and Preparators.

This role requires strong communication skills, budget consciousness, and a grounded understanding of how to balance a local arts focus within a broader national and international context.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the research, planning, and coordination of exhibitions from initial concept through to final installation and publication.
• Participate in artist and community consultations and co-curation initiatives.
• Assist with writing exhibition texts, didactics, and other interpretive materials.
• Support the acquisitions process through research, documentation, and preparation of materials.
• Collaborate with artists and partner organizations on the development of programming.
• Coordinate aspects of exhibition production, including liaising with preparators and Collections staff.
• Contribute to grant writing, reporting, and related curatorial communications.
• Participate in the development and delivery of public and educational programs in collaboration with other departments.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with artists, cultural workers, community groups, and audiences.

Qualifications and Competencies

• Experience supporting or leading curatorial projects in museums, galleries, or community-based art spaces, or equivalent related experience.
• Experience in community or traditional educational settings in line with this role, and/or BA, MA or PhD in Art History, Contemporary Art Theory, or a related field;
• Demonstrated ability to engage thoughtfully and respectfully with diverse communities, including Indigenous, Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQQIA+, Francophone, and disability communities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a collaborative, people-centered approach.
• Excellent project management skills.
• Strong writing and research skills.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented; able to manage multiple projects and timelines.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, team-based environment.
• Familiarity with contemporary and historical art in Canada, especially within regional or community contexts.
• Proficiency with basic administrative and office software (Microsoft Office, etc.).
• Asset but not required: bilingualism (English/French) and/or fluency in other languages.

Equity and Accessibility

OAG is committed to equity, accessibility, and diversity within our workplace. We strongly encourage applications from equity-deserving groups including—but not limited to—Indigenous, Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQQIA+, and disabled individuals. Accommodations are available throughout the hiring process. Please contact Zoë MacNeil (zmacneil@oaggao.ca) if you require assistance.

About the Ottawa Art Gallery

Our Impact

OAG tells the story of our community’s evolution through art and helps to create a positive vision for our city’s future. As a cultural anchor in the downtown core, we are a sustainable and innovative institution that promotes equity, anti-racism and accessibility through art. We are a positive economic contributor to the City of Ottawa and hold a world-class collection of art for the people of the region.

Our Vision

We believe that regional artists offer us a unique vision of our society, and although grounded within a specific geography, play an essential role in addressing and helping us to understand the complex, global challenges of our time. Our exhibitions present regional art within a national and international context, and our programs reach patrons and participants from toddlers to seniors. OAG also “holds space” for communities and we strongly believe in interdisciplinary collaborations and partnership.

Location

Candidates must live in, or be willing to relocate to, the Ottawa-Gatineau region for this position.

How to Apply

Please submit the following in a single PDF tojobs@oaggao.ca, attention Rebecca Basciano, Chief Curator, by October 17, 2025

• Cover letter (max. 2 pages) outlining your interest in the position and curatorial vision
• Names and contact information for two professional references

Use “Assistant Curator Application – Your Name” in the subject line.

We thank all applicants for their interest. For more information, please contact Zoë MacNeil, Chief of People and Operations at zmacneil@oaggao.ca. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Location

Questions about relocation should consider the Ottawa-Gatineau region.

Note: This description reflects information current at the time of posting and is subject to change.