Our Main Building and galleries will not be open to the public for Nuit Blanche. Access to “Hopes and Fears Assembly” will be on the northwest side of the Main Building.

Curator of Programs and Outreach

The Power Plant
Application Deadline: July 13, 2023

The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery at Harbourfront Centre is Canada’s leading public gallery devoted exclusively to the art of our time and is recognized as an important centre for contemporary art in North America. Since 1987, The Power Plant’s mission has been to create an open culture and community for people to be face-to-face with thought-provoking contemporary art and ideas. We have a culturally diverse workforce and audience whose lives and communities we seek to enrich through encouraging exploration of self and society. More than a gallery, The Power Plant is a community hub that caters to adults, youth, and children through broad and unique programming. To learn more about us, please visit thepowerplant.org.

We are looking to bring on board an experienced, collaborative, on-the-pulse and creative Curator of Programs and Outreach to develop programs, projects and engagement opportunities that reflect and advance The Power Plant mandate and to engage the gallery’s diverse audiences and communities.

 

Position Title: Curator of Programs and Outreach

Reporting to: Head of Curatorial Affairs

Direct reports: TD Curator of Education Fellow and Power Kids Coordinator

Type of Employment: Full-time, 35 hours per week

Compensation: $60,000 to $65,000 per annum, plus a comprehensive benefits package

Location: Toronto

 

Summary of Function

The Curator of Programs and Outreach performs a broad range of duties and has numerous responsibilities with a primary focus on developing gallery programs, projects and engagement opportunities including talks tours and performances for children and adults. Additionally, this role is responsible for leading, training, managing and evaluating Public Programs staff at the gallery and off-site/outreach locations. As importantly, the incumbent contributes to the development (fundraising), marketing, evaluation and financial administration of public programs and select special events.

 

Duties

  • Implement programs that support engagement with the gallery’s exhibitions and other projects.
  • Collaborate with the Curatorial team and additional stakeholders to develop education and public programs and performance-based events each season (summer, fall and winter).
  • Lead the Public Programs and Outreach team and contractors in research, conceptualization, planning, execution and documentation of education and public programs that contextualize exhibitions.
  • Oversee and work with the TD Curator of Education Fellow to develop and implement programmatic calendar of events, including general coordination/logistics, budget preparation, identifying staff/volunteer needs and providing oversight at select programs.
  • Establish, maintain and promotes partnerships with peer institutions, community-based organizations and others through networking, regular communications and developing co-presented/co-produced programs that support and enhance the gallery’s  mission. ·
  • Contribute to the planning, implementation and  evaluation of public programs and audience cultivation activities in collaboration with the Marketing, Communications & Visitor Experience department and with outside contractors.
  • Advise on and contribute to the development of content and editing of training manuals, program guides, education/interpretative materials and other publishing initiatives, as agreed upon with the Curatorial team.
  • Prepare and justify annual budget requests for Public Program activities, and track expenditures.
  • Work with the Communications,  Marketing & Visitor Experience department to create and implement a marketing plan to ensure proper promotion for education and public programs, both on- and off-site. ·
  • Work with the Development department to produce program-specific requests for funding and evaluative/summative reports, identifying  possible funding sources for education and public programs.
  • Provide educational tours of exhibitions and talks to a variety of audiences and deliver high-quality guest experiences as needed.
  • Contribute to grant applications to government agencies, foundations and private funding sources in conjunction with the gallery Director, the Head of Curatorial Affairs, the Development team,  and other colleagues.
  • Contribute to reports for Board members and other stakeholders.
  • Contribute towards the development of positive relationships with artists, collectors, critics, scholars, art professionals, granting agencies, foundations, sponsors, partners, donors and stakeholders to ensure support for The Power Plant mission.
  • Maintain statistical information, general budgetary, quarterly and annual report documents, and handle other administrative accounting as needed.
  • Assist with projects and other duties as assigned.

Requirements

  • Job knowledge and skills commensurate with a postsecondary degree (minimum BA, MA preferred) in Art History, Fine Art, Cultural Studies, Art Education or a related discipline.
  • Minimum five (5) years of experience in a public art gallery/museum setting organizing contemporary art education and public programs, including performance-based events.
  • Proven experience in delivering programs to a general audience including excellent public speaking skills.
  • Strong knowledge of national and international contexts for contemporary art and extensive knowledge of pedagogical approaches to engagement / interpretation of contemporary art for a broad range of audiences.
  • Excellent project management, organizational, time management, and multi-tasking skills.
  • Ability to take initiative within the context of institutional parameters.
  • Experience interviewing, hiring, training, managing and evaluating staff and contractors and leading a team in a similar work environment.
  • An understanding of, and commitment to, the institution’s mission.
  • Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills with the ability to build positive relationship with staff, audience and stakeholders.
  • Knowledge and ability to create age appropriate learning experiences, develop curriculum-based education materials and cultivate and maintain meaningful relationships with area schools.
  • Excellent communication skills (verbal, auditory, written).
  • Experience with PC work environments with Microsoft software and with accounting methods and office systems/procedures.
  • Creativity, imagination and problem-solving skills.
  • A strong network of professional contacts locally, nationally and internationally is desirable.
  • Knowledge of French and/or other languages is a definite asset.
  • Must be legally eligible to work in Canada. Non-Canadian applicants must have a valid employment Visa and proper documentation authorizing their ability to work in Canada.
  • Proof of COVID-19 vaccination with a vaccine series approved by Health Canada or the World Health Organization is required and will form a condition of employment.
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Our Values

Open
We’re friendly, welcoming and inclusive, with an experimental attitude that thrives on collaboration.

Brave
To achieve our bold ambition we empower and support imaginative risk and we always try to learn from our mistakes.

Rigorous
We are committed to excellence in all we do, ensuring every visitor encounter is safe, memorable and enriching.

Kind
We value and respect each other and all our visitors, celebrating difference and striving to realise potential.

How To Apply

The Power Plant is committed to diversity and inclusiveness. We encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply.

Acceptable applications must include a current resume and a cover letter addressed to Adelina Vlas, Head of Curatorial Affairs of The Power Plant, indicating why you wish to join the team and how you would meet the essential criteria of the role.

To apply, please submit your application to jobs@harbourfrontcentre.com by no later than July 13, 2023. Please quote TPP Curator of Programs & Outreach in the subject line of your application.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those being considered for an interview will be contacted. Suitable accommodations will be available upon request during the hiring process.