Curatorial Fellowship at Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG)-Qaumajuq

The Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG)-Qaumajuq has announced a new curatorial fellowship position.

The Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq, Winnipeg, Canada

The TD Curatorial Fellowship will provide an opportunity for an emerging racialized curator to cultivate personal curatorial methodologies, collaborate on exhibition development, collections research, programming, and community relationship-building. Through a reciprocal mentorship model, the fellow will engage and collaborate with artists, WAG-Qaumajuq staff, and fellow art workers, as well as connect with local, national, and international communities. The TD Fellow will realize a substantial curatorial project within the framework of WAG-Qaumajuq.

Time will be divided between assigned projects and general curatorial work within the Collections & Exhibitions, Indigenous Ways & Learning, and Education & Public Programs departments including research on the collection and new acquisitions, work on the interpretation and engagement of the collection, participation in aspects of exhibition production, publishing projects, and opportunities to lead public programming in collaboration with local organizations.

The fellowship will provide curatorial training and support research related to the WAG-Qaumajuq Collection.

Major Projects Could Include

• Production of an exhibition and accompanying catalogue based on a well-researched theme, idea, or issue of relevance according to the Fellow’s interest featuring artists and artworks of the Fellow’s choice.

• Research, write, and present a series of talks, panels, or community-driven events based on a topic of the Fellow’s choice.

• Advise and contribute to the drafting of equitable policies and procedures related to collections and exhibitions.

• Develop a major collections-based initiative (such as the Artwork Renaming Initiative), focused on diversity.

Our Story

The WAG has grown into one of the country’s leading visual art museums with the addition of Qaumajuq, home to the largest public collection of contemporary Inuit art in the world. WAG – Qaumajuq is home to an impressive collection of over 27,000 artworks spanning centuries and media. Our exhibitions feature an array of art and content and are supported by a wide range of programs, events, and partnerships aimed at creating a place for us to meet and share. WAG – Qaumajuq welcomes everyone to enjoy our spaces as a centre for learning and discovery, and to connect with each other through art.

The Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq acknowledges the critical importance of promoting equity and institutional accountability. In 2021-22, the Gallery voluntarily underwent a third-party equity assessment with the aim of using its findings to foster anti-oppression in our programs and policies. WAG-Qaumajuq’s Strategic Plan for 2023-2028 is grounded on the pillars of Equity, Care, Trust and Responsibility and as a leader in the sector, we recognize it’s one of our commitments to train and mentor the next generation of arts professionals – particularly the next generation of Indigenous and racialized arts professionals.

Benefits

• 100% employer-paid extended healthcare including dental

• Three weeks paid vacation

• After working an extra ½ hour per day from September to May, Monday’s are off from June to August

• Having a positive impact within the community

• Workplace wellness initiatives

• Active and enthusiastic ERGs and institutional committees such as an Anti-Racism Committee, Indigenous and Racialized Employee Resource Group, and Social Committee

• Mandatory all-staff equity training on a quarterly basis

• A unionized environment

• WAG Shop staff discount

Key Responsibilities

• Developing and administering a major project

• Assisting in the development and production of exhibitions

• Assisting in the physical care and exhibition of the collections

• Communicating the cultural and aesthetic value of the art collection

• Providing informed access to the art collection

• Researching, writing, and editing didactics and essays for exhibitions and publications

• Contributing to the drafting of policies related to the collections and exhibitions

• Proposing, promoting, and organizing travelling exhibitions

• Establishing and maintaining contact with artists, peers, dealers, collectors, and government agencies

• Assisting in advising student interns and volunteers

• Incorporating principles of equity into research, production, and administration of duties

Requirements

• University degree in Art History and experience in an art museum or gallery, or a combination of equivalent education and experience

• Knowledge of artmaking from a particular racialized community

• Lived experience as a racialized person

• Ability to share complex information, ideas, and instructions clearly, effectively, and professionally to diverse audiences

• Proven experience engaging with diverse communities

• Superior ability in written and oral expression in English

Assets

• Working knowledge of a second language

• Experience in project management

• Ability to exercise sound judgement, and to work independently in cooperation with staff, volunteers, and public

Don’t meet every requirement? Studies have shown that women and/or persons who have been racialized are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At WAG-Qaumajuq, we are committed to building an inclusive and equitable workplace. If you are excited about this role, but your qualifications do not perfectly align with the job description, and /or you have experiential knowledge which would be an asset, we encourage you to apply and outline the applicable information in your cover letter. You may just be the perfect candidate for this role or another within our organization.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications will be accepted until midnight, April 1st 2024*. Please send your resume with a cover letter as a single .pdf to Goretti Xavier gxavier@wag.ca with the position title in the subject line.

We welcome applications from qualified individuals who identify as raciliazed in order to represent the diversity of the community in which we live. As such, WAG-Qaumajuq is working towards the enlargement of the pool of qualified candidates by reaching out to and/or securing partnerships with diverse communities to encourage applications from a broader and more diverse range of persons. While we welcome applications from all people interested, during this hiring process, where a group of finalists are deemed similarly qualified, the Gallery will give preference to candidates that identify as Black, or to other racialized candidates.

In accordance with the Accessibility for Manitobans Act, and the 2023-2028 Strategic Plan, the WAG-Qaumajuq is also committed to removing barriers to make our processes more accessible and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.  We will work with candidates requesting accommodation at any stage of the hiring process. Here are some examples of accommodations:

• Providing institutional public documents, such as this job posting, in large print, electronic or other formats for candidates with visual impairments.

• Providing sign language interpreters for candidates who are deaf.

• Conducting the interview in a more accessible room, for candidates with reduced mobility, or in a remote format, for candidates from other provinces.

*The hiring committee will begin reviewing qualified applications on April 1st 2024. If deemed necessary, Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq reserves the right to extend the application closing date in order to achieve a larger pool of qualified candidates.