Job Opportunity: Gallery Coordinator @ Art Gallery of Guelph

Deadline: Monday, June 21, 2021, 11:59 pm EST

Under the general direction of the Executive Director and managing the installation team, the Gallery Coordinator provides leadership in all aspects of collections management and art handling operations, overseeing and managing the Art Gallery of Guelph’s active exhibition installation schedule, 10,000-work collection, the AGG’s environmental and storage conditions, as well as supporting offsite initiatives. The Gallery Coordinator plays a key role in advancing the vision of the Art Gallery of Guelph, supporting the gallery’s impact through the excellence, relevance, and accessibility of exhibitions and as a steward of our collections.

Key Responsibilities include:

Collections

• manages and maintains art inventory of the Art Gallery of Guelph and University of Guelph collections
• uses TMS collection management system to ensure up-to-date records on location, movement, and condition of artworks
• assesses the needs of art storage areas for a constantly growing art collection and augments existing areas and units as necessary
• works closely with Director to identify building infrastructure needs and supports fundraising initiatives
• routinely checks collection, storage vaults, and outdoor sculptures, undertaking preventative conservation
• is responsible for overseeing and undertaking movement of artwork that is on site as well as on campus and in other offsite locations

Exhibitions

• oversees and coordinates preparation of gallery spaces for exhibitions including painting, building, designing, assembling, and constructing for exhibitions in consultation with curators and artists; installing exhibition signage, and overseeing exhibition lighting
• prepares artworks and galleries for exhibitions; installs artworks for AGG exhibitions, as well in University buildings, and other locations
• trains, supervises, and educates part time staff and students assisting in art installation following policies and procedures for the conservation and safe handling of art
• ensures best practices in moving, handling, and packing a wide range of art (from fragile to oversized and/or heavy weight); coordinates outdoor sculpture installations

Building Management

• oversees environmental monitoring systems to ensure environmental standards are met
• monitors operation of all heating, cooling, and humidification systems, as well as water treatment systems; works with service contractors
• identifies needs for electrical, plumbing, grounds work, security alarm system, general building repair and maintenance: doors, windows; locks, building painting, and related services
• is responsible for safety and security of gallery and grounds; educates staff, part time employees, and attendants on alarm/building systems and general safety and security
• liaises with University services as required (i.e. campus police, grounds, physical resources, and teaching support services)

Related Duties

• works evenings or weekends as necessary
• is essential staff for gallery when necessary, as well as first contact for University police
• minor upkeep and repairs

Requirements of the position include:

• Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Art or Visual Arts or Art History plus three (3) years of art gallery experience specifically related to exhibition installation and collections management, or an equivalent combination of education and experience in the museum field
• Demonstrated ability to install high quality exhibitions, effectively managing materials, personnel, and time
• High level of knowledge of contemporary and historical Canadian art, as well as international art
• Familiarity with technology, particularly devices commonly associated with art installation (displays/monitors, projection, Bluetooth headsets, tablets, etc.)
• Knowledge of: (1) Collections management standards of practice; (2) Preventative conservation principles for the preservation of art collections; (3) International standards for art handling, shipping, cataloguing, and inventory; and (4) Preparatory skills including carpentry, mount-making and crate-building, machinery operations and maintenance, etc.
• Supervisory experience, as well as experience working with a range of arts professionals, artists, volunteers, and donors
• Demonstrated ability to build and facilitate relationships with national, regional, and community vendors and suppliers
• Excellent verbal/written communication skills; ability to organize/prioritize work effectively
• High degree of professionalism, tact, and diplomacy
• High proficiency with specialized collection databases and collection management software
• High level of digital literacy is considered an asset, including proficiency in digital imaging and design (Adobe Creative Suite including Photoshop, Acrobat, Illustrator, InDesign, etc.), mobile and in-gallery digital interfaces, and general problem-solving abilities with regards to technology

Appointment Type: Permanent
Schedule: Full-Time
Employee Group: Professional/Managerial
Position Number: 098-006
Classification: P02*; Professional/Managerial Salary Bands
*Tentative evaluation; subject to committee review.

About the Art Gallery of Guelph

The Art Gallery of Guelph (AGG) contributes to regional and national cultural landscapes as well as the Guelph community, engaging our sponsors – the University of Guelph, the City of Guelph, and the Upper Grand District School Board – as well as a broad and diverse public, through an ambitious and dynamic mandate. With a collection of 10,000 works, historical to contemporary, the AGG’s accessible and inclusive programming supports visual artists locally, nationally, and internationally, facilitating dialogue, collaboration, and participation in ways that foster and proliferate the exchange of art and ideas.

The gallery resides on the ancestral lands of the Attawandaron people and the treaty lands and territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit and we offer our respect to our Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and Métis neighbours as we strive to strengthen our relationships with them.

TO APPLY:

Applications must be submitted through the University of Guelph Human Resources website

Deadline for application: Monday, June 21, 2021, 11:59 pm EST

At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion is an institutional imperative. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment.

The University of Guelph is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment, and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities. If you require a medical accommodation during the recruitment and hiring process, please contact Occupational Health and Wellness at 519-824-4120 x52647. Please note that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

mages: The Drive, 2019, installation view (Kelly Richardson, Leviathan, 2011, HD video installation; Frank Shebageget, The Housing, 2010, cedar and millboard). Photo: Dean Palmer; Carolina Caycedo: A Landscape Is Never Natural, 2020, installation view. Photo: Martin Schwabe.