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Indigenous Engagement Coordinator, Nanaimo Art Gallery
This position is part of Nanaimo Art Gallery’s long term commitment to honouring Indigenous communities and paying respect...

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This position is part of Nanaimo Art Gallery’s long term commitment to honouring Indigenous communities and paying respect to the Snuneymuxw territory on which the Gallery sits. In addition to working with Indigenous artists on exhibitions, providing teaching opportunities, and prioritizing Indigenous artists in our permanent collection acquisitions, we work with community groups, Knowledge Holders, Language Champions and Elders to develop programs that stimulate discussion and encourage learning. One important part of this long term commitment is hiring a full time, permanent Indigenous Engagement Coordinator to join the Gallery and work alongside our passionate team as we realize our goals.

Indigenous Engagement Coordinator

Salary: $25/hr

Hours: Permanent, full time. Flexible work schedule, up to 30 hours/week, with the fully supported ability to negotiate your working contract to suit the needs of your body and lifestyle and to accommodate how full-time looks for you. Hours could include a mix of in-house time spent at the Gallery, time spent in the community and time spent working from home.

Closing Date: February 18, 2021

Anticipated Start Date: We would like to enable the successful candidate to start as early as March 15, 2021.

The Opportunity

Nanaimo Art Gallery is looking to add a new member to our team! The Indigenous Engagement Coordinator shares our values of innovation, collaboration and accessibility and incorporates and supports Indigenous perspectives for inclusive, respectful and effective engagement. With our goal of strengthening community connections in mind, the Indigenous Engagement Coordinator will be encouraged to shape the position, drawing on their interests and experiences.

About Art Gallery of Nanaimo

Located in the heart of Nanaimo, on the lands of the Snuneymuxw, Nanaimo Art Gallery is an ambitious public art museum that inspires and engages its communities through art.

Over the past several years, the Gallery has moved through a phase of significant transformation to reposition itself in the communities we serve and to enhance our capacity. We have re-imagined and enriched our integrated exhibition and education programs, created new partnerships, and strengthened our relationships with artists and audiences. We are a trusted organization with a growing reputation.

Unique in our region, we are creating new understandings of the potential of contemporary art. An inquiry-based approach infuses and connects all Gallery activities and a small, dedicated team of staff, board and volunteers offers a program that is rooted in our unique regional context and resonates with audiences, globally.

The Position

Profile of the Candidate

You are a thoughtful, passionate and dedicated individual who is excited to share your cultural and personal perspectives and ideas to help us connect with community and create a more inclusive Nanaimo Art Gallery. On a daily basis you will work closely with your colleagues as a key member of a supportive team in which all voices are heard. You will support ongoing cultural sensitivity training and encouraging new ways of working at the Gallery.

Drawing on your experiences, you will work with our team to encourage sharing and learning from diverse voices including Indigenous artists and communities, through our exhibitions, programming and community outreach.

Responsibilities

The successful applicant will be supported as they make this position their own by bringing their unique ideas, passions and experiences to the role. With support from the Gallery team, responsibilities will include, but may not be limited to:

  • Stewarding existing relationships and cultivating new relationships and partnerships, encouraging collaborations throughout the community that include the host nation, Elders, language champions and knowledge keepers
  • Engaging in partnerships with Indigenous stakeholders to inform our policies, exhibitions and programs
  • Developing and implementing outreach strategies and activities with Indigenous groups and other diverse community groups/members
  • Developing and assisting with funding applications to support new initiatives related to Indigenous engagement
  • Support the organization as we continue to address issues of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion throughout the organization
  • Supporting program and exhibition development, especially Indigenous artists and content
  • Supporting ongoing internal and external cultural sensitivity training
  • Supporting work to acknowledge territory in new ways and meaningful ways and continue our work supporting hul’q’umi’num learning
  • Centralizes the protocols and procedures relating to Indigenous communities and diversity
  • Staying attuned to evolving practices within the arts and culture sector

Requirements (Qualifications, Knowledge, Education and Skills)

  • First hand knowledge of the protocols and procedures to develop relationships with Indigenous Elders, leaders and knowledge keepers
  • Skilled at building and maintaining relationships and partnerships with Indigenous artists, community groups, organizations and stakeholders
  • Passion for art and culture
  • Proactive and self-motivated
  • Ability to facilitate matters of cultural protocol and cultural safety
  • Can demonstrate a strong understanding of the local context
  • Desire to contribute to and collaborate with a creative team
  • Confident and clear communicator with strong written and oral communication skills
  • Ability to think critically, employ sound judgment, evaluate situations and engage appropriate parties at varying levels to arrive at solutions
  • Ability to successfully organize, prioritize and complete multiple planned and unplanned projects
  • Proficiency in common communication tools (MS Office, Google Suite, Zoom, etc)
  • University degree in a related field or a combination of education and experience will be considered
  • 2-5 years lived or worked experience

To Apply

Please submit a letter of interest, detailed resume and 3 references by email to carolynh@nanaimogallery.ca with the subject heading “Indigenous Engagement Coordinator Search”

Closing date for applications is February 18, 2021. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Nanaimo Art Gallery hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community.

Preference will be given to an Indigenous applicants, with priority given to members of the Snuneymuxw community.

The Gallery encourages applications from women, visible minority group members, persons with disabilities, persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, and others with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities.