Associate Curator, Contemporary Art

Regular Full-Time (35 hours per week) ART + AUDIENCE + LEARNING

Located in Toronto, the Art Gallery of Ontario is one of the largest art museums in North America, attracting approximately one million visitors annually. The AGO Collection of more than 120,000 works of art ranges from cutting-edge contemporary art to significant works by Indigenous and Canadian artists and European masterpieces.

We are currently seeking an Associate Curator, Contemporary Art to join our Curatorial team. In collaboration with the Carol and Morton Rapp Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art (Rapp Curator) , the incumbent will plan, build, and present the permanent collection of art after 2000; create, organize and execute major exhibitions, often in partnership with peer museums; produce a special exhibition approximately every three years that has broad public appeal and engages the AGO’s diverse audiences; and interpret works of art. They will identify and research significant tendencies, issues and opportunities in the visual arts and foster public understanding of art as a vital social and cultural force. They will work in collaboration with colleagues, internally and externally, to create and realize projects that support the AGO’s mission of presenting great art, facilitating learning, and engaging with audiences; participate in the on-going operations of the department, and contribute to the achievement of the AGO’s strategic goals as a leading presenter of contemporary art.

The salary range for this position is $89,180 - $111,456 per annum.

What is this position responsible for?

• In consultation with the Rapp Curator, plans and oversees collection installations and rotations. Liaises with other departments across the Gallery; manages communications with lenders and external stakeholders; works with research assistants and/or interns. Ensures proper care, handling and display for works of art in the permanent collection.
• Creates, organizes and executes exhibitions and publications on contemporary art and serves as curator for exhibitions hosted by the AGO. Collaborates with research assistants and appropriate internal departments throughout the exhibition planning and production process and participates on project teams and other pan-Gallery content planning and delivery forums. Coordinates hosted exhibitions; consults with originating curator, participates in production meetings, oversees installation.
• In consultation with the Rapp Curator, identifies and acquires works of art to build the permanent collection, negotiates price, conducts research and prepares reports for presentation to the Contemporary Art Curatorial Committee. Prepares documentation for the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board (CCPERB).
• Collaborates with the Rapp Curator and the Contemporary Curatorial Committee Chairperson to plan, facilitate and execute effective committee meetings. Engages committee members in understanding the artistic and cultural significance of acquisitions and exhibitions as well as their roles as supporters of the Gallery’s artistic mission. Provides expert advice both internally to Committees and externally to art collectors and the general public, as needed.
• Conducts research and publishes original work and catalogues on the permanent collection, specific themes, artists or areas of interest.
• Responds to loan requests from other institutions and assesses suitability of works of art for travel, determines insurance values and relevance of exhibition in conjunction with review of facilities of exhibiting institution.
• Promotes the AGO to local and international art communities and among the general public; interacts with scholars, collectors and critics. Leads AGO International Art Circle group on a domestic or international trip on average every 12-18 months and participates in AGO’s donor programs as a guest speaker. Builds and encourages positive relationships with the collector and donor community, art dealers and auction houses.
• Works with Rapp Curator to develop and administer allocated departmental budget.
• Manages work performance of department staff through hiring, training, scheduling, assigning projects, and monitoring work completion. Manages their work and that of their direct reports in accordance with department systems and procedures, applicable collective agreements, and AGO’s policies and procedures on security, administration, human resources, and department manager/supervisor responsibilities for workplace health and safety. Upholds the AGO’s values of respect, openness, collaboration, and accountability.
• Performs other duties and projects as assigned.

What are we looking for?

• Graduate level education and extensive knowledge of contemporary art, with a demonstrated specialization and familiarity with key currents in the field. Minimum MA in Art History or similar discipline.
• Knowledge of the AGO’s core collections desirable (e.g. European, Indigenous and Canadian, Modern, Contemporary, Photography, Prints and Drawings, and Global African & the Diaspora).
• Minimum of 5 years of experience of successful organization of major exhibitions and collection development including knowledge of the installation process for works of art.
• Minimum of 5 years of direct experience researching collaboratively and cross-departmentally within a comparable museum (AGO) setting from a curatorial perspective.
• Well-developed organizational, interpersonal and public relations skills.
• Demonstrated writing and research skills, including professional scholarly publication history.
• Demonstrated experience in speaking and writing about art to specialized audiences as well as across diverse audiences.
• Considerable facility with persuasion and negotiation.
• Minimum of 2 years of direct experience with curatorial administrative management.
• Demonstrated short- and long-term planning ability.
• Demonstrated commitment to teamwork to collaboratively and effectively communicate and utilize available resources; experience working successfully with team members.
• Demonstrated judgement in dealing with a variety of stakeholder groups.
• Effective comprehension and application of confidentiality and diplomacy.
• Demonstrated experience working with a variety of computer software packages, including collections management software such as The Museum System (TMS).
• Superior expertise in English proficiency. Knowledge of French and/or other languages an asset.

What are the benefits of working at the AGO?

• Discounts to GoodLife Fitness.
• Free tickets to every major exhibit at AGO.
• Discounts to major attractions as a part of the Provincial/City Reciprocal Programs.
• Free admission to the AGO for friends and family, discounts at the gift shop, bistro, and Learning Centre.

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility

At the AGO, we lead global conversations from Toronto through extraordinary collections, exhibitions, and programs, reflecting the diverse community we serve. Committed to fostering inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility, we embed these values into our strategic plan and ongoing priorities.

The Art Gallery of Ontario is an Equal Opportunity Employer.