Associate Curator, Modern Art

Regular Full Time Permanent (35 hours per week)
Toronto, ON
ART + AUDIENCE + LEARNING

Posted on May 10, 2023

The Art Gallery of Ontario (“the AGO”) is one of the largest art museums in North America, with a collection of close to 100,000 works. Through the collection as well as collaborations with leading museums around the world, the AGO presents wide-ranging exhibitions and programs to approximately 1 million visitors annually.

The Associate Curator, Modern Art will have an important leadership role in the AGO’s recently announced expansion project, the Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery. This addition will expand the AGO’s gallery space by 40,000 square feet, with at least 13 new galleries across five floors, increasing the total space available to display our growing collection of modern and contemporary art by 30 percent. The new galleries will be highly functional and very flexible; dynamic enough to display the works of today’s great modern and contemporary artists, and adaptable to the needs of future generations of artists working across all media. We are seeking an experienced, inspired, visionary and collaborative professional who is excited to take on this role and is fully committed to making great modern and contemporary art accessible to the public.

In collaboration with the Deputy Director & Chief Curator, the successful candidate will plan, build and present the permanent collection of modern art; creating, organizing and executing major exhibitions, often in partnership with peer museums. He/She/They will produce a special exhibition approximately every three years that has broad public appeal and engages AGO’s diverse audiences. The incumbent identifies and researches significant tendencies, issues and opportunities in the visual arts and fosters public understanding of art as a vital social and cultural force. Working in collaboration with colleagues, internally and externally, to create and realize projects that support AGO values of art, access, and learning. He/She/They contributes to the achievement of the AGO’s strategic goals as a leading presenter of modern art.

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications, skills, and experience:

• Graduate level education and extensive knowledge of art history with an in-depth knowledge of modern art (i.e. European and American art from 1900 to the 1960s) and familiarity with global modernism. Minimum MA in Art History or similar subject matter.
• 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.
• Demonstrated experience in speaking and writing about art to specialized audiences as well as across diverse audiences.
• Minimum of 2 years of direct experience in curatorial administrative management
• Flexibility to varying work schedule and to travel
• Superior expertise in English language proficiency

Language of Work

• English

Compensation & Benefits

• Annual base salary range of CDN $84,830.00- $ 106,033.00 per annum based on qualifications, skills, and experience (opportunity for salary review)
• Extended Health Plan
• Drug/Prescription Plan
• Dental Benefits, Vision Care Benefits
• Disability and Life Insurance Benefits
• Individual Retirement Savings Plan (RSP)
• Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D)
• Spousal Life Insurance (AD&D)
• Child/Dependent Life Insurance (AD&D)
• Pension Plan (Defined Contribution, non-contributory)
• Home & Auto Insurance Plan
• Business Travel Accident Insurance
• Paid vacation days
• Relocation allowance to be considered.
• Discounts from the Provincial/City Reciprocal Agreements (Free admission to museums, the CN Tower & discounts off amusement parks, city attractions, hotels, wine tours, Second City, the Ontario Science Centre, and much more!)
• Discounts to Goodlife Fitness
• Employee Discounts & Free tickets to every major exhibit at AGO
• Professional Membership Fee Reimbursement

If this sounds like an opportunity you are looking for, apply now!

Application Deadline: Until filled

We invite individuals who reflect the diversity of our visitors to apply by submitting a tailored cover letter and CV via our website. If you would prefer to submit your application in person, please leave it with our Shipping Dock addressed to the People Division which is located next to our Jackman Hall entrance on McCaul street. The hours are you able to drop off your application are 8:30AM until 4:00PM Monday-Friday.

We thank all applicants but must advise that only those selected for interviews will be contacted. In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act & the AGO’s Recruitment & Selection Policy for Staff, a request for accommodation will be considered throughout the hiring process.

The Art Gallery of Ontario is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas Street West
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M5T 1G4

Contact: Tivona.Ko@ago.ca