Head of Public Programmes & Institutional Development

Deadline: May 7 2021

Reports to: Artistic Director and Curator(s)-in-Residence

21 hours, 3-4 days/week

Start date: 17 May 2021

Location : 372 rue Ste-Catherine Ouest, Espace 507, Tiohtià:ke/Montréal, QC H2B 1A2

 

Join SBC’s growing team!

​

Located in downtown Tiohtià:ke/Montréal, SBC Gallery of Contemporary Art’s unique program is focused on contemporary art, culture and politics, offering discursive exhibitions, events and research and educational activities that engage a wide range of publics.

 

It is SBC’s mission, as a non-collecting museum, to work with artists and other cultural practitioners to address relevant and timely issues in contemporary art and culture as they pertain to historical, current and emerging discourses both locally and in the world at large.

 

The Role:

 

SBC supports a diverse community of cultural practitioners, activists and people whose work towards advancing social justice is the binding agent. The gallery actively encourages the coming together of diverse publics by providing the context in which creative action forms the cornerstone and in which all voices can be heard.

 

The Head of Public Programmes and Institutional Development will work closely with SBC’s Artistic Director and Curator(s)-in-Residence as well as with artists and other collaborators toward the development and implementation of robust public programmes and outreach activities.

 

Occupying a central role at SBC, the candidate will work directly with all members of SBC’s team, as well as with interns, educators, students and visitors to situate SBC’s programmes within their cultural, geo-political and social contexts, and within pertinent theoretical and discursive frameworks. The programmes are to include responsible methodologies and accountability measures.

 

The Head of Public Programmes and Institutional Development will be responsible for maintaining and strengthening SBC’s existing community-based partnerships and programmes for multi-generational and diverse publics, while establishing new partners and collaborative initiatives.  

 

The Head of Public Programmes and Institutional Development will oversee the development and upkeep of related toolboxes, protocols and policies and their implementation. They will make contributions to SBC’s accessibility policy to ensure it adheres to current best practices.

 

The Head of Public Programmes and Institutional Development will support the Artistic Director in their role, as needed.

 

Under the authority of the Artistic director, he/she is responsible for ensuring the smooth running of operations and external links and contributing to the development, innovation and influence of SBC.

 

Duties and Responsibilities:
 

Public Programmes

• Work with Artistic Director and Curator(s)-in-Residence to plan public programmes that are integral to, support and/or run adjacent to SBC’s exhibitions, events and other activities.

• Provide support to visiting curators and artists for large-scale community engagement projects.

• Produce artist talks, scholarly lectures, panels, gallery tours, discussion groups, workshops, and other events.

• Engage with community organizations to develop relevant programmes.

• Develop and carry out SBC’s teacher and student tours programme: engage with student bodies in universities, as well as with high school and CEGEP teachers in academic outreach; coordinate and lead class tours.

• Secure speaker agreements.

• Arrange travel, lodging, and payment for visiting artists and speakers.

• Evaluate and improve program attendance and engagement levels.

• Record/document selected programs and distribute via website and social media.

• Maintain records and files for all programs and prepare quarterly and annual reports.

• Contribute to the development of the various sectors by promoting the emergence of new projects and initiatives.

• Carry out the necessary follow-ups with internal and external partners.

• Ensure the convergence of the operations of the various sectors within SBC.

 

Outreach

• Act as liaison between SBC and its community and artistic partners.

• Work with Artistic Director and Exhibitions and Communications Coordinator to develop annual outreach plans, in line with SBC’s mandate and mission.

• Write and proofread related communications and promotional material; incorporate curatorial content produced by guest curators, artists and SBC’s Artistic Co-Director on curatorial workshops, conferences, screenings, educational activities and school tours, and publish across appropriate communications platforms.

• Maintain timely and dynamic public information resources: website, social media, posters, etc.

• Contribute content to SBC’s email newsletters and other communications materials.

• Regularly reach out to known and new community organizations to foster partnerships.

 

Event Coordination

• Coordinate with Artistic Director and Exhibitions and Communications Coordinator to schedule and produce events.

• Maintain up-to-date shared master calendar of public programs and events.

• Set-up and take-down of gallery events, opening/closing gallery during off-hours for special events.

• Schedule trainee attendants for events.

 

Internship Coordination

• Serve as primary coordinator for SBC’s renowned internship program, working with Exhibitions and Communications Coordinator to train interns as gallery guides and keep them versed on ongoing exhibitions and programs.

 

 

 

Minimum Qualifications and Requirements: 
 

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in programme and/or event planning. Previous experience working in a museum or cultural institution setting desirable.

• Commitment to community arts programming.

• Experience and an interest in working in underserved communities.

• Experience working directly with a youth audience a plus.

• Commitment and ability to work in a team environment.

• The candidate must be open to a work environment that fully engages in anti-racist and anti-colonial discourses and practices, and that strives for broad accessibility.

• Demonstrated ability to work across diverse cultures and styles.

• Excellent written and spoken French and English. An additional, non-colonial language a plus.

 

Required Skills:

 

• Proficient skills using Microsoft Office Suite, Google drives and social media platforms. Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite a plus.

• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.

• Knowledge of contemporary art and culture.

• Attention to detail, organizational skills, flexibility, ability to solve problems expediently.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as an independent self-starter and effectively manage multiple priorities.

• Demonstrated ability to speak comfortably in front of both small and large groups.

• Availability to work evenings and weekends, as scheduled

 

SBC is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity. Applicants are invited to voluntarily identify as Indigenous, as a person of colour, as differently abled, or as someone who experiences marginalization. SBC Gallery, its offices and a dedicated bathroom on the floor are wheelchair accessible.

 

Start date: May 24 2021

Salary: This is a part-time, 21-hour per week position, with a salary of $27,000 per annum. 

 

 

 

To apply, please include:

​

Kindly apply in writing, by submitting your curriculum vitae and a letter of intent (1-2 pages) explaining your interest in working at SBC (in French), as well as a short essay on a particular aspect of SBC programming (300 words max, in English).

Deadline: May 12 2021

Apply by email with Public Programmes in the subject line to: emploi@sbcgallery.ca, noting where you saw this posting in your cover letter. Please attach PDF files only. Kindly note that we are only able to contact applicants who are invited to interview.