Gallery Assistant - Student Employment Opportunity​

Lake Country Art Gallery
Lake Country, BC
​
Part-time Term Position (January 2024)
 
Lake Country Art Gallery is looking for a part-time Gallery Assistant. This is a term position starting January 2024. This role is ideal for a post-secondary student.

The role of Gallery Assistant creates an opportunity for the right candidate to gain practical experience, receive on-the-job training and mentoring, to develop connections, build networks and improve their chances of finding meaningful employment.
  
Job Description
Working with the Executive Director and Curator, through mentoring and apprenticeship, the student will be encouraged to develop the skills necessary to enter the arts & culture sector with the confidence to find the best opportunities for their future career development, whether that is with us or elsewhere.

While the ideal candidate will have achieved education to degree level, this is not a requisite. The position does require a post-secondary education with some demonstrable design skills, plus a keen interest and basic knowledge of art history as well as contemporary artists and art practices.

Youth from any one of the following related fields of study or work experience would benefit from this position: Visual Communications, Fine Arts, Visual Arts, Art History and Visual Culture, Creative and Critical Studies, Media and Popular Culture, Theatre, Film, Animation, Graphic Design, advertising, business studies. A non-graduate with events, marketing or commercial business experience and a strong interest in art & art history could also benefit from this experience.
 
​This role will provide opportunities for the employee to develop skills and abilities in a wide range of competencies including:

• Well-developed communication skills to verbally express ideas, concepts, and information to a wide variety of audiences, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to work within a team, interpersonal skills to build on strengths and manage work and required deadlines.
• Knowledge of art, art history, art techniques in relation to the exhibitions on offer at the gallery. Developing the ability to elicit ideas from the content into viable educational and activity-based materials.
• Create learning outcomes and assess their effectiveness in a learning environment, through mentorship and support from fellow team members.
• Measure effectiveness of marketing or promotional activities by analyzing data and engagement and providing feedback on improvements.
• Exposure to learning new technologies and ways of engaging with the community in a variety of formats.
• Public speaking skills through facilitating and assisting in events which engage community members either online or in-person.
• Project management skills through organizing educational materials and events, including effective use of time.

Qualifications
The following skills and traits will ensure your success in this role.

• Strong interpersonal skills, and communication skills to verbally express ideas, concepts, and information to a wide variety of audiences, both orally and in writing.

• A good understanding of contemporary art and art history, including an awareness of popular culture and current world events.

• Demonstrated design skills using a variety of software.
• Ability to work with a variety of software and on-line media platforms including Weebly, G Suite, Join It, When I Work, Facebook and Instagram.
• Strong organizational, planning, and problem-solving skills.
• Evidence of strong leadership skills.
• Friendly, enthusiastic, positive attitude, respectful and professional conduct.
• Public speaking skills through facilitating and assisting in events which engage community members either online or in-person.

Responsibilities
The Gallery Administrative Assistant will be responsible for the following roles and tasks:

• Provide general administrative assistance for the Executive Director and the Gallery Curator.

• Serve as a Gallery Host, which involves staffing the reception desk, acting as first point of contact for gallery visitors, answering questions about exhibitions, and providing general information about gallery programming and events.

• Work with staff to create programming that supports the exhibitions including artist videos, gallery guides, or educational materials.

• Provide in-person and online gallery tours to interested individuals or groups, sharing relevant knowledge, and understanding of current exhibitions.
• Work with gallery volunteers for scheduling and training.
• Update Contact and Membership databases and generate reports to analyze trends and activities in order to determine effectiveness.
• Keep accurate records of attendance and visitor feedback.
• Gather and present engagement numbers from digital content including social media and You-tube. 
• Respond to Gallery telephone calls and emails on a regular basis, in a timely manner.
• Work with volunteers to ensure the maintenance and cleaning of the Gallery spaces, including indoor and outdoor spaces.
• Adhere to current Public Health Office orders, ensuring volunteers and visitors are compliant with required protocols. 
• Support the training of Seasonal Youth Employees.
• Ensure website content is regularly updated.
• Produce and distribute the bi-weekly Gallery newsletter. 
• Plan and create engaging social media content, maximizing community reach through the development of social media strategies.
• Use available software to design, create and distribute marketing materials for each exhibition and other Gallery events.
• Provide a monthly report to the Executive Director, then for the Board of Directors.

Requirements
The qualifications for this position include the following:

• Must have strong interpersonal skills, and well-developed communication skills to verbally express ideas, concepts and information to a wide variety of audiences, both orally and in writing.
• A good understanding of Contemporary Art and modern art history, through graduate education or related experience
• An awareness of popular culture and current world events

• Demonstrated design skills using a variety of software.
• Ability to work with a variety of on-line media platforms and programs.
• Skills with social media and other basic marketing platforms.
• Strong organizational, planning, and problem-solving skills.
• Evidence of strong leadership skills.
• Friendly, enthusiastic and positive attitude.
• A respectful and professional conduct.
• Adherence to the policies and mandate of the Lake Country Art Gallery.
• Public speaking skills through facilitating and assisting in events which engage community members either online or in-person.

IMPORTANT:
Eligibility for the position is also dependent upon the following: 

• be between 15 and 30 years of age at the start of the employment*;
• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment**; and,
• have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations

All applicants must be available to work a flexible schedule which will include weekends and at least one day midweek, plus occasional evenings. The position is anticipated to start on January 8th 2024, with the option for an ongoing position from April 2024.


What’s in it for you?
Through mentoring and apprenticeship under the Lake Country Art Gallery Executive Director and Curator, you will be encouraged to develop skills necessary to enter the arts & culture sector and the confidence to find great employment post-studies.

​This role will provide opportunities for you to develop a wide range of skills including:

• Well-developed communication skills to verbally express ideas, concepts, and information to a wide variety of audiences, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to work within a team, interpersonal skills to build on strengths and manage work and required deadlines.
• Knowledge of art, art history, art techniques in relation to the exhibitions on offer at the gallery. Developing the ability to illicit ideas from the content into viable educational and activity-based materials.
• Ability to create learning outcomes and assess their effectiveness in a learning environment, through mentorship and support from fellow team members.
• Skills to measure effectiveness of marketing or promotional activities by analysing data and engagement and providing feedback on improvements.
• Exposure to learning new technologies and ways of engaging remotely with community, researching new technologies and finding ways to adapt current programming to a digital format.
• Public speaking skills through facilitating and assisting in events which engage community members either online or in-person.
• Project management skills through organising of educational materials and events, including effective use of time, ability to pivot and change depending on needs of organisation.

Position Details

The anticipated start date is January 8th, 2024
 
The position will consist of 20 hours per week at $20 p/h
 
Flexibility will be required regarding working hours schedule
 
You will be required to work weekends, midweek and some evenings, with statutory holidays in lieu of alternate days off.
 

Application

Send your APPLICATION by EMAIL to [email protected]   

​Use Email Subject: 2024galleryassistant


Attach your Cover Letter
using the following file name and format:
​
YOUR NAMEcoverletter2024galleryjob.doc
OR
YOUR NAMEcoverletter2024galleryjob.pdf
Please include two reference contacts in your cover letter


Attach your Resume
​ using the following file name and format:
​
YOUR NAMEresume2024galleryjob.doc
OR
YOUR NAMEresume2024galleryjob.pdf

Deadline for application: January 6th midday
 
Any inquiries about this position posting, please contact Petrina McNeill: [email protected]
​​

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