The Power Plant

The Curator of Programs and Outreach performs a broad range of duties and has numerous responsibilities with a primary focus on developing gallery programs, projects and engagement opportunities including talks tours and performances for children and adults. Additionally, this role is responsible for leading, training, managing and evaluating Public Programs staff at the gallery and off-site/outreach locations. As importantly, the incumbent contributes to the development (fundraising), marketing, evaluation and financial administration of public programs and select special events.

• Implement programs that support engagement with the gallery’s exhibitions and other projects.
• Collaborate with the Curatorial team and additional stakeholders to develop education and public programs and performance-based events each season (summer, fall and winter).
• Lead the Public Programs and Outreach team and contractors in research, conceptualization, planning, execution and documentation of education and public programs that contextualize exhibitions.
• Oversee and work with the TD Curator of Education Fellow to develop and implement programmatic calendar of events, including general coordination/logistics, budget preparation, identifying staff/volunteer needs and providing oversight at select programs.
• Establish, maintain and promotes partnerships with peer institutions, community-based organizations and others through networking, regular communications and developing co-presented/co-produced programs that support and enhance the gallery’s mission.
• Contribute to the planning, implementation and evaluation of public programs and audience cultivation activities in collaboration with the Marketing, Communications & Visitor Experience department and with outside contractors.
• Advise on and contribute to the development of content and editing of training manuals, program guides, education/interpretative materials and other publishing initiatives, as agreed upon with the Curatorial team.
• Prepare and justify annual budget requests for Public Program activities, and track expenditures.
• Work with the Communications, Marketing & Visitor Experience department to create and implement a marketing plan to ensure proper promotion for education and public programs, both on- and off-site.
• Work with the Development department to produce program-specific requests for funding and evaluative/summative reports, identifying possible funding sources for education and public programs.
• Provide educational tours of exhibitions and talks to a variety of audiences and deliver high-quality guest experiences as needed.
• Contribute to grant applications to government agencies, foundations and private funding sources in conjunction with the gallery Director, the Head of Curatorial Affairs, the Development team, and other colleagues.
• Contribute to reports for Board members and other stakeholders.
• Contribute towards the development of positive relationships with artists, collectors, critics, scholars, art professionals, granting agencies, foundations, sponsors, partners, donors and stakeholders to ensure support for The Power Plant mission.
• Maintain statistical information, general budgetary, quarterly and annual report documents, and handle other administrative accounting as needed.
• Assist with projects and other duties as assigned.

• Job knowledge and skills commensurate with a postsecondary degree (minimum BA, MA preferred) in Art History, Fine Art, Cultural Studies, Art Education or a related discipline.
• Minimum five (5) years of experience in a public art gallery/museum setting organizing contemporary art education and public programs, including performance-based events.
• Proven experience in delivering programs to a general audience including excellent public speaking skills.
• Strong knowledge of national and international contexts for contemporary art and extensive knowledge of pedagogical approaches to engagement / interpretation of contemporary art for a broad range of audiences.
• Excellent project management, organizational, time management, and multi-tasking skills.
• Ability to take initiative within the context of institutional parameters.
• Experience interviewing, hiring, training, managing and evaluating staff and contractors and leading a team in a similar work environment.
• An understanding of, and commitment to, the institution’s mission.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills with the ability to build positive relationship with staff, audience and stakeholders.
• Knowledge and ability to create age appropriate learning experiences, develop curriculum-based education materials and cultivate and maintain meaningful relationships with area schools.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal, auditory, written).
• Experience with PC work environments with Microsoft software and with accounting methods and office systems/procedures.
• Creativity, imagination and problem-solving skills.
• A strong network of professional contacts locally, nationally and internationally is desirable.
• Knowledge of French and/or other languages is a definite asset.
• Must be legally eligible to work in Canada. Non-Canadian applicants must have a valid employment Visa and proper documentation authorizing their ability to work in Canada.
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination with a vaccine series approved by Health Canada or the World Health Organization is required and will form a condition of employment.