Organizer Information
Artspeak is a non-profit artist-run centre established in 1986 in Vancouver, founded by curator Cate Rimmer, artist Keith Higgins, and writer Jeff Derksen, initially operating out of the offices of the Kootenay School of Writing. The gallery's mandate centers on exhibiting contemporary art and encouraging dialogue between visual art and writing, and it has maintained both exhibition and publishing programs throughout its history. In 1999, after two years of renting, Artspeak purchased its 233 Carrall Street property in Vancouver's Gastown/Downtown Eastside neighbourhood, and in 2016 it acquired a second, satellite space nearby — a rare instance of a Canadian artist-run centre owning its own facilities. Under its current Director/Curator, Artspeak has focused on making visible the work of Black/African diasporic, Indigenous, and POC cultural practitioners within the regional specificity of the Downtown Eastside, and continues to position itself as a platform for accessible art criticism and interdisciplinary practice between Vancouver and the wider world.
Title & Description
Associate Director — Artspeak Gallery, Vancouver, BC
Artspeak is hiring an Associate Director to provide organizational leadership across fundraising and development, administration, marketing and communications, project coordination, and facilities management. Working closely with and reporting to the Director/Curator, the Associate Director supports the gallery's strategic and day-to-day operations, helping ensure organizational stability, effective internal systems, and the successful delivery of exhibitions, public programs, publications, and special projects. The role is expected to contribute to a collaborative and responsive organizational culture grounded in accessibility, care, accountability, and equity-informed cultural practices, and may include supervising interns, volunteers, contractors, and temporary support staff.
The Role Overview
- Position Type: Permanent, part-time
- Contract Type: Permanent
- Salary: $48,000 CAD annually
- Working Hours: 24 hours per week (Saturday availability mandatory)
- Start Date: September 2026
- Reports To: Director/Curator
- Department / Programme: Not specified in the source (single-department gallery organization)
Position & Tasks
- Administration and Development
- Oversee financial operations including accounting coordination, reporting, and financial review
- Manage and monitor project and operational budgets in accordance with annual fiscal plans established with the Director/Curator
- Prepare and submit gaming, foundation, government, and private funding applications
- Research and identify new grant opportunities, fundraising initiatives, and revenue streams
- Work closely with the Treasurer, Board Chair, bookkeeper, and external accountant to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting
- Manage membership and donor programs, including correspondence, renewals, database management, and promotional activities
- Maintain bookkeeping systems, expense tracking, reporting procedures, statement filing, and tax receipt preparation
- Maintain and organize cloud-based and physical filing systems and organizational records
- Act as privacy officer for Artspeak
- Operations and Exhibitions / Projects
- Support the daily operations of Artspeak in collaboration with the Director/Curator to ensure efficient program delivery
- Oversee maintenance of gallery facilities and liaise with contractors, building management, and strata representatives
- Coordinate exhibition support labour, equipment rentals, fabrication, shipping, and technical requirements
- Develop and maintain operational policies, procedures, standards of service, and organizational workflows
- Manage office equipment, technology systems, and supply inventories
- Attend Strata Annual General Meetings on behalf of the organization
- Provide administrative and logistical support for 4–6 annual exhibitions, publications, public programs, and special projects
- Coordinate communications with artists, writers, contractors, and project partners
- Plan and execute receptions, openings, public events, and related hospitality needs
- Draft and administer artist and contractor agreements
- Coordinate domestic and international travel arrangements and itineraries for artists, guests, and collaborators
- Manage bookstore sales, inventory, and related administrative systems
- Communications and Public Engagement
- Maintain and update organisational systems including social media, website, digital archives, publication files, manuals, hardware/software systems, and filing systems
- Implement communications and publicity strategies developed in collaboration with the Director/Curator
- Produce, edit, and coordinate promotional and interpretive materials
- Liaise with graphic designers, printers, media contacts, and communications contractors
- Oversee website maintenance and maintain an accessible online archive of gallery activities
- Coordinate print and digital publicity campaigns including newsletters, advertising, social media, and audiovisual documentation
- Manage public correspondence regarding submissions, exhibitions, publications, and organizational information
- Collaborate with the Director/Curator to develop long-term marketing and audience engagement strategies
- Advocacy and Sector Engagement
- In collaboration with the Director/Curator, advocate for the arts and cultural sector within the community and to donors, stakeholders, and government representatives
- Remain informed on policy developments affecting the arts sector and help represent the organization's interests within broader cultural conversations and networks
Categories
- Arts Administration
- Gallery Management
- Fundraising & Development
- Marketing & Communications
- Facilities Management
- Artist-Run Culture
- Exhibition Production
- Nonprofit Cultural Management
Eligibility
- No nationality or geographic restriction stated in the source
- Advanced degree or equivalent professional experience in arts administration, cultural management, operations, or a related field
- Minimum three years of experience in the administration of an art gallery, artist-run centre, or cultural organization
- Strong knowledge of contemporary art practices and familiarity with the history and ethos of Canadian artist-run culture
- Demonstrated experience in grant writing, fundraising, budgeting, and bookkeeping
- Proven financial management and organizational planning skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication abilities
- Exceptional organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Ability to work independently with initiative while also contributing collaboratively within a small team environment
- Strong leadership skills and a demonstrated commitment to arts administration and community-based cultural work
- Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as required
- Capacity to undertake occasional physical labour associated with exhibition preparation and installation
- Mandatory Saturday availability
- Technical proficiency considered essential: QuickBooks, Wagepoint, Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat), WordPress, FileMaker Pro, Campaign Monitor, and social media/digital communications tools
- Artspeak encourages applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives
Program Benefits
- Salary: $48,000 CAD annually
- Extended dental and medical benefits, available after a three-month probationary period
- 14 days paid vacation during the summer period (gallery closure in July or August)
- An additional 14 days holiday time during the December/January holiday period
- Paid statutory holidays
- Sick days in accordance with BC employment laws
- Pension or retirement contributions: Not specified in the source
- Professional development allowance: Not specified in the source
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Cover letter
- CV
- Both documents combined into a single file
How to Apply?
Email hiring@artspeak.ca with the subject line "Job Application: Associate Director"
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: Rolling basis, until the position is filled
- Start Date: September 2026
Location
Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Applicants will not all receive a response; Artspeak notes it will not be able to reply to every applicant
- The role is described as central to organizational stability and to fostering a workplace culture grounded in accessibility, care, accountability, and equity-informed cultural practices
- Artspeak is a registered charitable organization