Organizer Information
The Art Museum at the University of Toronto is made up of two galleries — the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery at Hart House and the University of Toronto Art Centre at University College — which federated in 2014 under a shared visual identity and now form one of the largest gallery spaces for visual art exhibitions and programming in Toronto. The Barnicke Gallery opened in 1983 and manages the Hart House Permanent Art Collection, established in 1922 with a mandate to acquire work by living Canadian artists, while the University of Toronto Art Centre opened in 1996 in the Laidlaw Wing of the historic University College building. Together the two spaces run an intensive year-round program of exhibitions and events aimed at fostering research, interdisciplinary scholarship, and knowledge of art and its histories at a local, regional, and international level. The museum offers free admission to the public and stewards several distinct collections, including the Hart House Collection and the Malcove Collection, the latter spanning ancient objects to twentieth-century work with a particular focus on Medieval art and Byzantine icons. The museum operates as a unit of the University of Toronto, Canada's largest university.
Title & Description
Curatorial Research Assistant
The Curatorial Research Assistant position is a Work Study placement at the Art Museum, supporting knowledge creation through the development of curatorial projects and exhibitions. It is designed as an entry-level, experiential-learning role: the student will get hands-on exposure to how a research-driven university art museum plans exhibitions and conducts curatorial work, while building transferable skills in research, communication, and professionalism.
The position is structured around learning outcomes as much as task output. Students develop workplace competencies in multidisciplinary research — investigating and synthesizing complex information, then reporting and communicating findings — alongside critical and reflective thinking specific to curatorial practice. The role also builds foundational knowledge of museum best practices, particularly the early stages of curatorial and exhibition planning, making it a natural fit for students in Art History, Visual Studies, Museum Studies, or Education who want to translate academic study into workplace experience.
The Role Overview
- Position Type: Work Study (student position)
- Salary: Hourly rate of $17.60
- Reports To: Direct supervisor (title not specified in the source)
- Department / Programme: Art Museum, University of Toronto — Justina M. Barnicke Gallery / University of Toronto Art Centre
- Working Hours: One to two days in-person required; specific weekly hours not specified in the source
Position & Tasks
- Support the development of curatorial projects and exhibitions through research
- Investigate and synthesize complex information and report findings
- Work closely alongside museum professionals to build teamwork skills and insight into workplace culture
- Network with faculty and arts professionals through planning meetings and informational interviews
- Job shadow museum staff to gain insight into different arts and cultural career paths
- Receive ongoing mentorship, feedback, and career-goal check-ins with a direct supervisor
- Take part in a mid-placement check-in and an exit interview to reflect formally on the experience
Categories
- Curatorial Practice
- Museum Studies
- Art History
- Research
- Student Employment
- Exhibition Making
- Arts Administration
Eligibility
- Open only to University of Toronto students enrolled in the 2026 Fall and Winter terms
- At least one year of volunteer or work experience in a museum/gallery is preferred but not required
- Excellent communication skills, including public speaking
- Excellent research skills, including working with primary and secondary sources
- Diligent and detail-oriented
- Able to think creatively and critically
- Able to work both in a team and independently
- Positive attitude, enthusiastic, reliable, and willing to learn
- Interest in galleries and museums, contemporary art, and equity practices
- Enrollment in a related field of study (Visual Studies, Curatorial Studies, Art History, Education, Material Culture, Museum Studies, Archival Studies) is an asset but not required
- No previous art experience required — open to all students interested in experiential learning in the arts
Program Benefits
- Hourly wage of $17.60
- Hands-on curatorial experience in an internationally renowned art museum
- Relevant training provided
- Ongoing mentorship and feedback from a direct supervisor
- Structured career-development touchpoints: mid-placement check-in and exit interview
- Networking opportunities with faculty and arts professionals
- Job shadowing across different museum roles and career paths
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 28 August 2026
Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Additional Details
This is a Work Study position, meaning it is restricted by university policy to currently enrolled University of Toronto students and cannot be applied to by external candidates or non-U of T students. The role is explicitly framed as accessible to students with no prior art or museum experience, with an emphasis on equity practices as a stated area of interest for the museum.