Organizer Information
The Marianne and Edward Gibson Art Museum is the purpose-built art museum of Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. Opened in September 2025, the Gibson was created to expand SFU’s long-standing commitment to visual arts, interdisciplinary learning, research and community engagement. Its mission is to foster inclusive learning and critical inquiry through innovative visual arts programming. The museum presents exhibitions, public commissions, publications, residencies and public programs while also providing access to the SFU Art Collection.
The Gibson positions itself as an inclusive and experimental university art museum that seeks to challenge historically exclusionary models of gallery practice. Its programming supports critically engaged and research-driven visual artists and encourages intergenerational, decolonial and cross-disciplinary learning.
Title & Description
Curatorial Fellow, Gibson Art Museum
The Gibson Art Museum Curatorial Fellow is a three-year, full-time position within the museum’s inaugural Curatorial Fellows Program. The program is designed as an incubator for dynamic, cross-disciplinary curatorial research, with a particular interest in British Columbian art practices and their global resonance.
The successful Fellow will develop and realize exhibitions, public programs and other curatorial projects, potentially including major exhibitions, publications and commissions. The program welcomes ambitious early-career and established curators from local, national and international contexts, with priority given to underrepresented practitioners.
The Role Overview
- Position: Curatorial Fellow
- Contract: Temporary, full-time
- Duration: Three years from the start date
- Expected start: Early 2027
- Location: Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
- Salary: CAD $69,102–$82,420 annually
- Position Grade: 7
- Union/Affiliation: Administrative and Professional Staff Association (APSA)
- Biweekly hours: 72
- Benefits: Extended health and dental coverage, 7% pay in lieu of benefits, 8% vacation pay, professional development funding for eligible contracts, and hybrid-work arrangements where applicable.
- Funding: The inaugural three-year Curatorial Fellows Program is supported by the Audain Foundation.
Position & Tasks
The Fellow will develop and realize a series of exhibitions and public programs while participating fully in the Gibson’s operations and planning processes. Responsibilities include curatorial research, concept development, exhibition planning, production, installation and evaluation. The position also supports smaller projects involving the SFU Art Collection.
The Fellow will collaborate with the Gibson’s Director, Exhibitions Manager, Collections Manager, Head Preparator and other SFU and external partners. Strong research, writing, editorial, organizational, project-management and interpersonal skills are required, together with the ability to manage budgets and timelines.
Categories
- Visual Art
- Curatorial Practice
- Contemporary Art
- Exhibition Development
- Art Research
- Public Programs
- Museum Studies
Eligibility
The opportunity is intended for early-career and established curators and explicitly welcomes local, national and international applicants, with priority given to underrepresented practitioners. Applicants should have a Master’s degree in Art History, Curatorial Studies or a related field plus two years of relevant curatorial experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Applicants should demonstrate knowledge of contemporary art and curatorial practice, experience supporting exhibitions or public programs, strong research and writing abilities, project-management skills and collaborative working practices.
Program Benefits
The Fellow receives a salaried three-year professional appointment within a major university art museum. Benefits include opportunities to develop and realize exhibitions and public programs, access to the SFU Art Collection and the interdisciplinary academic environment of Simon Fraser University, as well as collaboration with academic and external partners.
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 25 September 2026
- Expected appointment: Early 2027
- Appointment duration: Three years from the start date
Location
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Additional Details
The Gibson’s Curatorial Fellows Program emphasizes research-driven and experimental curatorial practice, particularly projects capable of generating new knowledge about under-recognized artists and offering fresh perspectives on established practices. Its program has a particular interest in British Columbian art and its global connections.
The position is an employment opportunity rather than a conventional artist open call. Applicants should therefore present a professional curatorial profile, supported by relevant education and demonstrated museum/gallery experience. The successful Fellow will be integrated into the museum’s ongoing operations rather than participating only in a short-term residency.