Organizer Information
The opportunity is hosted by the National Gallery of Canada, one of Canada’s leading cultural institutions dedicated to the collection, preservation, research, and exhibition of visual art from Canada and around the world. Located in Ottawa, the Gallery holds an extensive permanent collection spanning European, American, Asian, Indigenous, and contemporary art. Its curatorial departments are structured to support scholarly research, public engagement, and international exhibition programming. The institution places strong emphasis on inclusivity, academic rigor, and professional development, regularly offering early-career roles designed to cultivate the next generation of museum professionals.
Title & Description
Sobey Curatorial Assistant – Curatorial Research, Collections and Exhibitions (12-month position)
This is a full-time, one-year developmental curatorial position intended for an emerging museum professional. The role is embedded within the Curatorial Research, Collections, and Exhibitions department and is specifically designed to provide structured mentorship under senior curatorial staff.
The position supports research, documentation, interpretation, and exhibition development across European, American, and Asian art collections. The assistant will contribute to both scholarly and public-facing outputs, including acquisition research, exhibition preparation, and interpretive content for gallery display. The opportunity combines academic research with practical museum operations, offering direct exposure to institutional decision-making processes such as acquisitions committees, collection management systems, and exhibition planning workflows.
The Role Overview
- Position Type: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week
- Employment Tenure: Determinate, 12-month temporary assignment
- Salary: CAD $64,608 – $82,021 per year
- Reporting To: Senior Curator, European, American and Asian Art
- Department: Curatorial Research, Collections and Exhibitions
- Classification: L/N A
- Affiliation: P.I.P.S.C.
- Work Mode: On-site (National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa)
- Language Requirement: English BBB / French BBB (reading, writing, oral)
This role is classified as a professional developmental appointment, meaning it is structured to provide hands-on curatorial training within a major national institution.
Position & Tasks
The Sobey Curatorial Assistant will undertake a range of curatorial and research-oriented responsibilities, including:
- Conducting academic and object-based research on artworks, provenance, acquisition histories, and exhibition records
- Assisting in the preparation of acquisition proposals and documentation for internal committee review
- Supporting collection management tasks, including database entry, record maintenance, and object data verification
- Contributing to exhibition development, including checklist preparation, object selection support, and interpretive text drafting
- Assisting with gallery rotations, temporary exhibitions, and installation-related documentation
- Writing or editing gallery labels and public-facing interpretive materials
- Responding to internal and external research inquiries
- Supporting curatorial programming such as lectures, tours, and special events
- Assisting in departmental research initiatives and special projects as assigned
The role requires a balance of scholarly research, administrative precision, and collaborative museum practice.
Categories
- Visual Art
- Art History / Curatorial Practice
- Museum Studies
- European Art
- American Art
- Asian Art
- Modern and Contemporary Art
- Institutional Research / Collections Management
Eligibility
- Master’s degree in Art History or a closely related field
- Preferred specialization in nineteenth-century French art, German modernism, or American post-war art
- Previous experience in a museum, gallery, auction house, or cultural institution (internships and early-career roles accepted)
- Demonstrated ability to conduct scholarly art-historical research
- Familiarity with exhibition preparation, collections documentation, or curatorial workflows (asset)
- Experience using collections databases (asset)
- Strong knowledge of European art history, particularly nineteenth-century French art and/or European modernism
- Strong English proficiency and working knowledge of French (or vice versa)
- Reading knowledge of German or French is considered an additional advantage
The position is open to emerging professionals; however, candidates must meet the bilingual requirement to advance in the selection process.
Program Benefits
- Competitive annual salary (CAD $64,608–$82,021)
- One-year paid professional curatorial training in a national museum
- Direct mentorship under senior curatorial staff
- Hands-on experience with acquisitions, exhibitions, and collection stewardship
- Exposure to high-level institutional decision-making processes
- Participation in research-driven curatorial projects
- Opportunities to contribute to public programming, lectures, and exhibitions
- Professional development within a major national cultural institution
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Cover letter outlining relevant experience and motivation
- Academic transcripts (if requested)
- Writing sample demonstrating art historical research ability
- Portfolio or documentation of relevant curatorial or research projects (if applicable)
- Proof of education (Master’s degree completion or equivalent progress)
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 4 June 2026
- Internal Priority Deadline (NGC employees): 25 May 2026
- Employment Duration: 12-month contract (start date not specified in source; typically following selection process completion)
Location
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Additional Details
- Selection may involve multiple assessment tools, including interviews and written evaluations
- Candidates may participate in the selection process in English or French
- Reasonable accommodations are available upon request
- The institution strongly encourages applications from underrepresented communities, including Indigenous, Black, racialized candidates, women, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals
- This is a structured developmental role aimed at early-career professionals, not a permanent curatorial appointment