Academic Curator – Alberta College of Art + Design

ACAD welcomes applications for the following three (3) to five (5) year term faculty appointment:

This Limited Term Appointment (LTA) faculty position comes at a transformative time as ACAD seeks to evolve and extend the role the Illingworth Kerr Gallery (IKG) plays in our university and in our external communities.

About the IKG

The IKG has maintained a public exhibition program of contemporary visual art for nearly 50 years, the longest running such art program in Calgary. The IKG is a significant gallery facility at the heart of ACAD, with two connected galleries measuring a total of 4,000 square feet.

In addition to fulfilling its mandate to foster a living culture in Alberta by providing a context for viewing and discussing new and recent art in all media and by a wide range of cultural producers, the IKG is an integral part of the student experience at ACAD.  To that end, ACAD’s goal is to make the IKG even more inclusive and representative of the variety of programs at the college to help us thrive and support future academic growth.

This evolution provides an exciting opportunity for a curator with ingenuity and an international perspective to lead the curation, programming and gallery operations. Under the direction of the curator, the IKG will reflect an innovative and interdisciplinary curatorial vision, and offer the community exceptional exhibitions, inclusive public programs, and compelling educational experiences. The successful candidate will be able to draw upon strong relationships in the contemporary art world, and be able to foster broad engagement with faculty, students, community members, and external partners.

The Opportunity

(Competition #1819-AU-FT-03)

Under the Research + Academic Affairs portfolio, the Academic Curator is responsible for stewardship of the IKG’s mandate and strategic plan including exhibition and public programming, grant applications, external partnerships and teaching undergraduate curriculum in the areas of curatorial history, study and practice.

Primary duties and responsibilities:

  • Teaches at least two credit courses per academic year
  • Collaborates with the Research Advisory Committee and faculty to integrate gallery exhibitions with curriculum and research and the Premiere Visiting Artist Committee to develop visiting artist programming where appropriate
  • Establishes and maintains relationships with regional, national, and international art, craft, and design communities, and develops initiatives to promote the institution and its programs externally
  • Manages the gallery staff and volunteer, gallery operating budget, institutional collection and capital allocations
  • Works in conjunction with the Office of Engagement to develop donor relations

The successful candidate will have:

  • Graduate degree in a related field. A specialization in contemporary art, curatorial studies, or Indigenous studies would be an asset.
  • A PhD is required for teaching specializations in liberal studies curriculum and a terminal degree is required for teaching specializations in studio based courses.
  • An active critical and creative research practice with a focus on curation
  • Demonstrated Gallery and/or Museum experience in a leadership or curatorial role and an active record of professional accomplishment
  • Demonstrated teaching experience at the undergraduate level
  • Ability to collaborate and work effectively with institutional constituents including students, staff and faculty, and the external community

This limited term faculty position is available for a 3 up to 5 year term, dependent on candidate’s availability. Start date is negotiable, however, preference will be given to candidates able to commence in January 2019.

How to Apply

>>> Please submit applications via our careers page. The application must include a cover letter and a current CV.

Letters of recommendation are not required with application but will be requested at a later stage, if application is successful.

Academic transcripts are not required with application, however certified transcripts are required before an offer of employment is made in accordance with the ACAD Faculty Association Collective Agreement.

Applications must be submitted in a single PDF document.

Review of applications will begin on October 15, 2018 and will continue until the position is filled or the search is closed.

Once you have created an account, choose the “Upload Resume” option.  You will only be able to upload one file, so make sure all required material is combined into a single PDF document. Incomplete submissions may not be considered. Once you have submitted your application, you will not be able to make changes or add additional documents. Please visit ACAD’s How to Apply page to ensure your application is complete prior to submission.

Further information about ACAD is available on our website at www.acad.ca.

ACAD is an equal opportunity employer and is strongly committed to fostering diversity within our community. We welcome those who would contribute to the further diversity of the institution. We encourage expressions of interest from all qualified applicants for consideration for this or other suitable vacancies although applications from Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.

The collection of personal information is for the purpose of determining eligibility and suitability for employment as authorized by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act, section 33(c). If you have any questions about the collection of your information, please contact our FOIP Coordinator at foip@acad.ca.

While we thank all candidates for their interest, only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

Categories: Job Postings