Seeking Director of Curatorial Programs

The Vancouver Art Gallery, one of the largest and most innovative art museums in Canada, is undergoing a multi-phase organizational transformation after celebrating 90 years of operation. The Gallery is implementing a campaign to build a new purpose-built gallery facility in downtown Vancouver to open in 2027.

The new building, designed by Swiss Architects Herzog & de Meuron, will provide an optimal platform to reimagine the Gallery’s relationship with the world. The creation of a purpose-built and ecologically sustainable art facility will enable the Gallery to foster deeper and wider community relations, expand audiences, celebrate Indigenous cultures, and acknowledge the diverse heritage and histories of place and people in Canada.

The Gallery is seeking an experienced leader in curatorial practice for the position Director of Curatorial Programs (DoCP). This position is part of the Program Leadership team including the CEO & Director, the Director of Education & Public Programs, Director of Publishing & Content Strategy, and Director of Research. The team provides collaborative organizational leadership that is consistent with the Gallery’s mission to create paths that share perspectives, build and engage communities, and shape our collective futures together.

Reporting to the CEO, the DoCP directs the activities of the Curatorial Department, and to develop inspiring and innovative exhibition and collections strategies that respond to the Gallery’s Strategic and business plans, anticipating the new facility. The DoCP also works closely with the Director of Exhibitions & Collections to ensure the efficient and cost-effective operations of exhibitions and collections.

The DoCP participates in the overall management of the Gallery with other members of the Senior Management team. This position interfaces with all areas of the Gallery and contributes to the long-term strategic planning of the organization, anticipates challenges, and creates lasting opportunities and sustainability.

The DoCP provides administrative oversight of the Curatorial Department and leads the administration, coordination, and successful implementation of all operational aspects of curatorial affairs, including management and the cultivation of curatorial staff, exhibition planning and department budgeting.

The DoCP will work with the Advancement Division to nurture support for the Gallery, including cultivating and stewarding new and existing collectors and artwork donations; in addition to furthering prospects for new financial contributions and fostering an overall culture of philanthropy.

Compensation package is commensurate with qualifications, experience, and ability. This is an in-office position at the Gallery’s downtown Vancouver location; however, some flexibility exists for working from home.

The Gallery offers a welcoming, team-based office culture and is committed to providing equitable access to everyone. We actively support accessibility, anti-racism, LGBTQ2S+ inclusion and we encourage diversity in our staff, visitors, volunteers, and programming. We seek to cultivate a safer space where all voices are heard, valued, and represented. The Gallery stands against hatred, discrimination, racism, homophobia, and transphobia.

For a full job description and to see other employment opportunities please visit here. 

Please send your cover letter and resumé, in confidence, to the Director of Human Resources, Vancouver Art Gallery, 750 Hornby Street, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, V6Z 2H7, or email hr [​at​] vanartgallery.bc.ca. 

Interviews for this position will commence on October 3, 2022, however the posting will remain open and applications will be accepted until the position is filled. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those to be interviewed will be contacted.

The Vancouver Art Gallery is situated on the ancestral and unceded territories of the Traditional Coast Salish Lands including the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations and is respectful of the Indigenous stewards of the land it occupies, whose rich cultures are fundamental to artists life in Vancouver and the work of the Gallery.