Curatorial Assistant (Gallery Assistant)

About the Opportunity

This position is offered through the Canada Summer Jobs program and is a great opportunity for students or youth looking to gain hands-on experience in a professional, team-based environment.

You will assist with the handling, storage, cataloguing, and inventory control of cultural objects, including assigning registration numbers and maintaining accurate collections records.

The role also involves supporting the planning and installation of exhibitions and special events, as well as ensuring the safe care of artifacts during display, transit, and storage. You will contribute to updating collections databases and assist with curatorial documentation.

In addition, you will support public engagement activities such as welcoming visitors, assisting with tours, and contributing to social media content for exhibitions and programs. The position also includes digital exhibition work, helping to expand the Métis Material Arts Gallery by sourcing images and data from institutions, securing reproduction rights, and preparing content for publication.

This role offers valuable, practical experience for those interested in museum and cultural collections work, or administrative careers.

As per Canada Summer Jobs program requirements, candidates must be:

• Between 15 and 30 years of age (inclusive) at start of employment
• A Canadian Citizen, permanent resident, or a person on whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
• Legally entitled to work according to BC legislation and regulation.
• International students are not eligible. Recent immigrants are eligible if they are Canadian Citizens or permanent residents.

Job Duties

• Assist in the research, handling, and storage of artifacts
• Support planning and development of travelling exhibitions and special events
• Ensure proper care and protection of cultural artifacts and collections during exhibitions, transit, and storage
• Classify artifacts and assign registration numbers; support inventory control processes
• Assist ADI staff with cataloguing and organizing data for artifacts and material arts objects
• Support installation, deinstallation, and maintenance of exhibitions
• Update and maintain collections and exhibition databases
• Support front-of-house programming by welcoming guests, assisting visitors, and helping lead tours
• Assist in developing social media content for exhibitions and ADI programs
• Contribute to the expansion of the Métis Material Arts Gallery (MMAG) digital exhibition
• Contact museums and institutions to request images and data for MMAG entries and obtain reproduction rights
• Prepare verified images and information for website upload
• Use and adapt to various technologies (e.g., Word, Excel, databases, and other software)
• Handle sensitive information with confidentiality
• Collaborate effectively in an office and team environment (experience considered an asset)

Education

• College diploma/University degree in related field.

Does this role sound perfect to you, yet you don’t check every box?

We at MNBC realize that qualifications and experiences may look different for everyone.  If this career opportunity is of interest to you and your experience may not perfectly align with every qualification, we still encourage you to apply. 

MNBC thanks all applicants for their interest. Pursuant to Section 41 of the BC Human Rights Code, preference may be given to applicants who self-identify as Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, or Inuit). All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. Only applicants shortlisted for interview will be contacted.

We strive to provide an accessible candidate experience for our candidates with different abilities. If you require any accommodations to support you through the application process, please reach out to the People & Culture department at hr@mnbc.ca.