Curator of Public Dialogue and Participation, Kenderdine Gallery
Coming through the multiyear self-examination and redevelopment plan named Galleries Reimagined, the University of Saskatchewan has amalgamated four key publication/exhibition sites; The Kenderdine Gallery, College Galleries I and II, and the Gordon Snelgrove Gallery. There is now a shared mandate to “…make public historical and contemporary art and creative practices that confront the urgent and critical matters of our time, whether they be social, political, aesthetic, intellectual, environmental or cultural in nature.”
From this pre-pandemic reorganization now doubly refigured by the shared experience of shut downs, cancellations and uncertainty in how to best serve and engage our communities, we are seeking a unique and generative individual to take up the position of Curator of Public Dialogue and Participation. The University of Saskatchewan is located on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Metis. The galleries’ exhibitions, programming, and collection management are guided by our commitment to conciliation and seek a candidate able to play a key role in the relationships required both within our parent institution of the University of Saskatchewan, and well beyond, to bring our mission into being.
Primary Purpose: The Curator of Public Dialogue and Participation provides leadership, capacity building and outreach expertise to the galleries’ team, optimizing our formative value to the University and the multiple publics we engage through active dialogue, discursive programming, and exhibitions. This position is outward facing and acts as a catalyst to bring artists, students, scholars, community groups, and different disciplinary thinking into engagement in order to create the conditions and make space for social, cultural, and pedagogical effect.
Nature of Work: Reporting to the Director of USAGaC the position develops and fosters opportunities for involvement by its various publics. This awareness helps inform the galleries’ direction and programming. This is a time of openness and development but also urgency as the role of art is equally recognized as central to critical thinking and public health and attacked as excess in times of austerity. The work takes place within the galleries and in community, in a collegial team environment. We operate in a spirit of sustainable and supported development towards achieving the goals and measurable outcomes of the USAGAC’s Strategic Plan. Guided by socially engaged artistic and curatorial practice, invested collections and museological standards, with a commitment to transdisciplinary research, the incumbent will foster relations to create the space necessary for reciprocal exchange with community - in civic and territorial reach, nationally, and beyond.
Ongoing dialogue and collaboration with the Director, the Curator of Exhibitions, and the Registrar, are essential to the success of this position and its impact on USAGaC in general.
Much of the work is responsive and often time sensitive, deals with a number of stakeholders, depending on the particular program, and is sometimes subject to a number of unpredictable variables. Coming through the pandemic and into global socioeconomic and political uncertainty, we are increasingly aware of how our work requires flexibility, patience, professional judgement and the ability to manage last minute decision-making and changes in detail. The schedule for this position may require the incumbent to work variable hours according to programming needs that can then be reclaimed as time off and will always be discussed with mutual benefit in mind. There is the potential for regional, national and international travel.
Accountabilities
- As the key public programmer of a constellation of galleries within a university setting, the Curator of Public Dialogue and Participation will play a role in the development, coordination and deliverance of opportunities for student experiential learning including the support and promotion of exhibitions for graduating students in partnership with student gallery coordinators at the Gordon Snelgrove Gallery
- The CPDP will coordinate collection-based engagement resulting in a sensitivity to global developments and conditions, with specific awareness of locally-rooted practices in visual culture and art
- The CPDP will be expected to provide input into all phases of USAGaC’s Strategic Plan, due for revision summer 2025. We are waiting for this position to be filled as your participation in this process will help result in a plan committed to public involvement, sensitivity to a broad range of cultural practices and innovative use of space, both on and off campus and increased definition of the role of our nested institutions within the cultural ecologies we are part of and responsible to
This means the CPDP will
- Collaborate with other Gallery staff in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of exhibition-related programs and activities resulting in the best thinking of the team
- Originate, organize and deliver a range of public programs in response to community and USAGaC’s needs resulting in an enriched and engaged public at the University and beyond
- Develop and maintain a network of community partners and stakeholders, keeping abreast of, and contributing to, current literature and practices in the field resulting in a critical and supportive public connected to USAGaC
- Contribute to USAGaC’s communications initiatives including media relations, publications, digital communications, public inquiries and customer service resulting in a growing awareness of and involvement in the Centre’s activities
- Contribute to the development and implementation of the USAGaC’s fund development program resulting in its increased financial health
- Develop budgets in areas of responsibility and administer approved budgets resulting in sound financial management
- Plan and coordinate the training and supervision of interns, students, and volunteers resulting in a new base of influential professionals ready to contribute to USAGaC and the local arts ecology
- Carry out other related administrative tasks resulting in an effective and collaborative working culture. For example, maintain statistics of public programs for annual reporting, facilitate the payment of artists’, speakers’, and the suppliers you engage
Education: Master’s Degree in a related field will be looked upon with interest as will equivalent experience in a combination of work, training, and development outside of university systems.
Experience:
- Minimum five years’ professional work experience in a related position or field
- Production of content-oriented materials for a wide range of audiences
- Demonstrated understanding of and respect for multiple forms of knowledge, BIPOC LGBTQI2S+, diverse contemporary artistic practices, research creation and publicly engaged scholarship
- Negotiating agreements with artists, art organizations, venues, etc
- Community animation projects in and through the arts
- Superior knowledge of art gallery and museum procedures, art handling, and environmental standards
- Knowledge of exhibition production and design
- Project management and delivery in a complex, dynamic environment
- Preparation of successful grant proposals to funding agencies
Skills:
- Strong interpersonal and consensus building skills
- Ability to think and act with long term developmental vision
- Proactive, highly organized and self-motivated
- Ability to prioritize and meet agreed upon deadlines
- Ability to work both collaboratively and independently
- Ability to learn how to work in an institutional setting and navigate its systems with understanding that they can change
- Ability to express ideas and concepts effectively, verbally and in writing, including the broad range of issues affecting the arts today
- Fluency in administrative and communications software will be welcome but can be taught to the right candidate
- Second languages will be especially welcome, especially Indigenous languages of this territory, ASL or dialects appropriate to our territory, like PISL, Ukrainian, or French.
Department: Kenderdine Gallery
Status: Term to July 31, 2026 with the possibility of extension
Employment Group: ASPA
Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 1.0
Salary: The salary range, based on 1.0 FTE, is $69,035.00 - 107,868.00 per annum. The starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
Salary Family (if applicable): Specialist Professional
Salary Phase/Band: Phase 2
Posted Date: 6/23/2025
Closing Date: 6/29/2025 at 6:00 pm CST
Number of Openings: 1
Work Location: May be eligible for hybrid work under the terms of USask's Alternative Workspace Guidelines
The University is committed to employment equity, diversity, and inclusion, and are proud to support career opportunities for Indigenous peoples to reflect the community we serve. We are dedicated to recruiting individuals who will enrich our work and learning environments. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. We are committed to providing accommodations to those with a disability or medical necessity. If you require an accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, please notify us and we will work together on the accommodation request. We continue to grow our partnerships with Indigenous communities across the province, nationally, and internationally and value the unique perspective that Indigenous employees provide to strengthen these relationships. Verification of Indigenous Membership/Citizenship at the University of Saskatchewan is led and determined by the deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin: Indigenous Truth policy and Standing Committee in accordance with the processes developed to enact the policy. Successful candidates that assert Indigenous membership/citizenship will be asked to complete the verification process of Indigenous membership/citizenship with documentation. The University of Saskatchewan’s main campus is situated on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis. We pay our respects to the First Nations and Métis ancestors of this place and reaffirm our relationship with one another. Together, we are uplifting Indigenization to a place of prominence at the University of Saskatchewan.