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About the Role

The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) seeks a visionary, dynamic, and experienced Chief Curator to lead the Gallery’s artistic, curatorial, collections, and publishing direction. The successful candidate will have a track record of creating dynamic and culturally relevant programs that attract significant audiences, engage artists and audiences, and strengthen the Gallery’s local, national, and international visibility, engagement, and contribution. They will also have a passion for developing relationships with collectors and donors to support the continued growth and dynamism of the AGO.

Responsibilities

• Participates in and is accountable for the institution's senior leadership and performance.
• Contributes to the development and effective communication of strategic goals, planning initiatives, policies, and resource allocations.
• Develops strategic direction for the collection's development in collaboration with the Director and CEO and the Chief, Exhibitions, Collections and Conservation.
• Sets, communicates, and promotes the overall plan for collection development, collection growth, and elective de-accessioning initiatives with input from curators and collection care professionals.
• Leads the creative concept and planning processes with curators and colleagues to develop prospective annual and long-range programming including exhibitions, publications, film, live performances, awards and prize programs, and related events projects.
• Ensures programmatic excellence and alignment with the AGO’s vision, objectives, and revenue/admission goals.
• Contributes to Board of Trustee meetings and related committee meetings by providing regular updates and rationale on strategic growth and positioning of exhibitions and programming plans.
• Leads all personnel directly concerned with the creative, artistic elements of each project, balancing external talent with internal staff development.
• Directs the development of collections, art support, and curatorial support management processes for Gallery operations.
• Ensures accuracy and efficiency of collection information and art support for exhibitions and publications.
• Ensures adherence to professional standards of excellence for collection care, exhibition design, graphic design, production, collection information management, and donation documentation.
• Ensures Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board (CCPERB) applications are in effect and maintained.
• Works collaboratively with the Chief, Education & Public Programming to integrate intergenerational educational programs, public programming, and interpretive strategies.
• Develops and nurtures relationships with First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities and participates in national efforts for Truth and Reconciliation.
• Develops and maintains relationships with institutions, curators, and artists to develop projects collaboratively, place AGO-organized exhibitions in other institutions, identify exhibitions of interest, and commission new works.
• Provides articulate written information about programming, creative artistic direction, exhibition, and publication standards and methodology for all internal and external communications and publications.
• Engages actively in fundraising initiatives, particularly with individuals, government agencies, corporations, and foundations.
• Builds strong relationships with collectors that result in gifts of art to the AGO collection.
• Provides expert advice and acts as a resource on leading visual arts and museum programming trends and practices.
• Collaborates with other functional areas in developing strategies to educate and encourage public visitation and increase access to works of art and programming.
• Develops and implements an exciting vision and strategic plan for the Curatorial Affairs Division.
• Directs development of and ensures compliance with established budgets and schedules for division functions and services, and all Gallery operations.
• Selects, orients, trains, develops, and manages the work performance of departmental staff.
• Develops a succession management plan for the ongoing development of the division.
• Manages delivery of services in accordance with department systems and procedures, applicable collective agreements, and AGO’s policies and procedures.
• Represents the AGO at public functions as a spokesperson, advocate, and champion.
• Directs the development and implementation of policies and procedures for the preparation, approval, and management of contracts and grant submissions.
• Liaises with government representatives, agencies, and other cultural institutions on matters related to funding, partnerships, joint ventures, loans, and exhibitions.
• Performs other responsibilities as required.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in Art History or equivalent related experience in exhibition and program planning and production.
• At least 10 years of museum experience at a senior management leadership level in exhibition and publication planning and development, project management, art support production, collections care, and management.
• Broad curatorial experience gained in museums that have sought and achieved imaginative ways of engaging with their visitors and which have met targeted results.
• Broad knowledge of art history and respected connoisseurship in a dedicated area of expertise.
• Track record of significant exhibitions and publications that are both scholarly and accessible.
• Demonstrated experience/ability to partner with the Director in developing the artistic vision of the institution, developing exhibition projects, positioning the institution externally, and realizing financial support and works of art from donors.
• At least five years of demonstrable experience managing, mentoring, and retaining talent, and discipline in managing curatorial staff.
• Experience in setting and managing performance benchmarks and creating a team-oriented culture of performance and accountability.
• Demonstrated experience working successfully with senior leaders of an organization.
• Demonstrated experience serving as a visible member of the broader community and public face of an institution.
• Effective comprehension and application of confidentiality and diplomacy.
• Experience managing in a unionized/volunteer environment is an asset.
• Superior judgment and demonstrated experience managing multiple and competing priorities, pressure related to deadlines, productive conflict, and management of professional personnel across various fields of expertise.
• This role will require travel, evening, and weekend work.

Skills

• Art History
• Exhibition planning
• Program planning
• Publication planning
• Project management
• Art support production
• Collections care
• Collections management
• Connoisseurship
• Contemporary art engagement
• Mentoring talent
• Performance management
• Team-oriented culture development
• Accountability
• Interpersonal skills
• Presentation skills
• Confidentiality
• Diplomacy
• Judgment
• Conflict management

Location

• Toronto, ON

Work Type

• Regular Full-Time
• Permanent Full-Time
• 35 hours per week

Experience Level

• At least 10 years of museum experience at a senior management leadership level
• At least five years of demonstrable experience managing, mentoring, and retaining talent

Education Level

• Advanced degree in Art History or equivalent related experience

Salary/Compensations

• $185,000-$210,000 CAD

Benefits

• Extended Health Plan
• Drug/Prescription Plan
• Dental Benefits
• Vision Care Benefits
• Disability and Life Insurance Benefits
• Individual Retirement Savings Plan (RSP)
• Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D)
• Spousal Life Insurance (AD&D)
• Child/Dependent Life Insurance (AD&D)
• Pension Plan (Defined Contribution, non-contributory)
• Home & Auto Insurance Plan
• Business Travel Accident Insurance
• Paid vacation days
• Relocation allowance to be considered
• Discounts from the Provincial/City Reciprocal Agreements
• Discounts to Goodlife Fitness
• Employee Discounts & Free tickets to every major exhibit at AGO
• Professional Membership Fee Reimbursement

About the Company

• The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is one of the largest art museums in North America with a staff of over 600 and a collection of more than 130,000 works of art.
• The AGO presents wide-ranging exhibitions and programs, including solo and thematic exhibitions and has a robust acquisitions program of art from around the world.
• The AGO is an architectural masterpiece significantly designed by the Canadian architect Frank Gehry with over 120,000 sq feet of gallery space.
• Currently the AGO is expanding by building the Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery, which will create an additional 40,000 sq feet of exhibition space to present art after 1900.
• With the expansion, which opens in the Fall of 2027, the AGO will be the largest art museum in Canada.
• The AGO attracts between 700,000 and 1M visitors a year and is notable for the diversity and youth of its audiences.
• With over 200,000 members and annual pass holders, the AGO has a passionately engaged public.
• The AGO is proud that it is one of the most affordable and accessible attractions in the Greater Toronto Area with all Ontarians under 25 eligible for a sponsored annual pass.
• The AGO is driven by the values of Respect, Openness, Collaboration, and Accountability as well as clear operating principles: Be inclusive, accessible, and relevant to visitors; Strive for artistic and operational excellence; Achieve financial equilibrium and sustainability.