Art Metropole

22 Oct. - 05 Nov. 2021

Employment Opportunity: Collection, Archives & Inventory Assistant (YCW Position)

Art Metropole is seeking applicants for the 18-week position of Collection, Archives & Inventory Assistant. This position is designed for college or university graduates who wish to gain practical experience working in one of Canada’s longest-standing artist-run centres, with a goal to transition into a career in the fields of Library Sciences, Archives and Records Management, or Arts Administration.

This position is remunerated at $22.08 per hour with a 35-hour work week, beginning November 22 2021 and ending March 25 2022 for a total of 18 weeks. The position includes two-weeks paid time off during our holiday closure at the end of December 2021.

Art Metropole is actively taking measures to ensure better representation of equity-seeking culture workers throughout the organization, particularly in leadership and governance. We strongly encourage and will prioritize applications from those who are Black, Indigenous, people of colour, Queer, Trans, differently abled, and from other self-identifying applicants. Artists and other cultural workers often face precarious working conditions, lack of job security, and below average wages. Art Metropole has committed to addressing these issues, and is proud to be a certified Living Wage Employer, with all staff at Art Metropole earning at least $22.08 per hour, the living wage calculated for Toronto.

Organization Description
Established in 1974, Art Metropole is an internationally renowned artist-run centre that promotes the appreciation of artist-initiated publishing in any media, especially those formats predisposed to sharing and circulation. Art Metropole specializes in the production, contextualization, and distribution of artist’s books, multiples, and related materials, including innovative formats and emergent technologies.

Job Description
The main responsibilities of the Collection, Archives & Inventory Assistant (CAIA) will be to help Art Metropole improve the visibility and increase the accessibility of our collection, archives, and inventory. Through research, outreach, and hands-on activities, the CAIA will lead the digitization of collection and archive items, assist with inventory and AM’s shop, and help to maintain the overall condition of the collection.

Key Responsibilities
Digitization of collection and archive items:
- Photo-documenting and condition reporting items to create database entries
- Uploading the entry to AM’s online archive
- Identifying and cleaning up mistaken inputs in existing entries, including finding and updating missing information

Assisting with inventory and AM’s shop:
- Fulfilling online shop orders, including packaging inventory and facilitating shipping and/or curbside pickups from AM’s office
- General shipping and receiving of bulk inventory items
- Communicating with vendors and customers
- Inputting new inventory entries into AM’s database and web shop
- Assisting with an inventory count
- Assisting with retail duties in-person at AM’s new shop location

Collection maintenance:
- Conducting research on current collection items in order to produce more detailed database entries
- Working with staff to research new works to acquire, suitable works to deaccession where applicable,
- Performing outreach to increase contacts with similar institutions collecting and non-collecting in order to promote our collection and forge possible new partnerships.

Key Qualifications
- Background in Contemporary Art, Art History, Museums, Archives, or Librarian Studies, with an undergraduate or graduate degree in these or related fields
- Knowledge of and experience with contemporary art practices or non-profit artist-run centres; familiarity with artist’s books and bookselling is an asset
- A proven team player with enthusiasm for Art Metropole’s mission, and experience working in a collaborative environment
- Highly organized, able to multitask and prioritize, able to work under tight timelines, and possessing a keen eye for detail
- Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
- Strong computer skills, with familiarity with standard office software, including word processing and spreadsheet software; experience with Adobe Creative Suite is an asset
- Experience with art handling, archival material, or installing art exhibits is a considerable asset

Additional Info
Art Metropole is proud to be a certified Living Wage Employer at the Champion Level by the Ontario Living Wage Network. This position is remunerated at $22.08 per hour with a 35-hour work week, beginning November 22 2021 and ending March 25 2021 for a total of 18 weeks. The position includes two-weeks paid time off during our holiday closure at the end of December 2021.

The position allows for a mix of remote and in-person working, though requires some work to take place in Art Metropole’s office and shop, located in Toronto. The primary language required is English.

This position is funded through the Young Canada Works (YCW) at Building Careers in Heritage (YCWBCH) internship program for unemployed or underemployed college or university graduates. The program helps graduates make the transition from college or university to the workplace, allowing them to hone their professional skills and begin a career in the heritage, arts and cultural sectors. To be eligible for this position, applicants must:

- be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, or have refugee status in Canada (non-Canadians holding temporary work visas or awaiting permanent status are not eligible);
- be legally entitled to work in Canada;
- be between 16 and 30 years of age at the start of employment;
- be willing to commit to the full duration of the work assignment;
- not have another full-time job (over 30 hours a week) while employed with the program;
- be unemployed or underemployed;
- be a college or university graduate; and
- not be receiving Employment Insurance (EI) benefits while employed with the program.

Application deadline: November 5 2021 at 5pm ET.
Applicants should submit a cover letter and CV in PDF format to hiring2021@artmetropole.com.

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