Are you passionate about art education? Do you have experience engaging volunteers, and have strong knowledge of contemporary art? Surrey Art Gallery is seeking an engaging Volunteer Programmer to join our education team.
Internationally recognized for its award-winning programs, Surrey Art Gallery exhibits contemporary art by local, national, and international artists, including digital and sound art. Gallery programs include artist talks, tours, school programs, and artmaking and learning opportunities with artists, educators, and other specialists.
The Volunteer Programmer carries out a range of educational and administrative responsibilities for developing, planning, implementing, and evaluating the Gallery’s volunteer programs, including:
• Docents: guides who lead K-12 School Program exhibition tours
• Youth Docents: youth who facilitate in Gallery interpretive programs for families’
• Children’s Art Program Assistants: youth that support Gallery courses and camps
• Gallery Event Volunteers: volunteers that assist with event and discursive programs
• Library Volunteers: who work to maintain the Gallery’s research collection
• Conceptualizing and piloting new initiatives
• Exhibition tours for the Gallery’s K-12 School Programs
• Developing and leading training programs for the Docents, Youth Docents, and Children’s Art Program Assistants
• Volunteer recognition and retainment including the organizing of events and outings
The Volunteer Programmer is also responsible for the recruitment, screening, training, and supervision of 200 plus volunteers in programs. The successful applicant will require nuanced interpersonal skills to support a cohesive group dynamic among volunteers and have a developed capacity for facilitating collaboration between diverse volunteers, staff, visiting artists and curators.
Training for the volunteers includes researching and developing curriculum to support the work of Gallery docents and oversees participating staff and volunteers supporting education programs. This includes making connections between exhibition content and BC education curriculum, designing materials that engage volunteers and staff in learning around art education methodologies, engaging diverse learners, and researching exhibition content to support Gallery education programs.
This position reports to the Curator of Education and works directly with the School and Family Programmer, Visual Arts Programmer, artist-educators, exhibition curators, Arts Centre staff, and community committees (such as the City of Surrey Volunteer Administrators Committee), as well as the Gallery Director, curatorial staff, Communications Coordinator, exhibiting artists, and guest speakers.
Required Skills:
Skills include a strong knowledge and experience in art education theory and practice; inquiry-based approaches to learning: broad knowledge of contemporary art and art history; excellent oral and written communication (including grant and report writing); exceptional interpersonal capabilities; and solid capacities in administration, research, problem solving; and the capacity to supervise others, work independently and collaborate within a team.
Qualifications:
• University or college degree/diploma in a related discipline such as, museum education, art education, fine arts, art history, or general education with an art specialty (additional teaching certification is an asset)
• 2 years of progressively responsible experience in developing, administering, and presenting initiatives in this area of specialty, including supervision, or an equivalent acceptable combination of training and experience
Applicants under consideration will be required to have Emergency First Aid with CPR certification and successfully clear a Police Information Check/Vulnerable Sector Check.
