Job Description
Engagement & Education Assistant – Summer Student
Tom Thomson Art Gallery
Job Posting # 2025-11
Closing Date: open until filled
The Tom Thomson Art Gallery is seeking two Summer Engagement and Education Assistants to support the development and delivery of key engagement initiatives, including public programming focusing on children’s day and weeklong camps, enhanced visitor services, and the promotion of the OPEN Card free membership program in conjunction with several community cultural partners.
Working with the Gallery’s Education and Curatorial teams, they will be responsible for creating programming to support summer and fall exhibitions, facilitating day and weeklong camp programming, working with community organizations and partners to support partnership growth and expand educational activities, conducting guided tours for school groups, community groups, cultural partners and public, and supporting Visitor Services.
This is a great opportunity to gain experience working in a public art gallery with diverse audiences and will include a broad range of duties. The student will gain experience and skills in project management, time and resource management, program design, public speaking, tour and workshop design and facilitation.
The successful candidate should meet the following criteria:
• has studied or is studying within the disciplines of education, art, art history, arts administration or museum studies
• possesses excellent communication skills in written and oral forms
• has strong interpersonal skills for communicating with diverse audiences
• has demonstrated creativity and a desire to work with diverse age groups and backgrounds
• has strong organizational and time management skills, and the ability to multi-task while paying attention to detail
• has the ability to work independently and as part of a team
• has customer service, teaching or tourism experience
• has competency in using Microsoft Office (Word, Publisher, Outlook, Excel), social media, cameras, databases
This is a full-time (35 hours/week), contract position running May 26 to September 1, 2025, with day, evening and weekend shifts required. The successful candidate will be paid a rate of $17.20 per hour.
This position is dependent upon funding through Young Canada Works. Applicants must confirm that they meet the requirement for funding to be considered for these positions.
Program Participants must:
• be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, or have refugee status in Canada (non-Canadians holding temporary work visas or awaiting permanent resident status are not eligible);
• are legally entitled to work in Canada (have a valid social insurance number);
• are between 16 and 30 years of age inclusively at the start of employment; and
• are a high school, college, CEGEP or university student.
Note: Priority will be given to students who have not previously participated in the YCWHO employment program.
The Tom Thomson Art Gallery is a public art gallery located in Owen Sound, Ontario. The Gallery is dedicated to presenting and exploring contemporary and historical art through exhibitions and public programming. The City of Owen Sound is located on the southern shore of Georgian Bay in a valley below the limestone cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment. It lies at the foot of the Bruce Peninsula, famous for its exceptional geography. Known as the Scenic City, Owen Sound features an expansive harbour and bay, winding rivers, tree-lined streets, extensive parks and trails and a thriving, historic downtown. Once named a Cultural Capital of Canada, Owen Sound has a vibrant and dynamic arts community.
To explore this opportunity further, submit your resume and cover letter referencing job number 2025-11 to:
Human Resources Department hrjobposting@owensound.ca
The City of Owen Sound is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, valuing and respecting diversity. We are committed to inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection processes. We will accommodate the needs of qualified applicants under the Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians Disabilities Act, in all aspects of the hiring process, upon request. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those being considered for an interview will be contacted. In accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, personal information is collected under the authority of the Municipal Act, and will only be used for candidate selection.
