Curatorial Intern for Indigenous Art (AUS)

Job summary

The intern will assist curatorial staff in planning and creating new curated spaces and temporary exhibitions featuring Indigenous artwork. Responsibilities include researching the collection, producing wall labels and communication materials, and cataloging artworks in the CollectionSpace database.

Job details

Please refer to the How to Apply for a Job (for External Candidates) job aid for instructions on how to apply. If you are an active McGill employee (ie: currently in an active contract or position at McGill University), do not apply through this Career Site. Login to your McGill Workday account and apply to this posting using the Find Jobs report (type Find Jobs in the search bar). RESTRICTED TO MCGILL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS *** The position is open to McGill's undergraduate students only. Preference for McGill students eligible to Work Study Subsidies will be considered. Please indicate your faculty and program, your current year and expected graduation date, and include the confirmation of eligibility, when applying.*** Hiring Unit: Visual Arts Collection Hourly rate: $16.70 / hour Duration: September 6, 2026 to December 23, 2026 Position Summary: The McGill Visual Arts Collection, a member of McGill Libraries, has nearly 3,500 works of art on display across the University’s campuses. The collection is always expanding and now includes over 190 artworks by Indigenous creators. Working with the Visual Arts Collection’s curatorial staff, the Curatorial Intern for Indigenous Art will participate in the planning and creation of new curated spaces on campus and a temporary exhibition. The Curatorial Intern for Indigenous Art will be active in the research on Indigenous artwork from the Collection for this project and contextualizing its display by producing wall labels and tour scripts, as well as blog posts and other communication material. The Curatorial Intern for Indigenous Art will also have an opportunity to participate in the ongoing activities of the VAC, like cataloguing artworks in a database called CollectionSpace, as well as meeting donors, and giving art tours. Working under the guidance and supervision of museum professionals, the experience will prove invaluable to anyone looking to build a career in this field. Good organizational skills, excellent attention to detail, and ability to work well in a team are required. An Indigenous background is preferred. Applicant should have superior communications skills in English (reading, writing, speaking), as well as, preferably, a basic knowledge of French (speaking knowledge especially important) and an indigenous language. For more information about the McGill Visual Arts Collection: www.mcgill.ca/vacollection. Other Qualifying Skills and/or Abilities Before applying, please note that to work at McGill University, you must be both authorized to work in Canada and willing to work in the province of Quebec at the campus where the position is based / located. Knowledge of English: McGill University is an English-language university where day to day duties may require English communication both verbally and in writing. The level of English required for this position has been assessed at a level # (3) on a scale of 0-4. For a definition of our language proficiency levels, please click here. Minimum Education and Experience: High School Diploma Minimal or No Related Experience Hourly Salary: (AMUSE A) $16.70 Estimated Number of Work Hours per Week: 10 (Part time) Position Start Date: 2026-08-30 Position End Date: 2026-12-23 Deadline to Apply: 2026-09-18 This position is covered by the AMUSE collective agreement. McGill University hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, [email protected].

What you’ll do

The intern will assist curatorial staff in planning and creating new curated spaces and temporary exhibitions featuring Indigenous artwork. Responsibilities include researching the collection, producing wall labels and communication materials, and cataloging artworks in the CollectionSpace database.

Requirements

Applicants must be current McGill University undergraduate students with strong communication skills in English. Preference is given to students eligible for Work Study subsidies and those with an Indigenous background.

Listed skills

• Teamwork · Preferred
• Attention to detail · Preferred
• Communication · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Curatorial research
• Art cataloging
• Communication
• Writing
• Public speaking
• Organizational skills
• Attention to detail
• Teamwork
• Database management
• English proficiency
• French proficiency
• Indigenous language proficiency
• Employment Equity
• Blog Posts
• Organizational Skills
• Planning
• Research
• English Language
• French Language
• Detail Oriented

Job areas

• Art & Design
• Education
• Science & Research
• Creative & Media
• Curatorial Intern
• Museum Curator
• Archivists and Curators
• Curators