Associate Curator in Toronto, Ontario

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*NOTE: This is a temporary position (18-months) providing support to CIBC’s Fine Art Team*

What you’ll be doing

The Associate Curator’s purpose is to support the planning and execution of CIBC’s C2 Art Program, a yearly national art award which provides financial support and an exhibition opportunity to Canadian emerging artists. This role will also support the Art Department with the curation, management and execution of art requests, installations, programs and projects. In addition, the Associate Curator will ensure good stewardship of the CIBC Fine Art Collection and support all aspects of the management of the Collection including inventorying, cataloguing, documentation, data entry, conservation and reframing, appraisals, and record-keeping.

At CIBC we enable the work environment most optimal for you to thrive in your role. You’ll have the flexibility to manage your work activities within a hybrid work arrangement where you’ll spend 1-3 days per week on-site, while other days will be remote.

How you’ll succeed

• C2 Art Program – Take a lead role in the project coordination of the CIBC C2 Art Program. Manage the project schedule and coordination of activities with key internal and external partners to successfully deliver the Program on a yearly basis.

• Participate in regular status update meetings with the Program team, consisting of the Art Curator & Collection Manager and the Director, Fine Art & Archives.

• Support all aspects of the judging process , including releasing the Call for Submissions, tracking and receiving submissions, coordinating with selection committee, and ensuring submissions align to Rules of the Program.

• Work with the Communications team to coordinate the internal and external communications related to the Program.

• Collaborate with the Events team to plan and execute the Exhibition Opening Reception, manage the guest list, invitations, and all materials related to the event.

• Liaise with applicants, winning artists, the Program selection committee and the art community.

• Support the curation of the final exhibitions , collaborate with winning artists during the creation phase through regular status meetings.

• Lead the coordination of the exhibitions , including framing and plinths, shipping, artist travel/accommodations, supervising installers, graphics, didactics and other associated tasks.

• Manage the tracking of expenses and processing of invoices.

• Participate in and support presentations to WDE leadership on the status and progress of the Program

• Art Projects and Collection Management – Support the Art Curators in the management of all collections care, following and implementing accepted fine art collection professional standards and procedures.

• Supervise the care, conservation and preservation of artwork including : Conducting inventories, coordinating conservation treatments, coordinating reframing, and liaising with Facilities Management concerning problems and/or cleaning needs.

• Provide curating support as required.

• Develop presentation materials and proposals for art requests, projects and initiatives, present key leadership updates.

• Manage and perform operations including acquisitions, donations, education, marketing, inventorying, cataloguing, asset tagging, updating/maintaining the fine art database, record keeping, and other administrative tasks.

• Responsible for logistics related to art movement including documentation, condition reports, packing, shipping, and receiving, liaising with vendors and internal partners.

• Liaise with art consultants, art handlers, and vendors.

• Receive, prepare and catalogue new acquisitions and existing art work.

• Maintain art catalogue and activity tracker , perform data entry and create new records as required.

• Manage the catalogue contents to keep the catalogue current and ensure new entries/edits to data is kept up to date and accurate.

• Providing support on activities relating to appraisals and reporting for Insurance.

• This role operates within a Mobile Workplace Strategy , a flexible and mobile way of working, enabling employees to work more effectively in their office space, and certain employees to work effectively from other locations (i.e. other CIBC offices, on the road, client/vendor sites), and includes working from home.

• May need to wear protective gear to keep self and art safe.

• Fast-paced environment with tight timelines and competing priorities, requiring the ability to concentrate in a noisy environment.

• May need to work evenings or weekends to support art moves and installations during non-office working hours.

• May need to access/use the storage rooms as well as visit off-site storage facilities.

• This role may require working at other locations and/or travel (i.e. other CIBC offices, on the road, client/vendor sites, home).

Who you are

• You have a Bachelors or Masters degree in fine art, art history, collections management or related field.

• Experience with management and delivery of arts programming, exhibitions and projects in the context of an art gallery, art centre, museum, or related organization.

• Experience with the care and handling of art work and with collection management including cataloguing, data entry and documentation.

• Understanding of historical and contemporary Canadian art.

• Knowledgeable about industry best practices.

• You know that details matter. You notice things that others don’t. Your critical thinking skills help to inform your decision making.

• You’re motivated by collective success. You know that teamwork can transform a good idea into a great one. You know that an inclusive team that enjoys working together can bring a vision to life.

• Excellent written and oral presentation skills with an ability to communicate effectively with a wide audience.

• Familiarity with current applications and technology used in the art & design industry.

• Confidence and ability to exercise independent judgment, discretion and diplomacy.

• You embrace and advocate for change. You continuously evolve your thinking and the way you work in order to deliver your best.

• Values matter to you. You bring your real self to work and you live our values – trust, teamwork, and accountability.

What CIBC Offers

At CIBC, your goals are a priority. We start with your strengths and ambitions as an employee and strive to create opportunities to tap into your potential.

• We work to recognize you in meaningful, personalized ways including a competitive compensation, a banking benefit*, wellbeing support and additional offers such as employee and family assistance programs and MomentMakers, our social, points-based recognition program.

• Our spaces and technological toolkit will make it simple to bring together great minds to create innovative solutions that make a difference for our clients.

*Subject to program terms and conditions

What you need to know

• CIBC is committed to creating an inclusive environment where all team members and clients feel like they belong. We seek applicants with a wide range of abilities and we provide an accessible candidate experience. If you need accommodation, please contact [email protected]

• You need to be legally eligible to work at the location(s) specified above and, where applicable, must have a valid work or study permit

• We may ask you to complete an attribute-based assessment and other skills tests (such as simulation, coding, French proficiency, MS Office). Our goal for the application process is to get to know more about you, all that you have to offer, and give you the opportunity to learn more about us.

Expected End Date

2026-07-03

Job Location

Toronto-81 Bay, 33rd Floor

Employment Type

Temporary (Fixed Term)

Weekly Hours

37.5

Skills

Activity Coordination, Art Projects, Collections Care, Collections Management, Communication, Data Entry, Documentations, Fine Arts, Logistics, Management Reporting, Planning Ability, Prioritization, Processing, Reporting and Analysis, Taking Initiative, Teamwork, Work Collaboratively

At CIBC, we are in business to help our clients, employees and shareholders achieve what is important to them. Our ability to create value for all CIBC stakeholders is driven by a business culture based on common values: Trust, Teamwork and Accountability.

Working with CIBC makes you a part of a work environment committed to our clients, employees and communities – a place where you can excel.

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