Executive Director & Chief Curator at The Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery, Waterloo, Ontario
Posted on February 15, 2025
The Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery seeks a dynamic, inspiring and experienced Executive Director & Chief Curator to lead this award-winning National contemporary art museum that focuses on ceramic, glass and enamel as it continues its growth, development of new audiences and increasingly assumes prominence on the national and international stage. The Executive Director & Chief Curator will work to fulfil the Gallery’s artistic vision, tell its story, build upon years of increased collaboration, expansion of outreach, capabilities and programming, advocate publicly for the Gallery and lead next-level development efforts to support the further expansion of its programs and ensure the Gallery’s financial stability.
Working Days: Full-time, permanent
Compensation: $100,000 – $115,000
Start Date: July 2, 2025
Application Deadline: Friday, February 28, 2025
The Executive Director & Chief Curator is responsible for leading and mentoring a dedicated team of staff professionals, and for building strong collaborative relationships with other galleries and community partners, locally and in a wider national and international context. The Executive Director & Chief Curator will effectively manage the operation of the Gallery, adhere to Board policy and carry out its strategic vision. The Executive Director & Chief Curator will report to a committed and engaged Board of Directors.
ABOUT THE GALLERY
By exhibiting and collecting contemporary works in ceramics, glass and enamel, the Gallery inspires dialogue, critical discourse and new ways of thinking. With an emphasis on work by Canadian artists, the Gallery brings exhibitions to the public that are grounded in craft processes, engaged in contemporary experimentation and which are meaningful to diverse audiences, often amplifying untold stories to open dialogue and inspire social change. The Gallery’s media specificity is its distinguishing characteristic and its greatest strength. The Gallery is committed to support artists at all stages of their career, from emerging to established, and actively seeks to feature artists from diverse cultural backgrounds. It awards an annual Shantz Award for Ceramics and RBC Glass Award, each with a $10,000 prize. Through exhibitions that address issues relevant to our times and intriguing public programs that engage, educate and inspire, we are accessible to all. The Gallery Shop, a fine craft gallery in its own right, features exclusively Canadian artists from across the country. Having adopted a national mandate in the early stages of its organizational development, the Gallery continues to develop its reputation as a national centre of research, scholarship and artistic excellence.
GALLERY BACKGROUND
The Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery opened in 1993 in a purpose built, award-winning building designed to showcase contemporary Canadian ceramic, glass and enamel art. Now in its 32nd year, it continues to innovate and expand its reach to wider audience through its internal and external spaces. The Gallery is supported by the City of Waterloo, the Region of Waterloo, the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts, along with corporate, foundation and individual funders.
LOCATED IN WATERLOO REGION
The Gallery is located in Waterloo Region, an area of entrepreneurship, collaboration, innovation, world-class technology, arts activity, economic initiatives and educational excellence on a world-class scale. Waterloo Region is one of the fastest-growing regions in Canada.
KEY FUNCTIONS
The successful Executive Director & Chief Curator will raise the profile of the Gallery locally, nationally and internationally; lead its artistic vision; implement its Strategic Plan; advance its next level development and fund-raising; promote connections with other galleries; guide the Gallery to more diverse audiences, communicate the Gallery mandate; advocate for the Gallery; and manage all administrative and functional assets of the Gallery.
REQUIREMENTS
• 5-10 years’ experience as a senior manager in a visual arts institution
• 10-15 years curatorial or equivalent experience including exhibitions, publications, acquisitions • Curatorial experience in ceramics, glass and enamel arts is an asset
• Advanced degree in arts/arts administration or equivalent education or experience • In-depth knowledge of contemporary Canadian and international art
• Experience with best practices for Gallery management including long-term planning, project management and budget formulation
• Strong leadership and mentorship skills and demonstrated ability to lead a successful team
• The ability to forge innovative collaborations with other galleries and community partners, locally, nationally and internationally
• Creativity and ability to develop programming to reach a wide, diverse audiences and engage with them in a meaningful way
• Demonstrated experience in obtaining grants and funding, in securing major gifts and stewarding donor relationships
• Effective problem-solving
Interested applicants are invited to submit, in confidence, a letter of application, and a detailed resume outlining their qualifications for this position, along with names, titles, and contact information for their three professional references.
Canadians, permanent residents, and/or foreign nationals with a valid work permit will be given priority consideration. The Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion in our working culture and in our community. We welcome and encourage applications from qualified candidates of all cultures, ethnicities, gender and sexual identities and abilities.
Applications should be submitted electronically in a single pdf file to the Canadian Clay & Glass Executive Director & Chief Curator Search Committee at ccggedapplications@gmail.com.
We would like to thank all applicants for their interest in this position but regret that we are only able to personally contact those individuals whose background best match the requirements of the position.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
A Position Description, the Gallery’s 2023/2024 Annual Report and a summary of the Gallery’s 2023-2026 Strategic Plan are available on the Gallery’s website.
