Curatorial Assistant
The Lougheed House Conservation Society is seeking a knowledgeable, innovative, and highly motivated individual to be a curatorial assistant at Lougheed House National & Provincial Historic Site. The successful candidate will be an energetic, self-motivated, and creative person. The successful candidate will have strong interpersonal, teamwork, and communication skills as well as respect for, and the ability to work with, diverse populations. The curatorial assistant will be responsible for assisting with various museum tasks such as programming, interpretation, and collections management.
Please note, that due to COVID-19, this job will take place both online and in-person dependent on local public health regulations. Candidates must be able to work remotely. Lougheed House will provide a laptop and email address for use, as well as access to the Lougheed House server. The successful candidate will be responsible for providing a reliable internet connection.
Tasks Include:
- Collections management duties including inventories, accessioning, cataloguing, and photographing artifacts, and arranging archival materials.
- Reorganization and location tracking of artifacts in the storage areas.
- Entering collections records, photographs, and locations into a collections management database.
- Develop and provide occasional guided interpretive tours of the House and gardens.
- Assist with researching and planning of exhibits and programs.
- Assist with the install of temporary exhibits.
- Help in delivery of programs and special events (may include occasional evenings or weekends).
- Address any questions visitors may have and provide additional interpretation of the House and exhibits when appropriate.
- Monitor the front desk, gift shop, and guest services area one to two days weekly to greet and provide information to visitors.
Under the direct supervision of the programs manager and the secondary supervision of the associate curator, this position will work in the Lougheed House building and gardens, as well as off-site to comply with local public health regulations. This position will have the benefit of receiving on-site training in museum programming and curatorial practices, and will gain experience in research, project development, interpretation, and educational programming. Students of museum studies (or related programs) who wish to continue learning and gain valuable work experience to put on their resume are strongly encouraged to apply.
Qualifications:
- Some university/college or training in museum studies, library/archival studies, history, anthropology, education, or a related field is strongly preferred.
- High level of written and verbal skills.
- Attention to detail and thoroughness, even with repetitive tasks.
- Friendly personality to be able to work with staff and volunteers in a busy team environment, but also self-disciplined to be able to work efficiently alone.
- Confident working with the public to guide tours, teach, or facilitate a group.
- Willingness to learn and willingness to share your knowledge to help train others.
- Possess a knowledge of or interest in local history including current issues.
- Exceptional organizational and time management skills, punctuality, and reliable.
- Applicable computer skills and experience with some administration work is a must (Microsoft Office suite, Windows, email, search engines, etc.).
- Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Check.
Important Note
This is a non-union position dependent on grant funding from Young Canada Works and/or Canada Summer Jobs and applicants must fit the criteria of the Young Canada Works Program and/or the Canada Summer Jobs Program.
To be eligible for YCW individuals must be a current student or recent graduate who must:
- Be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, or have refugee status in Canada.
- Note: Non-Canadian students holding temporary work visas or awaiting permanent status are not eligible.
- Be legally entitled to work in Canada.
- Be between 16 and 30 years of age at the start of employment.
- Meet the specific eligibility criteria of the program for which you apply.
- Be registered in the YCW online candidate inventory.
- Be willing to commit to the full duration of the work assignment.
Not have another full-time job (over 30 hours a week) while employed with YCW.
To be eligible to participate in the CSJ initiative, individuals must:
- Be between 15 and 30 years of age at the start of the employment.
- Have been registered as full-time students in the previous academic year and intend to return to school on a full-time basis in the next academic year.
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act3.
- Be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial/territorial legislation and regulations.
To Apply
Please send cover letter and resume via e-mail to info@lougheedhouse.com with Curatorial Assistant Application before the deadline date of May 1, 2022
Characteristics of City/Region
Calgary is a city of approximately 1.2 million located in southern Alberta just east of the Canadian Rockies. As the largest city in Alberta, with an international airport and situated on the trans-Canada highway and other major travel routes, Calgary attracts millions of visitors annually. The Museum occupies the 1891 sandstone, prairie mansion home of Senator James and Lady Isabella Lougheed on its 2.8 acre site with adjoining gardens. The rich history of early Calgary, the Lougheed Family and subsequent occupants of the House are represented in the Museum’s collections, exhibits, programs and special events. You can learn more about Calgary Tourism at the Visit Calgary website at visitcalgary.com.
