Apply: Public Art Program Assistant

Join our team for a seasonal opportunity as a Public Art Program Assistant!

Contract Dates: May 12, 2025 to August 29, 2025
Compensation: $17.50 per hour (30-40 hours per week, TBD at time of offer)
Additional Details: Hybrid position based in the Greater Toronto Area with some virtual and some on-site responsibilities
Application Deadline: Monday, March 31, 2025 at 2:00 PM ET

Artist Credit: Kseniya Tsoy
Photo Credit: Jason Montplaisir

Who is STEPS Public Art

STEPS Public Art is a Canadian charity and social enterprise. We offer services in public art management, hoarding exhibits, cultural planning, and artist capacity building. We run charitable programs that support artists and foster vibrant and inclusive communities. Our main office is based in the Ancestral Wendat territory and the shared territory of the Anishinaabeg and the Haudenosaunee, covered by The Dish With One Spoon treaty, and later, Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands. STEPS is committed to cultivating safe spaces for Indigenous voices to be heard.

We’re committed to providing you with:

• Skill Development: We identify development goals and experiences to advance your professional development
• Training: We frequently host training sessions on topics related to equity, inclusion, accessibility, site safety, first aid, etc.
• Mentorship: An opportunity to match and meet regularly with a staff member 
• Networking: Opportunities to participate in networking activities to forge new professional relationships
• Feedback: Time to provide feedback between you and your supervisor regarding performance and focus areas for development
• References for future employment or other opportunities
• Remuneration for required training fees, travel, etc.

The Public Art Program Assistant Role

This role is perfect for students and emerging professionals passionate about the arts and seeking hands-on experience in public art projects and cultural event planning. You’ll assist in developing, coordinating, and promoting art projects that enrich our community, gaining valuable skills in a vibrant environment.

This opportunity is funded by Canada Summer Jobs, and candidates who meet the criteria outlined by the funder will be prioritized. Please read the job description and eligibility criteria in full.

Job Responsibilities

• Help Plan Art Stuff: You’ll help us think of and plan cool public art projects; this means talking to artists and community members to find out what they need and coming up with great ideas with our team
• Help Make Art Happen: You’ll get everything ready for our art projects; this includes finding artists and materials, helping out at art sites, supporting project logistics (including movement of materials and site setup/cleanup), and making sure everyone is safe
• Be Part of Art Events: You’ll help run events like art showings, talks, and workshops; your job will be to make sure these events go smoothly and everyone learns something cool
• Talk to People: You’ll chat with artists, community members, and our team to ensure everyone knows about our art projects and events
• Represent STEPS: Sometimes, you’ll go to art events or meetings to share what we’re all about!
• Share Our Stories: You’ll help us tell everyone about our projects by gathering photos, quotes, and stories, as well as writing about our work
• Work with Our Team: You’ll join in on meetings and help us with big projects to make communities stronger through arts and cultural initiatives

Required Skills

• Education: This role is perfect if you’re currently studying or recently stepped into your career path in art, design, cultural management or anything creative! If you’re looking to apply what you’ve learned in school to real-world situations and gain valuable experience, this is the job for you (but what we really care about is your love for art and creativity)
• Your Skills: You should be good at talking to people, solving problems, and paying attention to details (knowing how to use Microsoft Office and Google Drive is a plus)
• Your Creativity: We love new ideas; if you’re excited to bring your creativity into our team, you’ll fit right in
• Your Driving Abilities: Our projects are on sites across Southern Ontario, so it’s important for successful candidates to have a valid driver’s license
• Your Schedule: Sometimes, we’ll need you in the evenings or on weekends to support our projects, events, and productions
• Extra Skills: If you’ve worked in customer service or can speak both English and French, that’s a bonus!

Eligibility

This position is funded through the Canada Summer Jobs program. Preference will be given to candidates who meet the following criteria established by the funder:

• Are no more than 30 years of age during the contract period (born AFTER September 1, 1995)
• Are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment
• Have a valid Social Insurance Number

STEPS encourages applications from all qualified candidates legally able to work in Canada that represent the full diversity of communities, including complexities of intersecting identities such as ability, age, class, gender, race, and sexual orientation. We are particularly interested in receiving applications from equity-deserving communities, including those who identify as: Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), Black, person of colour, newcomer, Disabled, and/or LGBTQQIP2SAA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, pansexual, two-spirit, asexual, allies, along with additional sexual orientations and gender identities).

Application process

We invite qualified applicants to apply through the Google Form by Monday, March 31, 2025 at 2:00 PM ET.

Candidates who need additional support applying for this position are encouraged to contact Amanda Wand (Operations Manager) at amanda@stepspublicart.org by Monday, March 24, 2025 at 12:00 PM ET to accommodate your needs appropriately and discuss alternate formats for submitting your application.

Thank you for your interest in this position. Due to the high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview via video-conferencing.