Career Opportunity: Director of the Marion McCain Institute for Atlantic Canadian Art   

Director of the Marion McCain Institute for Atlantic Canadian Art 

Reports to: Executive Director and CEO, Beaverbrook Art Gallery 

Direct reports: Contract curators, artists and other external partners engaged by the Institute. 

Job Purpose: 

• Significantly build upon the Beaverbrook Art Gallery's curatorial reputation for excellence in all aspects of Atlantic Canadian art. 

• Work closely with the Executive Director and CEO to shape and develop both the curatorial vision and physical presentation of the Beaverbrook’s exhibitions, acquisitions, and collections relating to Atlantic Canadian art. 

• Produce exhibitions in a variety of formats of Atlantic Canadian art that include appropriate interpretive materials - publications, catalogues, and online features, among others. 

• Present in-house exhibitions in the institute’s designated galleries at the Beaverbrook. 

• Build and improve the gallery’s permanent collection of Atlantic Canadian art by carefully selecting new works to acquire. 

• Work with the Beaverbrook's education and public programs department to produce and present programs and materials that support the gallery's public education mandate. 

• Serve as a spokesperson for the Beaverbrook in matters relating to Atlantic Canadian art and artists. 

• As the Beaverbrook develops its curatorial department, work with other staff and contract curators to strengthen the gallery's mandate for excellence in curatorial matters.  

• Establish relationships, wherever possible, with organizations focusing on Atlantic Canadian art and artists. 

• Ensure, through the Executive Director and CEO, that the Marion McCain family is informed of all substantive programs and initiatives. 

• Facilitate, wherever possible, introductions of emerging Atlantic Canadian artists to commercial galleries both domestically and internationally. 

• Advise the Executive Director on best practices relating to the evolution and complexities of representing Atlantic Canadian through the Institute. 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Work with the Executive Director to define the strategic plan, mandate and goals of the Marion McCain Institute of Atlantic Canadian Art both in the short term (five years) and in the long term. 

• Manage all aspects of the Institute, including budgets, program and exhibition scheduling, staffing, and relationships with external partners. 

• Prepare and present reports on Atlantic Canadian art to the Beaverbrook's Collections Committee relating to collections development, acquisitions, deaccessions and other related matters. 

• Develop, produce and present art exhibitions of Atlantic Canadian art within the designated galleries of the Institute at the Beaverbrook. This includes a minimum of four in-house exhibitions annually, some with national tours, online exhibitions and programs, and programs in other formats as appropriate. 

• The Director will build, or oversee with a guest curator, a minimum of four exhibitions of Atlantic Canadian art per year, representing, but not limited to: 

• Collection-based exhibitions 

• Historic and contemporary art from the region 

• Ensure Indigenous and Acadian representation in the exhibition calendar 

• The Director will be responsible for creating and ensuring a travelling program for the Institute’s exhibitions with a focus on Canada-wide engagement through peer institutions. 

• Working with the Director and CEO, the Director will be tasked with identifying and pursuing international touring opportunities for Atlantic Canadian exhibitions through the Institute.  

• The Director will enhance the Institute’s online presence, improving access to its existing online collections. 

• The Director will have editorial responsibility for Billie Magazine and will focus on national exposure for the publication. 

• The Director will also lead in developing web-based programming in consultation with internal and external partners. 

The Institute will serve the broader New Brunswick visual arts sector as a resource for touring Beaverbrook Collection exhibitions to regional galleries across the province. 

• The Director will be responsible for:  

• The interpretation of the art exhibitions and the permanent collection of Atlantic Canadian art. 

• Advise the Executive Director on funding opportunities to support the activities of the Institute. 

• Liaising with artists, in-house and external curators, educators and other partners in support of the Institute's goals. 

• Advising the Executive Director on related curatorial matters and the development of curatorial capacity at the Beaverbrook. 

Core Qualifications & Skills: 

• Education: Master’s degree in art history, Fine Arts, or Museum Studies is mandatory; a Ph.D.  highly preferred. 

• Experience: At least 8-10+ years in museum curatorial roles, with 3–5 years in a senior leadership or management capacity. 

• Expertise: Deep knowledge of the museum’s specific collection area and the art of Atlantic Canada. 

• Leadership & Management: Proven experience managing budgets, staff, strategic planning, and exhibition logistics. 

• Communication: Excellent writing, public speaking, and negotiation skills for working with donors, artists, and board members. 

• Research & Publication: A solid record of research, publishing, and exhibition curation. 

• Community Engagement: Experience in fostering relationships with diverse communities, including Indigenous, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA2S+ groups. 

Location: 

The continuous physical location of the Marion McCain Institute of Atlantic Canadian Art 

at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery will include: 

• The Marion McCain Gallery of Atlantic Canadian Art on the Beaverbrook's main level. 

The institute’s activities and installations may also extend to the other galleries and spaces at Beaverbrook. These interventions will be developed in consultation with the Executive Director, other members of the curatorial department, the education and public programs department, and the development and visitor services department. 

General: 

• Liaise with other departments and staff as needed. 

• Build or strengthen institutional relations with other visual arts’ institutions.  

• Adhere to the Beaverbrook's Code of Conduct, Health and Safety Policy, Harassment Policy and all other matters as outlined in the Staff Handbook. 

• Occasional after-hours work required. 

• Conduct other duties as required. 

• Bilingualism (English-French) is an asset.