Employment Opportunity: 

Education and Public Programming Intern

Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art seeks an enthusiastic and professional individual as our Education and Public Programming Intern. This is a paid internship opportunity funded in part by Young Canada Works through the Canadian Museums Association. Candidates must be under 30 years old, a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and be returning to school following the internship to meet eligibility requirements outlined by Young Canada Works.

This term position, from June 9 to August 29, 2025; is 40 hours a week, requiring some work in the evenings and on weekends.

Job Title: Education and Public Programming Intern

Program Stream: Young Canada Works for Heritage Organizations (Summer Jobs for Students)

Length of Assignment: June 9, 2025 – August 29, 2025

Hours per week: 40

Hourly Wage: $16/hr

Deadline for applications: May 2, 2025

Job Description: 

The Education and Public Programming Intern will participate in a broad range of activities that include various aspects of running a contemporary art gallery, museum or institute, as well as research, writing and administration. The candidate must be able to prioritize competing demands in a dynamic work environment. The position is well-suited for a candidate interested in pursuing a career in the not-for-profit and/or culture and heritage sectors.

The Education and Public Programming Intern will be key to the successful implementation of the Summer Institute program through their active involvement with both faculty and participants. Under the direction of the Communications Coordinator and Executive Director, the Intern’s task may include: documenting events and studio work; assisting faculty with respect to logistical coordination; assisting in designing promotional material for public events; assisting in setting up for Summer Institute public talks, studio visits and the Open Studio; and other tasks as deemed necessary.

Description of tasks:

Reporting to the Communications Coordinator and the Executive Director, the Education and Public Programming Intern will participate in a broad range of activities, including:

• Assist with logistics and organizations of Plug In’s public programming, focusing primarily on the July 2024 Summer Institute, including artists’ talks, screenings and other activities;
• Assist with the photographic and audiovisual documentation of public programs
• Review correspondence with the Summer Institute faculty and participants and prepare for any special requirements or requests;
• Assist with Plug In’s day-to-day operations, including administrative tasks (e.g., timesheets, filing, participation in staff meetings);
• Assist with the assembly and organization of research materials for the Summer Institute and any concurrent public programming;
• Assist with the organizing and delivery of information to the media, ensuring that Plug In’s public programs are well-publicized;
• Liaise with external organizations and persons as required to implement tasks;
• Assist, where appropriate, with installation of exhibitions and set-up of other programming activities;
• Assist with updating databases, library and archives, mail-outs and clerical duties;
• Other duties as required.

Candidate Profile:

A successful candidate will have an interest in pursuing a career in contemporary art, particularly as an artist, curator, public educator or related practice. The candidate should be undertaking or have recently completed a relevant degree (BA, MA, BFA, MFA) in curatorial studies, visual art, art history, cultural studies, media studies, communications or related fields. The candidate will need to be available to work the occasional evening and weekend when absolutely necessary.

The ideal candidate should have a solid knowledge of MS Office software, particularly MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and Mac IOS systems. The candidate should also have a strong understanding of social media platforms and be quick to learn new media applications. Experience with InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop is preferred.

All applicants must be eligible for the Young Canada Works, Careers in Heritage program: i.e, they must be Canadian citizens, permanent residencies or have refugee status; legally entitled to work in Canada; be of 16 to 30 years of age at the beginning of the Internship; be able to commit to the full 12 weeks of the internship and not have a second full-time job at this time; and have been a full-time secondary or post-secondary student before the commencement of the work assignment and have the intention to return to full-time studies following the conclusion of the Internship.

Plug In encourages applications from visible and invisible minority group members including Black persons, Indigenous persons, People of colour, women, persons with disabilities, persons across the spectrum of sexual orientation and gender identities, and others with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. We are committed to removing barriers to participation. Should you require accommodation during the application process, please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.

How to apply:

Interested candidates should submit a curriculum vitae and letter of interest by 5 pm Central Time on May 2, 2025.

Plug In thanks all candidates for their interest, but only those to be interviewed will be contacted.

Please submit applications to:

Gilles Hébert, Interim Executive Director at executivedirector@plugin.org. with the subject line: Education and Public Programming Internship Application 

Full job call available below: