Create & Connect Assistant
Reports to: Curator: Exhibitions & Programs, Education Coordinator
Hours of Work: Up to 36 hours / month (9 hours / week) (average), from September 2024 to March 2025, for a total of 270 hours.
Position Summary
The Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery is seeking a contract Create & Connect Assistant to join our team for the 2024-25 season. The Create & Connect Assistant supervises, mentors, plans and helps facilitate the activities of Create & Connect with the support of KWAG’s Public Programming Department (Education Coordinator). Create & Connect convenes on most Wednesday mornings from September to mid-March.
The Create & Connect Assistant’s role is to listen to the interests, desires and goals of the Create & Connect volunteer team and help enhance Create & Connect activities to support the program’s goals, alongside the Education Coordinator. The successful incumbent must balance leadership and support, facilitating group discussions and decision making in a safe, equitable and inclusive forum, while responding to the interests of volunteers, participants and community partners as a representative of Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery. The Create & Connect Assistant will serve as a vital link primarily between the volunteer team, participants, partners and the Education Coordinator. Tasks include assisting with recruitment, logistical planning and facilitating peer-led decision-making, under the supervision and support of the Education Coordinator.
This position is funded by the New Horizons for Seniors program (Government of Canada).
About Create & Connect
This vibrant program is led, developed and facilitated by a volunteer community of age 55+ or better team members who are passionate about using art as a tool to foster connection, conversation and wellness.
Program Objectives:
1. Promoting volunteerism across multiple generations
2. Engaging older adults in the community through mentorship opportunities
3. Supporting the social participation and inclusion of citizens age 55 or greater
These thoughtfully designed workshops are available both in-person and virtually to fully support creative aging and experiential learning opportunities for the 55+ community. The workshops are accessible to new, blossoming or experienced artists, and are created for all levels of experience.
Create & Connect is offered in-person at local community centres, adult living centres, libraries and long-term care homes throughout Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge, or virtually from the comfort of home over Zoom. Past workshops have explored materials and techniques in watercolour, Gelli-Plate printmaking, decoupage, journal binding and chigiri-e (torn paper) inspired art.
Create & Connect Fall 2024 Volunteer Schedule:
All sessions are scheduled for Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. beginning in September 2024 and concluding by the end of March 2025.
Key upcoming 2024 dates:
11 September Volunteer Information & Recruitment Session
18 September Training Session (1 of 3)
25 September Training Session (2 of 3)
2 October Training Session (3 of 3)
9 October Program Development (1 of 3)
16 October Program Development (2 of 3)
23 October Program Development (3 of 3 - virtual)
27 November Winter Gathering & Volunteer Appreciation
Create & Connect Assistant – Key Responsibilities:
• Through discussions with the Create & Connect volunteer team and Education Coordinator, plan and facilitate programming for Create & Connect sessions between September and March
• Participate in Create & Connect volunteer team training and program development sessions
• Work with the Education Coordinator to support and inspire the Create & Connect volunteer team in planning programs, providing facilitation, feedback and support on ideas, and championing innovation and experimentation
• Share Create & Connect volunteer team ideas and interests with the Education Coordinator, so they can leverage mentorship and gallery connections to further support the Create & Connect program goals, and collaboratively determine responsive programming
• Thoughtfully interact with all volunteers to ensure they feel supported in leading the Create & Connect volunteer team while also mediating challenges that may arise
• Facilitate the exchange of information between Create & Connect volunteers, community partners and the Education Coordinator to ensure all parties are informed of current activities at KWAG, and KWAG staff are aware of Create & Connect activities, including advance notice of wish list items so that proper plans, budgets and materials can be secured
• Assist in the recruitment and support of Create & Connect volunteers
• Create and maintain contact list for Recruitment, including community partners and other organizations
• Create and maintain the Create & Connect volunteer schedule in tandem with the Education Coordinator
• Work with Education Coordinator to manage logistics of Create & Connect activities (i.e. setting up virtual sessions, confirming meeting times) and communicate plans with volunteers and workshop participants in advance (including reminders)
• Assist with set-up of Create & Connect meetings and workshops (procuring snacks, beverages, art materials, bus tickets as approved by Education Coordinator)
• Remain on-site to tidy workshop and studio spaces after meetings
• Maintain contact spreadsheet for active Create & Connect volunteers
• Collect photos and testimonials from the program cohort
• Seek out networking opportunities with other older adult organizations or groups in the community and/or Southern Ontario
• Develop formal and informal evaluations including surveys and polls in tandem with the Education Coordinator
• Participate in conducting formal and informal ongoing evaluation (i.e. surveys) of the program’s successes and failures from community partners, participants and volunteers
• Build positive connections between KWAG and other community organizations through the program and be a positive ambassador for the gallery in community
• Act in a professional manner and representative of KWAG at all times, and ensure that internal and external communication also meets professional standards
Desired Qualifications / Experience
• Warm, energetic and empathetic personality, comfortable working with adults aged 55+
• Strong planning, leadership and coordination skills
• Experience leading and facilitating adult art programming
• Experience leading and facilitating virtual programming is an asset
• Experience with Arts Education, Fine Arts, Art History or related field is an asset
• Ability to work independently and within deadlines
• Ability to interact with public in a positive, enthusiastic and professional manner
• Ability to facilitate creative discussion and experimentation relating to artistic process
• Able to work flexible hours throughout the week
• Current Vulnerable Sector Police check required
• Access to vehicle is an asset
The Create & Connect Assistant should be available up to 60 minutes prior to all sessions for set-up and remain afterwards to return all spaces and materials back to their original order. Some sessions may take place outside of regular working hours. Regular meetings with the Education Coordinator will be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time.
Hours and rate of pay:
This term position is up to 10 hours per week at $17.75 per hour, to be worked between September and March 31, 2025 (27 weeks). This position will be on payroll, with 4% vacation pay provided. Most work will take place at KWAG (101 Queen Street North, Kitchener).
To apply:
Please submit a CV and cover letter outlining your interest and suitability for the position to:
Jenna Winter, Director of Finance & Administration
Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery
Email: jwinter@kwag.on.ca
Deadline: Monday September 2, 5:00 p.m.
The Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery is committed to being an inclusive and respectful workplace that reflects the diversity of our community. We encourage and welcome applications that contribute to the further diversification of the Gallery, including but not limited to Indigenous, Black, and Racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQ+ persons.
We thank all applicants for their interest in the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery; however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.
