About Us

Since 1908, the Gallery has been a gateway for the visual arts in Atlantic Canada by engaging people with art. It is committed to this mission as an agency of the Province of Nova Scotia and one of the premier arts institutions in Canada. At its core, the Gallery is responsible for acquiring, preserving and exhibiting works of art, and for providing education in the visual arts.

The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia seeks to present the most vital and engaging contemporary art from around the world. We will embrace tradition and the past by applying a contemporary viewpoint that addresses relevant issues and challenges perspectives. 

We are an inclusive public gathering place that connects people with art to inspire thinking.

Please note, due to legislative changes, as of January 1, 2023, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia (AGNS) employees are no longer Civil Servants and are instead direct employees of the AGNS

About Our Opportunity

The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia is recruiting motivated individuals to join our team as a temporary relief Museum Technician 1-2 (Preparator). In this role, you will report to the Head Preparator.


These positions are casual relief, on-call with no guarantee of hours.   Relief employees fill gaps in the schedule and replace full-time employees who are on vacation, etc.  If successful, you must be available to work varied hours during our core hours of operation: Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 4:30. Occasionally, shift start and end times will fluctuate outside of these core hours based on business needs.

Primary Accountabilities

• Mat and/or frame artwork for exhibitions,
• Build crates,
• Fabricate structures,
• Install and maintain permanent, temporary and travelling exhibition installations,
• Prepare galleries for exhibition (painting, other wall treatments),
• Load, pack and unload shipments of artworks with due care and attention to museum standards,
• Support the audio-visual and computer technologies that are central to contemporary art practice,
• Maintain exhibit structures, lighting fixtures and preparation workshop tools and equipment, storage hallways and gallery warehouse,
• Occasional support of local, provincial and interprovincial transportation of exhibits, artworks and other materials as required. 
• Occasional or as-needed support of collections care duties such as storage maintenance, movement of artwork, general cleaning, data entry.

Qualifications and Experience

• To be successful in this role you have a High School diploma and post‐secondary training in a related area of specialty; or an equivalent combination of training and experience may be acceptable. 
• The ideal candidates will have current knowledge of contemporary visual arts, art gallery/museum standards, installation and carpentry experience, matting and framing experience, and audio/visual equipment experience. 
• Strong interpersonal and planning skills are essential. 
• In this position, the incumbent will be required to manage priorities, have the ability to perform under pressure; and the ability to use creative problem-solving strategies to meet various deadlines. 
• Some heavy lifting and working at heights may be required. 
• Possession of a valid driver’s license and forklift operators course will be considered an asset.
• Fine Arts or Museum Studies Degree and/or a relevant trade certificate considered an asset. 

Equivalency

Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

What We Offer

• Career development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career
• Engaging workplace: our employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in, we have forward-thinking policies and strategies
• A dynamic, client-focused office environment where service excellence and teamwork are our focus.