About the Art Museum
The Art Museum is comprised of the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery (Hart House) and the University of Toronto Art Centre (University College) and is one of the largest gallery spaces for visual art exhibitions and programming in Toronto.
Building on the two galleries’ distinguished histories, the Art Museum organizes and presents an intensive year-round program of exhibitions and events that foster—at a local, regional, and international level—innovative research, interdisciplinary scholarship, and knowledge of art and its histories befitting Canada’s leading university and the country’s largest city.
The University of Toronto Permanent Collections represent a significant cultural, heritage and financial asset held in public trust for the benefit of current and future generations. The Art Museum maintains and develops four major collections comprising over 7,000 objects which circulate to museums nationally and internationally; are shared through in-house exhibitions; and provide significant onsite and online teaching, research, public engagement and programmatic opportunities. Our collections are internationally renowned with significant holdings from before the common era through major 20th century Canadian art and artists.
Most of the Art Museum’s collection is not on permanent view and therefore online access to the collection provides a key research and educational tool for students, academics, curators, artists and other researchers. Our online resources are a heavily drawn on public facing platform through which our collections are disseminated locally, nationally and internationally.
The Art Museum at the University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized, Indigenous, disabled and/or LGBTQ applicants. We are strongly committed to providing meaningful opportunities to equity-seeking communities and to underrepresented arts professionals facing barriers to access and employment.
About the placement
Working under the direct supervision of the Art Museum’s Collections Coordinator, the student will have the opportunity to explore artwork from the permanent collection through research and the composition of extended. The main objectives of this placement are to undertake one, or a combination of, the following projects:
- Produce a research-based report on Prudence Heward’s portraiture featuring Black female subjects, in relation to her painting Dark Girl (1935, oil on canvas, Hart House Collection, University of Toronto).
- Research and write extended labels for artwork installed in the Hart House Great Hall
- Research and write briefs about artwork under consideration for acquisition.
Through this work, the student will contribute to the enhancement of public access and engagement with the Collection. The student will also gain direct gallery experience through secondary duties as part of the front-of-house team which involves welcoming visitors and answering questions.
Requirements
- Knowledge and interest in the subject matter specific to this placement as per above
- Excellent communication skills
- Excellent research skills, including working with primary and secondary sources
- Diligent, organized and shows attention to detail
- Ability to think creatively and critically
- Ability to work in a team and independently
- Positive attitude, enthusiastic, reliable and willingness to learn
- Interest in galleries and museums, contemporary and historic art and equity practices
Special application requirements: Please include a writing sample with your application. Class essays are acceptable to submit for this purpose.
Timing or hours of placement: The placement is up to a maximum of 8-10 hours per week for 12 weeks during the fall 2025 semester (Sept-Dec). Flexible timing throughout the week. Placement begins the week of Sept. 2.
Credit: Half credit (0.5). This internship is for pass/fail course credit at the University of Toronto through the Department of Art History. Only University of Toronto students are eligible. This is not a paid position.
Interested students should send an application by Thursday, July 31, 2025 to Professor Jessica Mace (jessica.mace@utoronto.ca). Applications should include 1) a letter of interest (including any relevant coursework or experience), 2) a resume, and 3) a writing sample. Please indicate to which posting(s) you are applying. If you are interested in multiple postings, you only need to submit one application.