JOB OPPORTUNITY: Artist-in-Residence / Programming Assistant

Application Deadline: September 21, 2026
October 13, 2026 – March 27, 2027
Full time (30 hours per week) – $21.00 per hour
Two-week paid break over the winter holidays

SAVAC (South Asian Visual Arts Centre) is seeking an Artist-in-Residence/Programming Assistant for a 24-week internship supported through Young Canada Works at Building Careers in Heritage. Visual artists working in all mediums, who are also interested in working in the artist-run sector, are invited to apply. 

This position is a combined artist residency and gallery internship, designed for an emerging artist who has recently graduated from their studies. The successful applicant will split their time between working in the studio and working as an arts administrator. As part of the residency, the successful candidate will develop a body of work and give a public artist talk. As Programming Assistant, they will complete administrative and programming duties relating to the arts centre as assigned. 

While studio work may be completed remotely and onsite at 401 Commons Arts Hub (401 Richmond St W, Toronto), Programming Assistant duties will be performed onsite at the SAVAC office. The successful applicant must live in the GTHA region or be able to commute. The Artist-in Residence/Programming Assistant reports to SAVAC’s Artistic Director and Executive Director.

YCW Eligibility: 

An individual is eligible for an internship funded by the Young Canada Works at Building Careers in Heritage program, if they: 

• are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, or have refugee status in Canada (non-Canadians holding temporary work visas or awaiting permanent resident status are not eligible); 
• are legally entitled to work in Canada (have a valid social insurance number); 
• are between 16 and 30 years of age inclusively at the start of employment; and 
• are a college or university graduate (certificate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate). 

Note: Priority will be given to graduates who have not previously participated in YCW internship programs and who are unemployed or underemployed.

Qualifications: 

• Currently working as an emerging visual or media artist practicing in any medium, actively expanding their creative body of work. 
• Completion of a Studio Art, Fine Art, Media Art, Art History, Curatorial Practice (or equivalent) degree or diploma at the undergraduate or graduate level from a college or university. 
• Knowledge of, and/or experience with the barriers faced by artists of colour. 
• Excellent knowledge of contemporary art and Canadian artist-run centres. 
• Intermediate English is required, while other languages are considered an asset. 
• Strong written and oral communication skills with the ability to write a variety of texts, such as critical essays, promotional writing, and email correspondence. 
• Computer skills required: Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, social media platforms, Adobe Creative Suite, typing and researching skills. 
• Intermediate researching skills with experience using online databases and library catalogues. Additional research experience with archives and museum collections is considered an asset. 
• Ability to multitask within a fast-paced environment, autonomously as well as within a team setting. 
• Availability to work a flexible work schedule for events, including occasional evenings and weekends. 
• Self-driven with excellent attention to detail, time management, and organizational skills in order to balance self-directed studio work and meet deadlines.

How to Apply: 

Please email your complete application to the Selections Committee at submissions@savac.net. Merge all written documents in one single PDF or Word Document. 

• Applicant contact information (full name, address, city, email, phone number, and if applicable, link to your website) 
• Cover letter outlining your relevant skills and experiences related to the qualifications for the role; and mentioning your YCWBCH eligibility. 
• Brief description of your artistic practice and current goals (250 words max) 
• Artist CV or resume (maximum 3 pages) 
• Names and contact details for two references. 
• Artist Portfolio: In addition to your written documents, please include up to 10 images of your artworks (attached as jpegs to your application email) and/or 5 minutes or video or sound art (sent as vimeo, google drive, or youtube links only). Do not send zip folders or via file transfer services. 
• Please label all files with YourName_YCWBCH

Accessibility: 

SAVAC is located in a physically accessible building. Interviews will be conducted over zoom. Please advise us of any accommodations needed to ensure you can complete the application or interview process. Accommodation request can be sent to vanessa@savac.net. 

SAVAC was founded to be an organization staffed by people of colour, committed to support the work of artists of colour. 

This position is dependent on funding from the Canadian Heritage Young Canada Works at Building Careers in Heritage (YCW-BCH) program and candidate eligibility is stipulated by Young Canada Works graduate grant guidelines. Candidates must register online through the YCW website. 

Application deadline: September 21, 2026 

We thank all applicants for their interest. Due to the volume of applications, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.