The City of Markham is proud to be recognized for the 5th consecutive year as one of Canada’s Best Employers by Forbes and Statista Inc. In 2025, the City of Markham is ranked 2nd among municipalities in Canada and 12th overall for Government Services. The recipient of multiple environmental awards, we are recognized for our innovative sustainability and urban planning initiatives as well as our fiscal accountability. More than 366,000 residents call Markham home and benefit from our rich heritage, culturally diverse environment, vibrant local economy and focus on quality of life.
Applications are now being received for the Culture Programs Assistant Role. To apply, please submit your resume by January 18, 2026..
To apply for this position, please submit your cover letter and resume online at www.markham.ca/careers/.
Join the team at the Varley!
The Culture Programs Assistant at the Varley Art Gallery plays a pivotal role in supporting the Public Programs Coordinator in organizing, and managing various cultural programs, and events. This includes coordinating educational activities for schools, art workshops and lectures with exhibiting artists, and special events for the community. The role also involves program development, supplier management, and studio maintenance, while ensuring a high level of customer service. Additionally, the Programs Assistant collaborates with city staff, mentors educators, and helps facilitate and promote cultural initiatives. This position requires adaptability, strong communication, and a commitment to upholding City of Markham policies and procedures.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
- Assist in organizing seasonal art classes, exhibition-related programs and special events.
- Coordinate holiday programming including P.A. Days, Winter Break and March Break Camps
- Engage with school administrators to schedule, and book educational programs/school visits
- Manage room set-up requests as needed; Organize and maintain studios, and storage areas.
- Create staff training materials, and ensure adherence to Studio Etiquette.
- Communicate with art instructors and course participants
- Update shared calendars for gallery programming
- Develop and conduct program evaluations
- Supervise volunteers and co-op students in collaboration with the Development Officer.
- Assist with maintaining programs budget; purchasing supplies, invoicing artists, and suppliers
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Diploma or degree in Arts Administration, Recreation, Education, Cultural Studies, Museum Studies, or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience)
- 1 to 3 years of experience in program coordination, arts/culture, recreation, education, or a community-focused organization
- Experience working in a public-facing environment (gallery, museum, community centre, school, nonprofit)
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate multiple programs and schedules simultaneously
- Experience with booking, registration support, calendars, and room logistics
- Strong organizational skills with attention to detail (especially for camps, school visits, and special events)
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Comfortable communicating with artists and instructors, teachers and school administrators, parents, participants, and the general public
- Strong customer service orientation, with the ability to handle inquiries professionally and warmly
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office or Google Workspace (Outlook, Excel/Sheets, Word/Docs, shared calendars)
- Comfortable learning internal systems (registration software, booking tools, invoicing processes)
- Standard First Aid and CPR-C Certificate as recognized by the WSIB (mandatory)
- Clear Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS) (mandatory)
Certifications that will expire during your work term must be re-certified prior to your start date. If you are registered for an applicable course, please list it on your resume along with the registration dates.
The City of Markham is committed to inclusive, accessible and barrier free employment practices, and to creating a workplace that reflects and supports the diversity of the community we serve. Please let us know if you require an accommodation, and we will work with you to ensure a barrier free hiring process.
Should you require accommodation in accordance with the Human Rights policy with respect to your vaccine status, you will be required to disclose that at the time of conditional offer so that an accommodation can be developed prior to your start date. Please e-mail varley@markham.ca with any questions or if you require assistance.
AI Disclosure
At the City of Markham, we value transparency and fairness in recruitment. While our system (ADP Workforce Now) includes AI-powered features, we do not use AI to screen, assess, or select applicants. All evaluations are conducted by people.
Vacancy:
Seasonal Vacancy
$20.99 CAD/ hr
