Archives Intern (Young Canada Works) Internship

Western Front is one of Canada’s leading artist-run centres, and is located on the unceded, ancestral, and occupied, traditional lands of the xwməθkwəy̓əy̓ m (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations of the Coast Salish peoples in Vancouver, Canada.

We deliver a multidisciplinary program that supports artists to produce and present work, and to foster public exchange at a local, national, and international level. We do this through new work commissions, exhibitions, performances, concerts, publishing, residencies, and workshops. Western Front also preserves and provides access to an ever-growing archive that documents the organization’s 50 plus year history of artistic programming and production of media artworks.

Job Description

Western Front is looking for an Archives Intern to join our team. Working with our Archivist, the Archives Intern is an entry level position that will assist in a wide variety of administrative and archives focused activities that aid in the management, preservation, and access to our unique holdings of approximately 2,000 video tapes and 800 audio recordings on magnetic media; 40 TB of digitized and born digital media; 30 meters of textual and graphic material; legacy technical equipment; performance props and costumes; and original artworks. The Archives Intern will also have opportunities to engage with our active yearly program of exhibitions and events through front of house assistance and archival tasks for recent programs.

This position is a unique opportunity to gain hands-on and diverse experience at a community archives within a non-profit artist-run centre, and among a team that is working in various disciplines such as curatorial, programming, and production to realize the work and legacy of multidisciplinary artists. The impact of this position is paramount to supporting Western Front to increase the accessibility and researchability, and administrative functionality, preservation, and institutional memory of our archives.

Responsibilities

– Producing archival descriptions of a wide variety of textual records, graphic materials, and audiovisual media in Western Front’s CollectiveAccess archives database.
– Seeking copyright holders and gaining permissions.
– Publishing records and media on Western Front’s front end archives website in collaboration with Western Front’s curatorial team.
– Assisting with digitization activities of audio and video on magnetic tape, slides and photographs.
– Assisting with digital preservation activities, including capturing technical and preservation metadata.
– Assisting with records management activities.
– Assessing physical condition, rehousing, and creating condition reports for archival items.
– Archives location tracking and creating efficient storage spaces.
– Assisting to make the archives accessible to a wide range of users, including via supporting research requests and visits.
– Participating in discussions surrounding policy, accessibility, deaccessions, and records management; and reporting on progress and documenting workflows.
– Assisting with Front of House duties for events and exhibitions.

Qualifications
– Be eligible to apply through the Young Canada Works (YCW) criteria: a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or hold refugee status; legally entitled to work in Canada; be between the ages of 16 and 30; and preferably has not participated in a YCW internship program before.
– Recent graduate from a Master of Archival Studies and/or Master of Library and Information Studies program, or equivalent from a college or university.
– Knowledge and proficiency in the established standards for acquisition, accessioning, appraisal, arrangement, description (Canadian Rules for Archival – Description [RAD]), indexing, and preservation of archival materials.
– Strong attention to detail and comfortable working on repetitive screen-based tasks.
– Experience using Microsoft Office (especially Word and Excel), Google Workspace, databases, and a Mac work environment is an asset, though we are happy to provide training if required.
– Proven ability to meet deadlines and to maintain momentum while working independently and with a team.
– Demonstrated commitment to working collegially and collaboratively to build respectful and trusting relationships with a diverse group of staff, community members, and stakeholders.
– Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Terms: Full-time, fixed term (July 3, 2025 – March 12, 2026)

Hours: 35-hours per week

Salary: $31,500 ($25 per hour) + benefits

Benefits: Extended health and dental benefits after 3 months, 8% vacation pay, up to 5 days of professional development leave

Application Deadline: June 5, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time

Start Date: July 3, 2025

How to Apply

Please submit a brief statement of intent and curriculum vitae (resume) to info@westernfront.ca with the subject “Archives Intern Search” by June 5, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. Statements of intent may be submitted in the form of a written cover letter, a video, an audio recording, or a slideshow presentation.

Employment Equity

Western Front actively supports equity, diversity and inclusion. We believe that diversity strengthens and enriches us, and are committed to making the arts and cultural sector a more diverse and equitable place. We encourage those who can contribute to the diversification of ideas and lived experiences, including Indigenous peoples, people from racialized communities, women, people with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities to apply. If you wish to self-identify, please do so in your statement of intent.

The successful candidate must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, or have refugee status in Canada; be legally entitled to work in Canada; be between 16 and 30 years of age at the start of employment; and be registered with Young Canada Works online here. All qualified candidates are welcome to apply.

Accessibility

Western Front is partially accessible. We are currently conducting feasibility planning to improve the accessibility of our heritage building. If you have specific questions relating to accessibility or require support to participate in the process, please email info@westernfront.ca