Opportunities - YCW Communications Assistant 2026

We Are Hiring: Communications Assistant (Young Canada Works) 

Centre A (officially, the Vancouver International Centre for Contemporary Asian Art), is seeking a Communications Assistant to join the team from July 18 to December 12, 2026. 
The deadline to apply is June 6, 2026 at 11:59 PM.

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Artistic Director and Executive Director, the Communications Assistant supports Centre A’s marketing, branding, outreach, and stakeholder engagement activities. The role also offers opportunities to assist with the planning and delivery of public programs and community initiatives.

The Communications Assistant helps promote Centre A's exhibitions, programs and facilities through marketing campaigns, community outreach, and online engagement. This is an excellent opportunity for someone interested in arts administration and nonprofit work to gain hands-on experience in gallery operations while working with a small, supportive team. 

The ideal candidate will be organized, detail-oriented, and eager to learn, with an interest in communicating with diverse audiences and building relationships with partner organizations, local groups, and media. 

1. Key Responsibilities: 

Working with the Centre A team, the Communications Assistant will support day-to-day communications, outreach, and gallery operations. Responsibilities include: 

Communications & Marketing:

• Assisting with the creation of communication materials for internal and external use, including marketing content and copywriting for print, online, and social media platforms
• Participating in the development and implementation of communications and audience engagement strategies for promoting Centre A exhibitions and programs across Metro ---Vancouver, with a focus on the Chinatown neighbourhood
• Writing and sourcing content for Centre A’s bi-weekly e-newsletters
• Researching, compiling, and cultivating media contacts
• Updating and maintaining the gallery website with current exhibition and program information

Community Engagement & Outreach:

• Supporting the planning, developing and executing community presentations, outreach activities and public events
• Supporting audience engagement by developing and administering program evaluation surveys, conducting focus groups, compiling data and analyzing feedback

Administrative Support:

• Updating and maintaining a database of members, donors, volunteers, community partners and media contacts
• Supporting day-to-day gallery operations and providing administrative support to the senior staff
• Assisting with grant writing as needed
• Other duties as assigned

2. Key Qualifications: 

An undergraduate or graduate degree with a major in Graphic Design, Communications, Marketing, Publicity, Design, Journalism, or related field of studies

• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong organizational skills, and the ability to multitask and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Creative approach to content and design, with an emphasis on thoughtful, purpose-driven communication
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite
• Proficiency with computers and Google Workspace and Shopify POS system
• Familiarity with social media platforms and management tools beyond personal use
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a small team
• Strong sense of equity and an understanding of accessibility
• Ability to work flexible hours
• Experience with website management, web design, or content management systems
• Familiarity with HTML an asset
• Experience with audio/video production or photography is an asset
• Knowledge of language other than English, particularly Asian languages, is a strong asset

Note: This is a paid position funded with assistance from Young Canada Works at Building Careers in Heritage (YCWBCH) Program, and all applicants must meet the program's eligibility requirements (https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/funding/young-canada-works/students-graduates/careers-heritage-graduates.html):

An individual may be eligible for an internship 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 status are not eligible);
• are legally entitled to work in Canada (located in Vancouver);
• are between 16 and 30 years of age at the start of employment;
• are willing to commit to the full duration of the work assignment;
• will not have another full-time job (over 30 hours a week) while employed with the program;
• are unemployed or underemployed;
• are a college or university graduate; and
• are not receiving Employment Insurance (EI) benefits while employed with the program.

3. Length of Term: 
30 hours/week from April 15 to September 9, 2026 
Hourly Wage: $28.45/hour 

How to Apply:

If you believe that your skills and experience align with Centre A, please send:

• A letter of intent describing your interest in the position, reasons for applying, any other information that may help strengthen your application
• A CV
• A design portfolio
• Three copywriting samples (within 150 words each)
• Contact information for a professional reference 

Please email the application package as a single PDF document with your name and the position in the title, in the above order, to recruiting@centrea.org by June 6, 2026, at 11:59 PM PT

Please note that incomplete and/or late applications will not be considered. We acknowledge the time and effort invested in each application, and thank you in advance for your interest; however, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. 

-

About Centre A: 

Centre A is a leading nonprofit art gallery currently situated in the heart of Vancouver’s Chinatown, on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. It is a registered charity and the only public art gallery in Canada dedicated to contemporary Asian and Asian-diasporic perspectives since 1999. 
Centre A is committed to providing a platform for engaging diverse communities through public access to the arts, creating mentorship opportunities for emerging artists and arts professionals, and stimulating critical dialogue through provocative exhibitions and innovative public programs that complicate understandings of migrant experiences and diasporic communities.

In addition to our exhibition space, we house a reading room with one of the best collections of Asian art books in the country, including the Finlayson Collection of Rare Asian Art Books. In these facilities and beyond, we rigorously engage in culture-making through research, curatorial engagement with artists, mentorship of emerging arts professionals, presentation of works, public dialogues and various forms of documentation.

Centre A is a unionized workplace with a collective agreement as part of the Arts and Cultural Workers Union, IATSE B-778.

Diversity, Equity Access, and Inclusion:

Centre A is located in Vancouver’s Chinatown on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. Centre A values diversity in the staff and leadership because it allows us to better understand and meet the needs of the communities we serve. It helps us foster greater creativity, breadth of experience, and personal growth among our Staff and Board, and it’s essential to our success as an organization. We are committed to equity and inclusion, and strongly encourage applications from members of underrepresented and marginalized groups, including but not limited to sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, and/or disability.

If you require assistance with submitting your application, please get in touch with us at recruiting@centrea.org.