At the end of my first semester at UofT, I came across the job description of “museum curator.” The position’s combination of research and academic activities—paired with creativity and the ability to make ideas come true—looked extremely compelling. I noted down the entry-level qualifications to get my foot in the door of curatorship and began to build my skill set.
Several months passed as I volunteered, built initiatives, and wrote publications. I felt confident enough in my candidacy for at least the smallest position in the smallest museum. The time to apply for internships in the sector came and… I unexpectedly faced the barrier of a hidden political mechanism that discriminates against international students in the museum industry.
Let me elaborate. Most museums operate as non-profit organizations sponsored by the Canadian government. This sponsorship comes from taxes paid annually by Canadian citizens. Because international students do not pay Canadian taxes, museum internships are only accessible to Canadians. This system operates under the Young Canada Works (YCW) program, where there is no space for non-Canadians. Thus, this “search for work experience-museums-YCW-government-taxes-Canadians” circle creates a hidden, discriminatory system that prevents international students from gaining experience in the field. When it comes to the job market, anyone is welcome to apply for a museum curatorship; however, without prior experience in the field, non-Canadians often lose this job-hunting game.
Imagine you are scrolling through job postings on LinkedIn, and a voice in your head is quietly rejoicing: “yes, I have it! Oh, this skill too—and this one! Okay, great, I have to apply!” This enthusiasm is short-lived, however, because you then scroll down to the very bottom of the page and see “this program is sponsored by Young Canada Works. Check your eligibility.” As you realize what this means for you, the voice in your head dies down, something hurts where your heart is, and you close the webpage.
One evening in December 2020, my mother said to me: “Maybe you’ll open a real museum one day.” That night, I wrote ten pages outlining the structure of my initiative. In May 2021, I pitched my idea to the Campus Life Coordinator and the Victoria College archivist. In October 2021, I hosted the first meeting with my team of assistant curators and other invaluable executives of the club I called GLAM: Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Museums.
Tired of chasing opportunities that would never become real, I created my own—not only for myself, but for the entire UofT community. To my knowledge, there were no other volunteer-based clubs that would give students an equitable chance, regardless of their citizenship, to gain real experience in curation, network with hard-to-reach industry professionals, visit exhibitions for free, and connect with like-minded students who have either a general or professional interest in the cultural industry. Thus, I would like to welcome everyone to GLAM. I am looking forward to meeting you, whether it’s at our events, an upcoming exhibition, or @glam.vic on Instagram.
