Date Posted: Monday November 16, 2026
Job Title: Tenure-Track, Assistant Professor in Studio Arts (Indigenous Focus)
The Position
Nipissing University invites applications for a Tenure-Track, Assistant Professor – Studio Art (Indigenous Focus). As a cross-appointment between the Fine Arts/Visual Arts and Indigenous Studies programs, both housed within the Faculty of Arts and Science, the successful candidate will contribute to the research, program development and course delivery, and the service requirements of both units. This position reflects Nipissing University’s commitment to integrating and expanding Indigenous forms of knowledge and creative work within the institution.
Fine Arts/Visual Arts at Nipissing University
Nipissing’s Fine Arts/Visual Arts program offers a four-year BFA Honours and a four-year BA in Fine Arts (both a Specialization and Major), all of which are studio-based programs. We value direct material engagement, appreciate diverse artistic and/or craft practices, and possess strengths and growing interest in community-connected learning and place-responsive artistic inquiry. As such, we seek candidates whose artistic practice, pedagogy, and service contributions will complement and build upon these strengths. Learn more about Nipissing’s Fine Arts/Visual Arts programs here: https://future.nipissingu.ca/programs/fine-arts/.
Our current need is in two-dimensional media, specifically in the areas of drawing and painting, although all forms of visual artistic practice will be considered. Additional experience and demonstrated ability to teach in one or more of the following areas will be considered an asset: printmaking, sculpture/installation, or ceramics. Indigenous artists/makers with an active studio practice and exhibition record, and a deep understanding of Indigenous arts, creativity, and culture are encouraged to apply.
Indigenous Studies at Nipissing University
The successful candidate will contribute to the Indigenous Studies program’s transition to a four-year program offering both a BA and Honours BA. Learn more about Nipissing's Indigenous studies program here: https://future.nipissingu.ca/programs/indigenous-studies/.
To support this development, the program seeks Indigenous scholars whose research and/or creative practise and teaching expertise align with at least one of the following broad areas:
- Indigenous Health/Wellness and Human Development:
The candidate will contribute to teaching and research related to Indigenous health, human development, and the health and social service sectors. Their work will engage Indigenous and Western knowledge systems in ways that support culturally safe and responsive approaches to health and wellness, social services, community well-being, and human development. - Indigenous Environmental Knowledge and Land-Based Learning:
The candidate will contribute to teaching and research related to Indigenous environmental knowledge, land-based learning, and relationships to land and territory. The candidate’s creative practise will draw on land-based approaches that reflect Indigenous ways of knowing and being, and their teaching will engage with Indigenous concepts such as natural law, reciprocity with the land, relationality, and sacredness. - Indigenous Material Culture Studies and Creative Practices:
The candidate will contribute to teaching and research related to Indigenous arts, crafts, material cultures, creative practices, and cultural expression. Their work will examine the relationships among Indigenous aesthetics, knowledge systems, worldviews, and lifeways, including visual, auditory, tactile, and other forms of cultural expression. The candidate will contribute to the development of scholarly and/or creative work that advances the theoretical and applied learning objectives of the program.
Responsibilities and Qualifications
The main responsibilities of the position include:
- Maintaining an active studio practice and record of exhibition.
- Teaching and contributing to course delivery in the Indigenous Studies program and the Fine Arts/Visual Arts program, which may include mentoring and/or supervising students.
- Contributing to the future development of both the Indigenous Studies program and the Fine Arts/Visual Arts program. Teaching responsibilities will be determined in accordance with the candidate’s area(s) of expertise.
- Contributing to the service requirements of the Indigenous Studies program and the Fine Arts/Visual Arts program, the broader university, as well as the local and regional communities we serve.
The successful candidate will have the following qualifications:
- Identify as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit and be able to demonstrate an established relationship with an Indigenous community, Nation, or recognized Indigenous organization. The candidate will also demonstrate an established and ongoing connection to these communities.
- An MFA in Fine Arts/Visual Arts (or equivalent qualifications).
- An active studio practice and record of exhibition.
- Demonstrated expertise in areas identified by the Indigenous Studies program and Fine Arts/Visual Arts program.
- Experience and evidence of successful teaching and supporting students at the post-secondary level.
- A demonstrated commitment to service activities.
Indigenous Community Connection and Citizenship
Given the nature and mandate of the Indigenous Studies program, the successful candidate(s) will be expected to demonstrate an established and ongoing connection to an Indigenous community, Nation, or People. Candidates should identify as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit and be able to demonstrate an established relationship with an Indigenous community, Nation, or recognized Indigenous organization.
Consistent with approaches adopted by other Canadian universities, substantiation of Indigenous citizenship, membership, or community connection may take a variety of forms. Depending on the candidate’s circumstances, this may include:
- First Nations citizenship, status, membership, or enrollment documentation;
- a letter from a First Nations community or Nation confirming membership or community connection;
- documentation supporting a First Nations, Non-Status, or other Indigenous community connection;
- Métis citizenship through a recognized Métis Nation government or community, including citizenship documentation or recognized genealogical documentation;
- Inuit beneficiary documentation or confirmation from a recognized Inuit organization or government;
- a letter from the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) and/or one of its affiliated provincial or territorial organizations;
- a letter of support or confirmation from a legally constituted First Nations, Métis, or Inuit organization that is able to attest to the candidate’s Indigenous citizenship and/or community connection; or
- other appropriate documentation or confirmation that demonstrates an established relationship with an Indigenous Nation, community, or People.
The University recognizes that Indigenous citizenship, membership, and belonging are determined through diverse Nation- and community-specific processes. Accordingly, the selection process will respect Indigenous self-determination and recognize that appropriate forms of substantiation may differ among First Nations, Métis, and Inuit candidates.
Candidates will be asked to provide a brief statement describing their connection to the Indigenous community, Nation, or People with which they identify and, where appropriate, supporting documentation or confirmation from that community, Nation, or an Indigenous organization.
Salary & Benefits
The annual salary for this role will range from $87,720 to $134,200 at the Assistant Professor rank, depending on qualifications and experience. In addition, there is an employee benefits and pension plan offered as per the Nipissing University Faculty Association (NUFA) Collective Agreement. This position is located in North Bay, Ontario and will commence July 1, 2027. This position is subject to final budgetary approval.
About Nipissing University and the City of North Bay
Nipissing University is in the City of North Bay, Ontario (population 55,000), in the territory of the Robinson-Huron Treaty of 1850 and the Nipissing First Nation Traditional Territory and the traditional territory of the Anishinabek. Situated between Lake Nipissing and Trout Lake, and surrounded by Canadian Shield Forest, our campus is a comfortable three-and-a-half-hour drive from either Toronto or Ottawa. North Bay is a growing city with a vibrant arts community, ample amenities, and countless opportunities for outdoor activities. Learn more about North Bay, Ontario by visiting the @cityofnorthbay YouTube channel here: The City of North Bay.
Nipissing University is known for its excellence in teacher education, arts, science, and a range of professional programs. The School of Graduate Studies includes programs in history, sociology, education, environmental science/studies, kinesiology, and mathematics. In “Pathways: Our Commitments to Water, Land, and People”, Nipissing University has committed to fulfilling our responsibility to truth and reconciliation; nurturing our relationship with water, land, and place; embodying harmony and care; inspiring growth and development; building sustainable futures; and, celebrating who we are. Nipissing’s renowned focus on student success and experience has translated into top rankings nationally in the areas of student support, student experience, faculty, and residences as a primarily undergraduate institution. Nipissing’s academic environment provides close student-faculty interaction, innovative approaches to learning, and a vibrant research culture. Nipissing’s Strategic Research Plan reflects this focus on addressing issues of regional relevance through work with regional, national, and international impact within our research achievement areas: Indigenous and decolonial research, the environment and natural resources, the human condition, conflict resolution, inequality, and information technology and mathematical sciences.
Nipissing’s faculty and staff are committed to decolonization and reconciliation and provide a supportive environment for Indigenous students enrolled at the University. Our campus is in a region home to 7,000 First Nations, Metis, and Inuit residents, many of whom choose to study at Nipissing University. As a public university located on the traditional territory of Nipissing First Nation and on the lands within the Robinson-Huron Treaty of 1850, Nipissing University is bound to advance knowledge and be a good guest on this land. Nipissing University has a Careers landing page where prospective applicants can discover exciting career opportunities, learn more about the vibrant City of North Bay, and explore what makes our institution a unique and rewarding place to work.
This institution is an advocate for equity and is committed to ensuring its community is diverse and inclusive. We welcome applications from members of racialized minorities, women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of various sexual orientations and gender identities, and others with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities and contribute to the institution’s research excellence. The institution seeks to maintain its commitment to excellence and recognizes that increasing the diversity of its faculty and ensuring an inclusive environment supports this objective.
Application Instructions
Required Materials:
- A current Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- A cover letter addressing how the candidate meets the qualifications listed above and their suitability for the position.
- A brief statement describing your connection to the Indigenous community, Nation, or People with which you identify.
- An artist statement/research statement about the candidate’s studio practice.
- 10-15 samples of the candidate’s artistic work accompanied by a corresponding numbered image list that includes the works’ title, medium, dimensions, and date of completion.
- Images of artwork/support materials and the corresponding image list should be submitted in PDF as a part of the application package. For submission of other formats, such as time-based work (e.g. audio or video files), please contact careers@nipissingu.ca.
- A statement of teaching philosophy.
- A sample course syllabus for a studio course of your choice. The sample should indicate both the content and structure of the course.
- The names, titles, and contact information of three referees who can speak to the candidates' qualifications and suitability for the position.
Please submit the completed application by 4:00pm on Wednesday December 16, 2026. Review of applications will commence Thursday December 17, 2026, and will continue to be accepted and reviewed until the position is filled. These materials should be sent in one PDF document to careers@nipissingu.ca using the subject line “Tenure-Track, Studio Arts”.
Nipissing University is committed to employment equity and strongly encourages applications, which may include self-identification in a cover letter from Indigenous peoples, women, persons with disabilities, persons who identify as 2SLGBTQI+ and racialized minorities.
Nipissing University must gather information from applicants to determine eligibility to work in Canada. Please include a statement in your application to identify whether you are a Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident or are otherwise legally eligible to work in Canada.
Nipissing University will provide accommodation to ensure barrier-free employment in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. You can request accommodation at any stage of the hiring process. If you require accommodation, please contact Human Resources at access@nipissingu.ca.
In compliance with Ontario's Employment Standards Act, this posting includes the expected compensation range and indicates that AI is not used in our hiring process. This position is for an existing vacancy at Nipissing University.
The search committee would like to thank all applicants for their interest in Nipissing University. Please note that only those candidates invited for an interview will be contacted.
