STEPS Public Art Marketing & Communications Placements - STEPS Public Art

STEPS hosts Marketing & Communications student placements. These placements are ideal for students seeking hands-on experience in communications, digital marketing, public relations, content creation, and community storytelling, particularly within the nonprofit arts and culture sector. We typically host up to two (2) placements per academic term. These roles are flexible and adapted to students’ interests, learning goals, and existing skill sets. Students are supported by staff through onboarding, mentorship, and access to tools and training.

Depending on your focus area, you may have the opportunity to gain experience in the following:

• Content Creation & Visual Storytelling: Capture and edit visuals (photos, video, testimonials) and contribute to social media graphics, campaign assets, and print materials using tools such as Canva or Adobe Creative Cloud.
• Digital Marketing & Social Media: Assist in writing and scheduling engaging content for STEPS’ social platforms, newsletters, and website, with a focus on increasing audience engagement and reach.
• Audience Research & Segmentation: Conduct research to support targeted outreach efforts, identifying prospective audiences for STEPS programs, public art services, or events.
• Analytics & Performance Tracking: Use tools like Google Analytics, Mailchimp, and Meta Business Suite to monitor performance and inform campaign refinements and quarterly communications reports.
• Communications Strategy Support: Contribute to the planning and execution of marketing campaigns for STEPS programs and services, including copywriting, content calendar updates, and campaign brainstorming.
• Equity-Centred Communications: Apply best practices in accessibility, inclusive language, and community representation across digital and print materials.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship-Building: Assist in maintaining positive relationships with STEPS’ partners, artists, and clients through digital engagement, content collaborations, or cross-promotional support.
• Evaluation & Storytelling for Impact: Collect testimonials, quotes, impact metrics, and evaluation feedback to support case studies, reports, and other impact-focused communications tools.

Benefits of this placement include:

• Mentorship from public art professionals
• Skill development in project planning, site logistics, accessibility, and community engagement
• Training in equity practices, risk assessment, and site safety
• Opportunities to contribute to meaningful projects that centre equity-deserving communities

Placements are hybrid or virtual depending on the participant’s location and project needs. While unpaid, STEPS may reimburse specific project-related expenses (e.g., travel or training).

Placement and Volunteer Eligibility

We understand that people may want to participate in a placement for different reasons, and we have tried to be flexible with the formats of placements within the constraints that the Employment Standards Act provides.

Our placements are targeted at the following:

• Participants in a placement program approved and operated by an Ontario university, college, or private career college
• Newcomers to Canada who are seeking a volunteer opportunity that will help enhance their resume as well as build relationships in the region
• Visitors to Canada who are not legally able to work, but who are seeking a volunteer opportunity while in the country

Placement Format

STEPS is mostly a virtual team. We have an office in downtown Toronto, and given the place-based nature of our work, we’re frequently at project sites in the community. Individuals enrolled in placements who reside in southern Ontario may have the option for hybrid placements that combine virtual and in-person experiences. For those located outside of southern Ontario, most placements will be virtual, though there may be some hybrid opportunities available for those residing in communities where we currently have projects. We ask those submitting an expression of interest to communicate their placement preferences and ability to travel to sites.

STEPS can accommodate a range of placement formats and scheduling options. The total number of placement hours and the number of placement hours per week will vary from placement to placement, but the format must be identified before the start date, so that our team can thoroughly assess whether we have the capacity to appropriately support the requested schedule.

Typically, we do not host placements for less than the equivalent of 1 day (8 hours) per week, which we find is the minimum amount of time it takes to provide a meaningful placement experience over a term. We ask those submitting expressions of interest to provide as much information as possible regarding their availability and the specifications of any academic requirements they seek to fulfill in their submission.

We only host placements when we are confident we have the capacity to appropriately onboard, train and support individuals to succeed in those placements. This ensures maximum benefit for those enrolled in placements or partnering on a project with us. While we state an approximate number of placements available each term, these are estimated maximums, subject to change, and STEPS is under no obligation to host a certain number of placements in any given term.