Illustrator (Volunteer Position)

About Us

INKspire is a non-profit organization that strives to empower youth voices by providing a curated web platform where young people can share their ideas and perspectives on various relevant and contemporary issues across Canada and around the world. INKspire hopes to encourage youth engagement in current global affairs and provide opportunities for young writers, journalists, and artists to showcase their talents.

Our mission: To give youth a greater voice in society by providing opportunities for young people to share their passion for writing, express their thoughts and ideas, learn from one another and come together to drive a positive social change.

Our Vision: We envision bringing together youth into a space where they can learn, share, connect, and inspire one another to drive positive change in the world.

Illustrator

Illustrators will be responsible for producing illustrations for INKspire’s first ever print anthology, which will feature the works of our writers from the 2025-2026 cohort of the Writer Fellowship Program (WFP). Using the journalistic articles and creative works as inspiration, illustrators will produce art that encapsulates the main ideas or themes of the piece. The number of illustrations required from each illustrator will depend on the size of the illustrations team, the budget and layout for the print anthology, and the timeline.

An example what we’re looking for: https://inkspire.org/post/a-guiding-hand/-MH_WOMFQByIf9bdBF-B

Illustrators must be available from December 2025 – May 2026. After this project, illustrators will be invited to stay on the team to produce illustrations for the articles on INKspire’s website at a reduced workload and lighter schedule, if they desire.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Produce illustrations that reflect the creative works in the print anthology.
• Collaborate with the Design Lead, graphic designs and other illustrators to finalize illustration and anthology design.

Desired Qualifications

• Proficiency in digital illustration tools (e.g., Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Procreate)
• Experience with traditional art (pencil/charcoal drawings, painting, printmaking, etc.) also welcome
• Familiarity with graphic design principles, layout design, typography, and UI/UX design welcome but not necessary
• Ability to work with some independence on assigned tasks in a timely manner
• Available from December 2025 – May 2026.

The successful volunteer will work remotely from home for 5-7 hours a week. Volunteers must be able to commit to this position for a minimum of 5 months and be located in Canada.

If you meet most of the qualifications and are passionate about youth empowerment, we encourage you to apply.

Why Join INKspire?

This volunteer role provides a unique opportunity to:

• Shape the future of a growing non-profit organization.
• Empower young writers to express themselves and make an impact.
• Build meaningful professional relationships in the non-profit and creative sectors.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

INKspire values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all volunteers. We strongly encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those from underrepresented communities.

Application Process

If you are interested in this position, please apply with the following:

• A brief introduction outlining the reasons for your interest in this role.
• Your resume.
• Links to your portfolio, blog, or personal website.

For questions about the role, please contact vivian@inkspire.org. Please note that this is an unpaid, volunteer role.