SummerWorks is seeking an Artistic Director to join our creative, collaborative team, and provide artist and curatorial leadership for our organization.  This full-time role reports to the Board of Directors, and is part of a re-shaping of our leadership model at SummerWorks with a concurrent call for applicants for both the Managing Director and Artistic Director positions as we consider our new leadership structure.  

We warmly encourage and will prioritize applications from folks of equity-deserving groups, including those who identify as Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, Trans, Nonbinary, Queer, Disabled and intersections of those identities.  SummerWorks will work proactively through all stages of recruitment to create a barrier free hiring process, and will provide accommodations as required. To request accommodations please email HR@LeSageArts.com.

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SummerWorks is looking for a bold, generous, and inclusive individual who can bring their artistic vision, curatorial, and producing experience, and a strong artistic network to our live arts organization. We are looking for an exciting artistic leader to vision and carry out high quality artistic programming while overseeing the marketing, producing and production elements.

ARTISTIC PLANNING & PRODUCING

• Provide strategic planning to deliver on the full artistic vision of SummerWorks and works for the achievement of the long and short-term goals of SummerWorks set in conjunction with the Board and the Managing Director;
• Be responsible for all activities related to the management and artistic vision and development of SummerWorks and the production of all SummerWorks’ festivals;
• Curate SummerWorks’s presentations, including national and international presentations and the SummerWorks August Festival, the Progress Festival, parties, donor events and ancillary events;
• Represent SummerWorks locally, nationally and internationally through attending other festivals and key events;
• Manage and oversee SummerWorks Curators, Festival Producers, and Production Managers in the production and planning process for SummerWorks including delivery during festival periods;
• The Artistic  Director  will work closely with the Managing Director to determine additional responsibilities and/or update the scope of duties for the leadership team positions.

• With the Managing Director and Board, champion the organization’s ongoing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategies; collaborating to create and implement initiatives as required.   Promote the values and mission of SummerWorks, ensuring these are known and shared by the team members, artists, venues, and partners;
• Oversee the development of marketing and PR strategies with publicist, create and implement audience development initiatives; 
• In collaboration with the Managing Director, participate as needed in the organization’s fundraising and development strategy and manage ongoing relationships with all government, foundation, corporate, and private funders;
• Work closely with a variety of cultural producers/artists, in a culturally competent manner. Understand how to listen well to the needs of collaborators and respectfully adapt protocols, processes and procedures that are valuable to their creative processes.

• Work closely with the Managing Director and Board, participate in the annual financial planning and budgeting cycle;
• Participate in Board meetings and Board activities, reporting as required.

EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS & ATTRIBUTES 

We are looking for an artistic leader/curator with at least 3-5 years of related professional experience with skills that align to this profile:

• A minimum of three to five years of artistic leadership at one or more performing arts organizations, with a successful record of demonstrated excellence in programming; 
• A strong track record of collaboration, leadership and strong team building, with excellent interpersonal skills;
• Outstanding communication and presentation skills – both written and verbal; 
• A record of innovative audience development and setting marketing and communications strategies; 
• A national and international network of relationships with counterparts in other performing arts organizations. A proven record of attracting and collaborating with artists of the highest calibre, developing new projects, co-productions, creative partnerships and nurturing artists.  An in-depth awareness of theatre activity: locally, nationally, and internationally;
• An entrepreneurial spirit balanced with financial acumen.  An understanding of overall organizational finances and programming budgeting;
• Proven success in supporting and galvanizing fundraising initiatives and relationships. 
• A strong commitment to holistically connecting commitments to EDIA throughout organizational practices and leading by example.

The salary range for this position is $60,000 – $70,000 per annum, commensurate with experience.  A base benefits package is provided by RWAM Insurance Administrators Inc. with the premiums paid for by SummerWorks. A relocation fee may be made available to a candidate living within Canada. You must be eligible to work in Canada to apply.

All SummerWorks staff, artists, volunteers, and contractors will be required to follow the organization’s COVID policies and procedures. Amendments will be implemented as needed in response to changing circumstances and Public Health guidelines. Key parts of these policies include:

• Work Location – due to COVID-19, the SummerWorks team has been working in varying modes of hybrid online/in-person models as conditions allow. 
• Vaccination policy – as a condition of employment, new employees will need to provide proof of full vaccination as defined by local Public Health no later than three weeks prior to starting work.
• For any in-person meetings or events, protocols including social distancing and masking are in place.

We warmly encourage and will prioritize applications from folks from equity-deserving groups, including those who identify as Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, Trans, Nonbinary, Queer, Disabled and intersections of those identities.  SummerWorks will work proactively through all stages of recruitment to create a barrier free hiring process, and will provide accommodations as required. To request accommodations please email HR@LeSageArts.com.

Qualified applicants can go to this PORTAL and submit an application no later than Friday, September 16, 2022 at 5:00 pm ET.   The link to the Portal takes you to a Google form with preliminary questions in lieu of a cover letter and an opportunity to submit a CV in PDF format. 

SummerWorks has engaged LeSage Arts Management to support the recruitment process for this role. For any questions, please contact us at HR@LeSageArts.com.