Artistic Director

Company Overview

TNL (Theatre Newfoundland Labrador) is dedicated to creating and producing professional theatre that reflects the lives and diversity of our peo[ple on the province's west coast, extending to Labrador and across the island of Newfoundland.

TNL operates the Gros Morne Theatre Festival (GMTF) from May ot September annually.  Through GMTF, production tours and educational outreach TNL seeks to province Newfoundlanders and Labradoreans, and visitors to our part of the world with thought-provoking and relevant productions with an emphasis on regional and Canadian work.

The state-of-the-art Nurse Myra Bennett Centre for the Performing Arts opened its doors in 2021.  This brand new, $10-million, 21,500-square-foot multi-performance space is an innovative facility that has long been needed to sustain the festival, now in its 27th year.  Located in magnificent Gros Morne National Park, the theatre aims to be more than a performmance space - it will be an anchor and catalyst for creativity, education, socio-economic support and inspiration for communities throughout the Great Northern Peninsula.

Job Description

Reporting to the Board of Directors and working as a key player in the senior management team, the Artistic Director will direct the activities of TNL/GMTF, developing and fulfilling the artistic vision and organizational mandate.

The AD will be responsible for the following areas:

Artistic Vision and Strategy

• Advance and foster TNL's artistic vision and strategy, with a focus on community engagement/programming and the curation, development and production of new works.

Operational Management

• Collaborate with other members of the senior management team on all aspects of company planning, programming, fundraising, budgeting, grant writing, facility operations, board development, stewardship, networking, and community outreach.
• Recruit, manage, and mentor artists, participants and project staff.
• Oversee existing artistic programming and lead the creation of new artistic and audience development initiatives, with an eye to revenue development and fiscal sustainability.
• Provide regular reports to the Board of Directors.

Communications and Marketing

• Represent TNL/GMTF and liaise with our various stakeholders.
• Serve as an ambassador for TNL/GMTF to the general public - especially the communities of the Great Northern Peninsula - and within the theatre communities of Newfoundland & Labrador and elsewhere.
• Maintain and develop relationships with theatre artists, companies, and allied organizations, to inspire participation in our programming.
• As part of the senior management team, develop, manage and implement TNL's communication strategy.

Advocacy and Fund Development

• Working with the board's Fund Development Committee, communicate with donors, potential funders and sponsors, soliciting their continued support.
• As part of the senior management team to source and prepare relevant grant applications and coordinate additional fundraising and revenue generation initiatives.
• Develop and maintain working releationships with key people and institutions in the corporate sector.

QUALIFICATIONS 

The ideal candidate for the Artistic Director role possesses the following qualifications:

• Proven artistic track record and strong artistic vision
• Seven to 10 years experience in an artistic leadership capacity
• Demonstrated experience of artistic administration, management, and production
• Strong grant-writing and communication skills
• Actively engaged in the Canadian theatre community
• Familarity with Newfoundland & Labrador culture and history
• Relationship-builder, committed to community connections, mentorship and engagement
• Entrepreneurial spirit

This is a three-year contractual position, subject to renewal.  

Location: Cow Head, NL, with remote option, except for a minimum of 20-week summer residency in Cow Head.