ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Company Overview

About our Organization:

The Only Animal creates immersive work that arises from a deep engagement with place. Our work seeks to re/connect our human nature with Nature, forging new ways of understanding and making theatre that is sustainable, joyful, and treads lightly on the earth. We seek creative ways to transform our climate future. We have broad shoulders and the ability to undertake ambitious projects. We love the impossible. We create theatre to thrill the blood, stir the soul, and revitalize the planet.

The Only Animal is grateful to work and play on the unceded ancestral territories of the xmθkym, Swxwú7mesh, slílwta and shíshálh First Nations.

Our Mission: It is time to transition, as Ben Twist says, from a Culture of Consumerism to a Culture of Stewardship. A Culture of Care. We are the Culture Makers. This is our work. This climate moment needs the imagination, vision and heart that art brings. Through art, it is our intention to inspire and to mobilize a society paralyzed by climate anxiety and grief. We do this in our own work, and through a large professional community we coordinate called the Artist Brigade, to spark and mobilize a national movement that grows exponentially to meet the enormous challenges of the ecological emergency.

To date, the company has created 44 shows, earned 40 Jessie award nominations in BC, and received eight including one Outstanding Production and three Significant Artistic Achievements, as well as two Betty Mitchell Awards in Alberta. 

Structurally, the organization continues a shift connected to IDEA movements, climate justice, and the fight against environmental racism. The Only Animal works with our artists and our audience for inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility in our organization.

We hold ourselves to the highest standards of fossil-free creation, wanting to lead and create examples of eco-restorative creation methods to inspire our contemporaries, who we know care deeply about our climate reality. 

In 2023, the company was the recipient of two national arts awards – the inaugural Rewilding Prize from the David Suzuki Foundation and the Green Award from the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres. 

The departure of our founding Artistic Director, who has led the company for 17 years, brings a unique opportunity for a leadership transition that we are keen to pursue to see our mission and mandate flourish in years to come. 

Job Description

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Artistic Director is:

• Responsible for the overall artistic direction, personality and development of The Only Animal; 

• Creating new innovative work and overseeing its development and production; 

• Meeting commitments to artists, partners and funders where commitments already exist;

• Leading management and oversight of the operating budget, supported by staff;

• Creating a culture of care inside the organization, with board, staff, artists and contractors;

• Overseeing a staff that includes a General Manager, Communications Lead, and Operations Manager. Responsible for cyclical performance reviews;

• Overseeing fundraising and financial management;

• Upholding our mission, mandate, and core values in all of The Only Animal’s activities;

• Carry the national reputation for arts leadership in creating solutionary outcomes on climate through its art practice, the Artist Brigade and Irresistible Worlds Projects. The scope and scale of this work will continue to expand to meet the existential climate threat we all face.

The Candidate:

• You are an artist who makes original, site-specific, eco-restorative work, and are interested in the potential of your work being consistently supported by a company that has a distinguished reputation.

• You are a leader who understands the challenge of bringing arts and artists to the climate crisis.

• You are a strong spokesperson, public speaker. An adept community builder, who is able to communicate large ideas and inspire/engender confidence.  

• You are a steward within an ecosystem of this land, and are prepared to be a steward within the ecosystem of The Only Animal. 

• You have a strong understanding and commitment to IDEA. Lived experience is considered a strong asset in addition to understanding of these frameworks.

• You have the skills to nurture a Culture of Care and your attention to detail is impeccable.

• You are experienced with fundraising, arts management, art-making, partnership building, and the labour of running a not-for-profit arts performing arts company.

• You are prepared to work with teams in a hybrid, ecologically conscious manner, and with staff and board from away.

• You have high-level communication skills, orally and in writing.

• You are a high-energy visionary, drive and dedication to innovative, outstanding programming; the proven ability to bring creative thinking to a wide range of tasks.

• You are a relationship-builder with a strong, established and constantly developing network.

• You are committed to work collaboratively in strategic partnerships.

Primary Responsibilities:
  
The Artistic Director is responsible for creating, articulating and delivering programming;

• The Artistic Director leads the local Artist Brigade cohort and at the national level collaborate and support SCALE-Le Saut, (of which we are a proud co-founder), and collaborates with the leadership of Irresistible Worlds;  

• Supervises and works closely with staff on all aspects of the company's operations;

• Develop and implement education, outreach, and community programs;

• Provide leadership and direction on all matters related to partnership;

• Board management: Report at monthly board meetings on the company’s activities and challenges;

• Leads the company's grant-writing and grants research;

• Creates, establishes and achieves operating budgets for all artistic programs, building upon a number of stable and recurring funding sources to make programming viable.

Candidate Qualifications:

• Minimum five years of arts leadership experience; and a compelling artistic vision that flows from our mission and mandate.
• Demonstrated experience in planning, organizing, and directing the artistic aspects of creation and production.
• Proven ability to dependably manage budgets and provide clear financial analysis with respect to project costs and revenue potential.
• Understanding and willingness to lead in fundraising and grant applications.

 
Compensation:
 
This is a full-time employee position. The Only Animal has a hybrid work model, with some local staff working remotely, while others are ‘hybrid’ - with the need to be in the Vancouver office for key activities.  TOA aspires to be a no-fly company, with the highest environmental ethics, and leadership would be expected to live in (or relocate to) the Greater Vancouver region to minimize travel-related emissions.

A competitive compensation package will be offered, complete with salary and benefits. Annual Salary range between $60,000 and $65,000 commensurate with experience and eligible for annual review in accordance with company policy. Benefits include vacation allowance (3 weeks), group insurance benefits with extended health, dental, life insurance, AD&D, and LTD. 

We warmly invite applications from folks from equity-deserving groups, including collaborative applications. Individuals who identify within historically-marginalized communities are encouraged to apply. We encourage a diversity of lived climate experience in all we do. TOA supports  a work-life balance for the right candidate. The Only Animal will work proactively through all stages of recruitment to create a barrier-free hiring process.

To Apply: Please apply by email with your cover letter and résumé, combined in one PDF document if possible, to info@theonlyanimal.com 

Application Deadline: May 5th at 5 pm 

Interviews with selected candidates will take place in May. We imagine a transition between Artistic Directors that might take different forms, however, a full time start date no later than July 1, 2023 is ideal. The search committee is comprised of arts community colleagues, Only Animal board members, and members of the Artist Brigade.

We thank applicants for their interest, however, only those advancing in the process will be contacted.