Artistic Director

Company Overview

PHT is the North Shore’s hub for professional theatre and performing arts. Located in Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Slílwta/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Territories, in the heart of North Vancouver, PHT produces and presents professional theatre for children, youth, and adults; engages in vital community projects through artist-led outreach experiences; and provides mentorship and development opportunities through the PHT Creative Hub. Our organizational values are safety, humanity, accessibility, and inclusivity. Additionally, we are committed to an ongoing decolonization process.

A typical season at PHT includes mainstage productions, presentations, touring, a small series of professional music and dance, and the hosting of several local arts groups. We average 60+ events throughout the year. In addition, we proudly act as an incubator space for the development of new works.

Job Description

With the upcoming retirement of our current Artistic Director, Presentation House Theatre (PHT) is beginning a search to find an experienced and inspiring Artistic Director to lead the theatre over its next exciting period of evolution. The next phase will leverage the success that the Theatre has built as a creative cultural centre. Additionally, the next phase will involve working in partnership with the City of North Vancouver on a long-term vision for the building and grounds.

This role reports to the Board of Directors and works in collaborative partnership with the Managing Director. With accountability for artistic leadership, programming vision, and community impact, this is an exciting role for a creative and collaborative theatre leader.

The following outlines the success criteria for the role, as identified by the Incumbent, Board, staff, and community stakeholders.  

Artistic Director
    • Proven experience as an AD: creating and implementing the artistic vision of the organization through developing, producing directing and presenting artistic programs at high artistic standards.
    • Proven experience in the commissioning and dramaturgy of new works.
    • Demonstrated skills in a broad scope of theatre-operations tasks (from tech to front of house from performing to volunteer coordination, from fundraising planning through implementation).
    • Effective relationships and communication with funding bodies. 
    • Demonstrated skills in overseeing the effective management of day-to-day artistic/production operations.
    • Experience in programming for diverse audiences, including Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA), adults, and seniors.

Theatre Business Operations Leadership 
    • Proven experience in leading the financial health of an organization. 
    • Demonstrated skills relating to annual operations budgeting:  planning, developing the budget, effectively engaging with staff and board.
    • Experience with developing diverse funding sources (grants, public sector funding) and developing relationships with funders. 
    • Maintains up-to-date theatre equipment and supplies, plans (and recommends to the Board) for capital improvements.

Community Engagement 
    • A demonstrated leader in arts and cultural advocacy; has influence in the community and leads to create an organizational impact of the role that the arts play in society.
    • Engages with the community – builds relationships with stakeholders, including board, staff, audience, patrons, volunteers, funders, artists, government, First Nations, arts organizations.
    • Experience in positive and progressive marketing through developing, managing and leveraging CRM data bases.  
    • Has experience interfacing with and developing positive relationships with political/government and community groups.
    • Has participated in a successful capital campaign.

General Management 
    • Experience working with a Board on developing, executing, and evolving the strategic plan for an arts organization.
    • Creates a culture of achievement, success, and community-orientation within a staff team.
    • Organized in administration of a diverse arts organization – planning, scheduling, operational planning, capital planning, internal communications.
    • Effective at overseeing efficient and effective facilities management.
    • Experience creating and negotiating contracts.
    • Effective in stakeholder relations.  

Personal Qualities
    • Confident and self-aware.
    • Inclusive, with cultural and diversity awareness.
    • Creative thinker.
    • Collaborative. 
    • Process-oriented.
    • Passionate. 
    • Resilient and optimistic.
    • Inspiring and Motivating.