Artistic Director

Company Overview

Prairie Theatre Exchange is a 51-year-old professional theatre company that produces, presents, commissions, and develops multi-disciplinary works for live performance and digital platforms. The vision for Prairie Theatre Exchange is to be vital, relevant, and responsive. We strive to be a centre for innovation in theatre and performance practice: a home for interdisciplinary and diverse works. We are a creative home and prioritize professional development for artists from the Prairies (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta) and beyond. We are a contemporary professional theatre company which reflects the everevolving communities and audiences we serve with artistry, confidence, and heart.  

THE COMPANY AT PRESENT:

Prairie Theatre Exchange is in a time of opportunity and change. On a path towards stability and regrowth, we look to engage with our community of patrons, donors, artists and stakeholders. The 2024-25 season is the first year of a significant restructuring of our business and staffing model to recognize the fiscal realities in our organization and sector. PTE’s home in the Portage Place Mall is an integral part of an exciting conversations with True North and their plans to develop and reimagine the space, with PTE as a critical anchor cultural tenant. The incoming Artistic Director will play an important role in envisioning the future of PTE as it continues to serve audiences and artists on Treaty 1 Territory, Winnipeg

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Board of Directors and serving Prairie Theatre Exchange’s mandate, the Artistic Director, in collaboration with the Managing Director will lead the direction, vision, and programming of the company. Prairie Theatre Exchange seeks an inspiring and inclusive leader with a demonstrated focus on artistic excellence and community engagement. Prairie Theatre Exchange invites applications from all qualified individuals and encourages applications from members of racialized groups, women, Indigenous persons, persons who are Deaf and/or have a Disability, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Creates and implements an artistic vision for Prairie Theatre Exchange that is relevant and responsive to the company’s position in the local, provincial and national arts ecology.
• Plans and prepares season programming, within the organization’s mandate and within budget.
• Recruits, secures and oversees all artistic and creative teams.
• Inspires and motivates artists, staff, board members, audiences, donors, and sponsors.
• Offers leadership and vision to all strategic planning exercises.
• Maintains the highest level of awareness of national and international theatre trends and other artistic disciplines.
• Fosters relationships with artists in the local and national arts community.
• Creates, continues, and fosters relatonships with producing and artistic partners, both nationally and internationally.
• Engages in community outreach activities.
• Champions and leads by example in areas of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and community engagement.
• Demonstrates a commitment to accessibility, in all its forms and meanings.
• Acts as a public-facing figure on behalf of the company.
• Maintains oversight of production costs and ensures fiscal prudence related to all productions and activities, in collaboration with the Managing Director and staff.
• Oversees the artistic and budgetary process of shows in production.
• Oversees education initiatives at the company.
• Oversees the initiation and continuance of commissioned plays and projects.
• Leads and coordinates, in partnership with the Manitoba Association of Playwrights, the Playwrights Unit.
• Acts as a leader in initiating and continuing company in residence support to local arts organizations.
• Leading the visioning and writing of all grants to public funders.
• Serves as the Director of up to two productions within Prairie Theatre Exchange’s annual season.
• Connects to PACT and the national theatre network, enthusiastically taking a leadership role in discussions within the field.
• Participates in all grant writing activities.

THE CANDIDATE

• A minimum of three to five years of artistic leadership at one or more theatrical organizations.
• Clarity of artistic vision and ambition for the future of Prairie Theatre Exchange.
• A successful record of demonstrated excellence in programming and the development of new Canadian plays.
• A dedication to mentorship and fostering the next generations of artists in Winnipeg and the Prairies.
• Exceptional degree of integrity, energy and creativity.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
• A strong track record of collaboration, leadership and strong team building.
• A collaborative leader who works well with staff and has a supportive and empowering management style.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
•Experience in audience development.
• A strong reputation as a respected professional in the theatre industry.
• A national and international network of relationships with counterparts in other theatre companies, as well as writers, directors, musicians, choreographers, designers and others.
• Experience working collaboratively with Boards.
• Proven success in securing public grants and funding.
• Proven success in supporting and participating in fundraising initiatives.
• An understanding of overall organizational finances and season budgeting.
• Experience at a venue-based organization considered an asset.