Artistic Lead

Company Overview

CanAsian Dance is seeking to hire an Artistic Lead and a General Manager. Successful candidates will contribute to a historic time for the organization, as we implement co-leadership approaches to our work and sharpen the activist dimension of our role. 

We are accepting individual applications for each role or alternatively, joint applications from duos who are applying for both roles. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis, and will close by end of day, Friday January 26, 2024. For queries and to request accommodations during the hiring process, please contact admin@canasiandance.com.

Note: The Artistic Lead and General Manager will be members of what will be a five-person Curatorial Committee. Hire for the remaining three committee members is anticipated to begin in spring 2024.

For more information on our transition to co-leadership, read our latest news!

Job Description

The Artistic Lead will guide CanAsian Dance during a stimulating and historic time in our juncture. This role involves: artistic visioning and artistic advocacy; organizational visioning and planning; producing; funding and fundraising. Crucially, you will cultivate co-leadership approaches within the organization's processes and activities. These approaches will also inspire engagement with both long-time and new contributors and communities.

You will be energized about working in a collaborative environment that decentres the Eurocentrism of the dance sector and foregrounds Asian diasporic dance artists and practitioners of Asian dance forms.

 

Artistic Lead (Part-Time, Contract)

Hours: 24 hours per week (3 days per week)

Fee: $48,374 for an ~17 month contract ($28 per hour)

Works collaboratively with: the General Manager and three Curatorial Committee Members (Note: Under a new co-leadership model, CanAsian Dance will be led by a five-person Curatorial Committee. The committee will comprise an Artistic Lead, a General Manager, and three Curatorial Committee Members) 

Location: The successful applicant will primarily work from home but should ideally be based in or near the Greater Toronto Area for onsite work on local programming. Travel to Montreal and other Canadian locations may also be required. A driver’s license and access to a vehicle is an asset. 

Reports to: CanAsian Dance Board of Directors

Start date: Mid-February 2024 or by negotiation

 

Responsibilities

Artistic visioning and artistic advocacy (30%)

• Lead and co-lead in artistic visioning:   

• In collaboration with the General Manager and the three Curatorial Committee Members, develop an artistic vision, including associated partnerships, collaborations, and methods of engagement. 

• Oversee mechanisms (e.g., the curatorial committee) and other innovations to collaboratively develop artistic visions using a co-leadership approach. 

• Lead and, collectively with the General Manager and with the three Curatorial Committee Members, co-lead in selecting program participants and personnel. This includes establishing and overseeing any additional mechanisms, beyond the Curatorial Committee, to collaboratively select program participants and personnel. 

• Take a leadership role in challenging the Eurocentrism of the dance sector and advancing our cultural ecology. This may occur through multiple means, including sitting on boards and panels, and instigating public campaigns. 

 

Organizational visioning and planning (20%)

• During the 18-month contract: 

• Collaborate with the CanAsian Dance board, General Manager, and three Curatorial Committee Members to inform the revision of the organization’s vision, mission, and values.  

• Co-create a strategic plan with the CanAsian Dance board and General Manager, and with input from the three Curatorial Committee Members. 

• In conjunction with the General Manager and CanAsian Dance board, plan the operationalization and potential evolution of our new co-leadership model, drawing on the consultants’ report. 

• With the General Manager, evaluate our co-leadership model as part of ongoing board reporting.  

• Proactively manage the succession of key staff in collaboration with the General Manager. 

 

Producting and execution (30%)

• With support from the General Manager, deliver artistic programming in collaboration with associated partners. 

• Research, secure, and nurture creative and production partnerships.

• Engage with existing and new contributors and communities, informed by the consultants’ report. 

• With the General Manager, manage sustainable budgets for projects.

• Evaluate artistic programs and projects in collaboration with the General Manager and with input from the three Curatorial Committee Members.

• Serve as a public face of CanAsian Dance, representing the organization through programming activities, media appearances, and engagement with service organizations and other outside groups.  

• Support the General Manager in hiring staff and contractors.

• Support the General Manager in promoting our programming. 

• Report at board meetings and the AGM, and provide summary reports to the board about artistic programming and progress against the strategic plan. 

• Be familiar with and uphold CanAsian Dance’s policies and procedures, and support the General Manager in developing further articulations in response to a changing ecology.

 

Funding and fundraising (20%)

The following activities will be done in collaboration with the General Manager, and may also involve the support of a fundraising subcommittee of the CanAsian Dance board: 

• Secure and, with the General Manager, report against operational and project funding from government funders, donors, sponsors, and crowdfunding campaigns. This includes identifying and applying for new sources of funding. 

• With the General Manager and the CanAsian Dance Board, identify and implement revenue generation strategies.

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with government funding officers.

• Identify, develop, and nurture relationships with major gift donors, philanthropists, and sponsors.

• Prepare and present projects and ideas in meetings with donors.

• Conceive and participate in fundraising/donor activities and initiatives.

 

Ancillary activities

Although they are ancillary to the role, we encourage the following activities as part of your individual and artistic professional development: 

• Maintain your own artistic practice. 

• Actively engage in seeing art and cultural activities in all genres. 

• Develop your awareness of practices and artistic ecologies across Canada and internationally.  

• Continue your own personal artistic training. 

Where possible, the CanAsian Dance board will offer flexible working hours and other supports as required to accommodate these activities. 

 

Other conditions

• You are responsible for all government taxes. This is a renewable contract position where taxes are not deducted. 

• If you charge HST and provide an HST number, it will be added to your fee.

• You will participate in an annual performance appraisal by the CanAsian Dance board.