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B CURRENT PERFORMING ARTS

Work with us!

We're hiring a new Artistic Director! We're also looking for a consultant to lead us through a strategic planning session. Read on to see all the details of both roles. 

Position: Artistic Director, b current performing arts

Salary range: $50,000 - $60,000 per year commensurate with experience


b current is committed to creating, nurture, and present new works by Black, Brown and Indigenous creatives.  Over two decades we have created space for decolonized theatre and prioritized the safety and creativity of the artists that we work with. 

We develop new works by diverse artists primarily rooted in the cultural, social, and political experiences of Indigenous peoples as well as Canadian and international Black and brown Diaspora. In order to effectively do this we have dramaturgy & workshop sessions, public readings, and workshop performances, as well as in-depth training programs for emerging creators.
We address racism and white supremacy in the arts and society at large through the B INC Anti-Oppression training program. We produce daring and groundbreaking theatre creations and since inception we’ve mounted over a dozen main stage plays, and 100+ other public performances.

JOB POSTING
b current performing arts is searching for an Artistic Director to helm their 29 year old company, which produces new work by and about the Black and brown diaspora while creating a world in which their stories are held with respect and celebration. b current has a commitment to equity and justice and is seeking a candidate with aligned values. In partnership with the Managing Director and reporting to the Board of Directors, the Artistic Director leads the company’s direction through artistic curation and programming, partnership and community building and administrative oversight. 

ARTISTIC CURATION AND PROGRAMMING – 50%
The Artistic Director is responsible for the overall artistic direction, personality and development of the company; spearheading new work and commissions and overseeing their development. Our ideal candidate will determine the structure of each season, keeping your finger on the pulse of theatre industry’s most exciting Black, racialized and indigenous talent and considering ways to foster their creative process.  Artistic direction and curation entails building healthy, sustainable and sincere connections with artists from the Black and brown diaspora, strong financial lens and grant writing skills to effectively ensure the management and oversight of the company’s programming with the support of the General Manager. Currently, the b current season consists of 1-2 artist residencies and 1-2 productions/co-productions.

PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT – 30%
The AD is the voice of the company, delivering regular content to our social media and our newsletters and scheduling one-on-one meetings as well as hosting events with community members. This includes:
  • pro-actively developing training and partnership opportunities with local, national and international arts organizations and artists; Black and racialized diasporic communities,
  • Catalysing active participation in and knowledge of the local arts community
  • Developing fresh thinking for the company’s education, community, outreach and volunteer programs
  • Oversight of curators in music, visual arts, literature and public programs;
  • Conducting artist performance reviews to assess the programming.
Through this mandate, the new AD will help lead the b current board forward into its new strategic plan, working in close partnership with the Managing Director to grow its artistic vision, its scope and scale, its growing national reputation, and its local audience impact.

ADMINISTRATIVE OVERSIGHT – 20%
The ideal candidate will have the ability to supervise contracted artists, show related staff and manage partnerships related to program administration, program curation, project management, budget management, and tracking; work closely with finance, production, fundraising, marketing and other administrative departments to establish policy and procedures for commissions and the effective and efficient administration of all programming. These responsibilities include regular Board updates on the progress of the company’s artistic direction, education, community and outreach initiatives.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
The Artistic Director is responsible for devising and delivering all arts programming in line with the vision, mission and values of the company within expenditure budgets agreed by the Board and Managing Director. Specifically:
  • Drive the growth of artistic curation and programming, including new commissions and program development; work with internal and external stakeholders to establish new initiatives; explore new creative models for multi-year developmental partnerships, deriving the strongest possible curated program
  • Deliver an arts program that captures the imagination and engages a broad cross-section of Canadian audiences, while showcasing cutting-edge, pioneering work.
  • Provide leadership and direction on all matters related to artistic partnerships; developing comprehensive strategies to leverage fully all program partnership opportunities with a sensitivity to building strong, enduring and ambitious relationships with local arts organizations and industry associations.
  • Maintain a current, globally informed view of the industry; take part on local and national committees and boards; participate at industry association events; possess and constantly update your critical knowledge of emerging Black and racialized artists and the competitive landscape.
  • Represent b current performing arts company at relevant events and conferences and speak at appropriate media and industry engagements as an effective communicator at all levels of cultural knowledge and experience; able to write and present information and act as spokesperson in a compelling manner to audiences and communities.

QUALIFICATIONS
  • Minimum five years of senior multi-disciplinary arts and leadership experience including national experience, preferably at a similarly sized arts company or organization; experienced critical judgement, and a compelling artistic vision responding to industry and community appetite.
  • A proven track record in strategic artistic programming and curation (this could include formal education, apprenticeship, community training programs etc.)
  • Strong visionary leader with a desire to create community partnerships and connections with the ability to mentor and train new and emerging artists from the page to the stage.
  • Demonstrated experience in planning, organizing, and directing the artistic aspects of production across multiple genres, venues and locations; understanding of how COVID may impact and delay current production.
  • Proven ability to manage dependably to budget and provide clear financial knowledge specifically regarding spending of project costs and revenue potential.
  • Some familiarity with fundraising and securing of grants.
  • Willingness and availability to travel (when travel is safe) in order to grow and maintain critical community relationships
  • Be willing and able to work remotely with some ‘in-office’ time as necessary and required

HIRING PROCESS   

A shortlist of candidates will be interviewed by a selection committee consisting of diverse folks from the Board of Directors, and the theatre community. Please click here to apply for the role. 
​
b current would like to thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. In order to ensure we reflect the diversity and strength of our community (Black, Indigenous, Non-Black Person of Color, Racialized, LGBTQ2S, Disabled, Deaf or Hard of Hearing community members) we strongly encourage members from priority communities to apply. In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), b current provides accommodation, accessible formats, and communication interviews for the recruitment process upon request. Please reach out to let us know if we can support you better as part of this process.


Strategic PLanning Consultant

BACKGROUND
b current is a not for profit performing arts company located in Toronto, Canada
producing art across Canada. For over 28 years, our small but mighty arts
company has produced outside-the-box performance pieces, ideas, workshops,
and mainstage productions. We splashed onto the scene in 1991, when ahdri
zhina mandiela founded the company, and we brought to Toronto the first ever
production of a Dub Theatre script, mandiela’s dark diaspora… in dub. Since
inception, b current has developed scores of internationally celebrated artists and
their works, with a focus always on engaging the community and creating space
for diverse voices to be heard.
We develop new works by diverse artists primarily rooted in the cultural, social,
and political experiences of the Canadian and international Black and brown
Diaspora. In order to effectively do this we have dramaturgy and workshop
sessions, public readings, and workshop performances, as well as in-depth
training programs for emerging creators. We produce daring and groundbreaking
theatre creations and since inception we’ve mounted over a dozen main stage
plays, and 100+ other public performances.

STRATEGIC PLANNING CONSULTANT
SCOPE
bcurrent performing arts company’s board of directors is looking to engage a
consultant who can facilitate and support the organization in developing its new
Strategic Plan 2021 – 2026 including a one year work plan for 2021/2022. The
current strategic plan was completed in 2016 and the work plan covers the period
of 2019 to 2020.

The role of the consultant will be to assist in developing and implementing a
strategic plan, ensuring that the entire process is highly participatory and
enhances stakeholders’ sense of ownership by engaging meaningfully with the
Board of Directors, employees, partners, etc.
There are three critical areas that the board would like to ensure are included in
the new strategic plan including: a focus on the recovery of Covid19 in the arts
sector; the second is to ensure that the plan includes a strong equity focus and
direction; and the third is to work to transition the board from an operational
heavy to governance ready board.

TERM OF CONTRACT
The period of engagement will be from November 2020 – March 2021.

TIME COMMITMENT
Approximately 2-3 days over the 3 months

SCOPE
The scope of this is also to include:
  • Conducting a survey of employees, artists, partners and other stakeholders current and historical
  • Identifying themes from survey results and sharing with board members; drafting recommendations, identifying gaps and highlighting opportunities
  • Review and analyze current strategic plan along with other organizational documents, based upon existing challenges in the implementation of the strategy, with a focus on: Where are we? Where do we want to be? How will we get there?
  • Identify critical gaps, conduct SWOT analysis, and identify strategic opportunities through interviews and meetings;
  • Engage with the Board to prioritize strategic direction and refine mission, vision, objectives and strategy;
  • Hosting one strategic planning sessions with board members and staff sharing information to date with the delivery of refreshed Strategic Plan 2021-2026 and Work Plan 2021/2022.
  • Presenting a draft strategic plan for 2021-2026 and goals as well as objectives for 2021/2022 Work Plan which includes reviewing, analyzing and, when applicable, refreshing or fundamentally updating the following: Mission and Vision, Values, Governance Structure, Strategic Plan,

Specific Objectives
The consultant will work directly with an identified representative of the Board of
Directors.

PROFILE/CONSULTANCY REQUIREMENTS
Minimum of 5 years of experience in strategic planning,
Excellent communication and facilitation skills
Strong anti-oppression framework including a commitment to justice and
equity
Demonstrable experience in organizational and change management
Knowledge of the non-profit, charity sector in addition to the arts sector
Ability to facilitate sessions both virtually and in-person

COSTING:
Budget – Within $7500 (please provide a breakdown of budget and task)

Submission Details:
Please provide an outline of proposed plan with time lines. Plan should not
exceed 5 pages including budget breakdown. Please include related experience
in strategic planning, and if you have worked in virtual space before.
Submissions are due no later than November 15th, 2020 at 5pm,
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