Artistic Director

Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival is accepting applications for the position of Artistic Director. This new team member will play a critical role in the organization, developing and driving initiatives that align with the Festival’s reputation for excellence and professionalism, and supporting its future development and growth. Members of equity-seeking groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

OPPORTUNITY TYPE
This is a full-time, permanent, salaried position (salary to be based on experience), with benefits. Projected start date: October 15, 2022

JOB DESCRIPTION & RESPONSIBILITIES
Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the Artistic Director (AD) is responsible for the artistic direction of the Festival; spearheading new commissions and overseeing their development; developing partnerships with local, national, and international arts organizations, curators and artists; encouraging and initiating active participation within local communities; collaboratively developing new ideas and approaches for the Festival’s education, community, and outreach programs; oversight of external curators in the Core Program; seeking out funding opportunities for Core projects; and management and oversight of Core project budgets. The new AD will help lead the Festival into the future, helping to grow its artistic vision, scope, and scale, its distinctive global reputation, and its local audience impact.

The AD’s responsibilities include:
– In conjunction and through collaboration with CONTACT staff, oversee the structure of the Festival and ensure quality and cohesion throughout all assets produced by CONTACT (Festival program, website, catalogue, printed materials, etc.)
– Develop and maintain strong relationships with artists, curators, partners, donors, arts and community institutions and organizations, and identify appropriate partnership opportunities
– Conduct research, develop, and curate Festival projects both independently and in collaboration with partners and curators.
– Inviting/commissioning artists to create site-specific Core Outdoor projects and to show in the CONTACT Gallery in collaboration with staff, supporting project development throughout
– Developing budgets, setting timelines, and executing development and production of all projects, in collaboration with CONTACT staff
Identify fundraising needs and actively seek out potential funding institutions/grants to support projects, and write grant applications and reports in conjunction with staff.
– Writing exhibition essays and other related texts for each project, in conjunction with Exhibitions Coordinator and external editor.

IDEAL QUALIFICATIONS
– Culturally aligned with CONTACT’s mission of building community around photography
– A Master’s degree or PhD in photography, photographic history, visual culture or commensurate experience and expertise
– Minimum of five years as arts management and leadership experience
– A critical awareness of CONTACT’s broad and diverse audience
– Demonstrated history of high-level professional collaborations and managing relationships with numerous stakeholders and partners, and the ability to collaborate, motivate, mentor, and support staff, curators and artists.
– Demonstrated experience in planing, organizing, and critically directing the artistic aspects of professional production and presentation techniques across multiple venues including outdoor locations
– Proven ability to manage budgets and provide clear financial analysis with respect to project costs, and to secure grants
– English language proficiency required

TO APPLY
CONTACT invites individuals who reflect the diversity of our audiences, partners and community to apply by submitting a tailored cover letter and resume via email to Darcy Killeen, Executive Director: darcy@scotiabankcontactphoto.com

ABOUT CONTACT
Established in 1997, CONTACT is a not-for-profit organization celebrating the art and profession of photography. Committed to cultivating an inclusive and accessible approach to the medium, CONTACT builds community by providing a platform for dynamic collaborations and productive engagement between Canadian and international photographers, curators, partner organizations, and audiences, locally and globally.
In both its annual Festival and in its year-round programming, CONTACT recognizes the significance of photography within all aspects of contemporary life, and the creative possibilities it envisions for the past, present, and future.

CONTACT acknowledges that we live and work on the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples, and that this land is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. CONTACT is committed to promoting Indigenous voices; to generating spaces for ongoing, meaningful, and creative Indigenous-settler dialogue; and to continuous learning about our place on this land.

CONTACT is committed to the ongoing development of meaningful anti-oppressive practice on all levels. This includes our continuing goal of augmenting and maintaining diverse representation, foregrounding varied and under-represented voices and perspectives via our public platform (the Festival and all related programs), as well as continually examining the structures of power and decision-making within the organization itself. We aim to actively learn, grow, and embody the values of inclusivity, equity, and accessibility in all facets of the institution, as an ever-evolving process.

Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival
80 Spadina Ave, Suite 205
Toronto, Ontario M5V 2J4
416 539 9595
info@scotiabankcontactphoto.com
scotiabankcontactphoto.com