Festival Manager

Job Description:

Job Overview:
Art in the Open (AITO) is seeking a driven and community-minded administrator to lead efforts in organizing the 2023 Art in the Open Festival, including managing the day-to-day affairs of the non-profit organization; developing funding applications; developing and overseeing the annual operating budget; hiring and managing the Annual Festival Team (Curators, Production Staff, etc.); completing post-Festival final reporting; and developing strategic planning opportunities for future years.

Your New Organization:
Art in the Open (AITO) is an annual festival of contemporary art in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island that takes place over two weeks in August, culminating in the Main Festival Event from 4 pm to 12 am, traditionally falling on the last Saturday in August. AITO brings art installations, projections, performances, sculpture, and multimedia works to Downtown Charlottetown, as well as career development opportunities for artists and diverse interactive experiences for audiences. AITO is dedicated to enhancing the use, conservation, and appreciation of public spaces in Charlottetown, while promoting free access to a high standard of contemporary visual art outside of a traditional gallery setting. To learn more about AITO, visit: artintheopenpei.org

Position Details:
● Job Type: 6-month contract, flexible hours
● Salary: $15,000-$20,000 for a 6-month fixed-term contract with the possibility of an extension
● Location: Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
● Application Deadline: March 13th, 2023 @ 5pm Atlantic Time
● Start Date: March 2023 (ASAP)

Your New Job:
● Reports directly to the Art in the Open Inc. Board of Directors;
● Overseeing the direction and successful implementation of the annual Art in the Open Festival, guided by the Festival’s Critical Path annual planning document;
● Hiring annual Festival Curators in collaboration with the Board’s Curatorial Committee, and hiring and supervising the Festival Production Staff;

● Acting as the organization’s primary spokesperson, representing the organization to stakeholders, including funders, partners, and the community; guiding Festival Staff in the drafting of letters, media releases, social media, and other communications;
● Determining the organization’s strategic priorities and action plan, and supervising implementation for future Festivals alongside the Board of Directors;
● Participating in the organization’s Board of Directors meetings by preparing and delivering reports to the Board on the organization’s activities and finances, and ensuring fulfillment of other legal obligations of the organization;
● Identifying and preparing grant applications to government, private funders, and other partners for future Festival years, with an emphasis on diversifying revenue sources, Festival participants and projects, in the interests of AITO’s long-term vitality and sustainability;
● Preparing final reports for funders in collaboration with Festival Staff.

Qualifications You’ll Need:
● Experience developing and managing budgets, with an understanding of accounting procedures;
● Not-for-profit leadership experience, in either a management or board capacity;
● Supervisory experience and a demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and support staff and volunteers;
● Fundraising, sponsorship, and grant-writing experience;
● Excellent oral and written communications skills, including effective presentation skills;
● Stakeholder, funder, partner, and media engagement experience;
● Project management skills, including the ability to organize and prioritize workload while handling multiple project elements at once;
● Knowledge of, and experience in, the Canadian contemporary art presentation landscape with specific knowledge of arts practice and presentation in Prince Edward Island or the Atlantic Region will be considered an asset;
● A minimum of 2 years of experience in arts administration, event management, or festival programming. The hiring committee will also consider relevant comparable academic experience.

Art in the Open Inc. is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive environment. We encourage applications from BIPOC communities, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups. Where requested, we will provide accommodations to candidates for all aspects of the application and hiring process.

How to Apply:
Qualified candidates should send their cover letter and CV as PDF attachments in an email to: artintheopenpei@gmail.com
Hiring interviews will be conducted by a hiring committee composed of the Board of Directors and community stakeholders.