Artistic Director

Company Overview

Concrete Theatre is an award-winning professional theatre company committed to creating, developing, and producing artistically excellent Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA).  Our work is culturally diverse, inclusive, and explores issues relevant to the lives of young people and their families.

Concrete Theatre began in 1987 and was officially registered as a not-for-profit society in 1989. The spirit of collaborative leadership informs the foundation and continuity of the company to the present date. We started off as a collectively-run, popular theatre company operating on a project-to-project basis. This approach spurred our growth and connection with the community and we have invested care and effort to nurture this ethos while remaining faithful to the need to diversify theatre practice on all levels.

Our regular season consists of touring shows, workshops, and durational artist-led programs delivered in schools.  We also produce the Sprouts New Play Festival for Kids, commissioning 3 playwrights each year to develop new, short, culturally diverse TYA scripts. The network of diverse artists we work with continues to expand, affecting not only our programming but also where we aspire to be in the future.

Job Description

Concrete is looking for a community-engaged artistic leader (or pair of part-time artistic leaders) who embrace creativity, innovation, and inclusivity as part of their practice. Candidates who are applying as a duo should submit a single application containing all of the relevant information on both parties. The Artistic Director will create an artistic vision, direction and programming to achieve the highest standard of production and ensure Concrete Theatre continues its award-winning legacy.  

This position is in-person, based out of Edmonton, Alberta. The successful candidate will work primarily from the Concrete Theatre office in Old Strathcona, with an expectation of averaging 37.5 hours per week over the course of the season. We are open to considering candidates from outside the city and supporting relocation as needed. 

This is a challenging and rewarding opportunity for an artistic professional or professionals who can bring together their vision, experience, and passion for theatre for young audiences and take Concrete Theatre to the next level. Working in conjunction with the General Manager and the Board of Directors, the Artistic Director will help ensure the future success of the company. Duties include:

Artistic Direction

• Working within the company mandate to ensure alignment with the company’s mission, vision and values in realizing the artistic vision and strategic plan of the company 
• Fostering and encouraging the continued growth and development of artistic excellence
• Conceiving, developing and disseminating new artistic programs and workshops that can be delivered in school settings
• Attracting and engaging diverse audiences and artists
• Developing a clear identity for the company to be implemented in marketing and promotional materials and initiatives

Operational Oversight & Strategic Leadership

• Providing daily management of artistic operations and seasonal oversight
• Working with the Board and General Manager to ensure that the organization remains financially viable and sustainable
• Inspiring, empowering and collaborating with staff, contractors and Board
• Managing and preparing Concrete’s annual report, reports for funders, Board reports, and other programming-related reporting as needed
• Collaborating with the General Manager and staff team on the company’s grant applications and donor relationships

Community Engagement

• Promoting outreach, engagement and connection within the cultural community in Edmonton and across Canada
• Promoting the image of the Theatre to the general public and theatre community in conjunction with the Board and staff
• Encouraging the evolution of TYA and arts in the community
• Maintaining an awareness of emerging issues, community needs, and overall trends in the Canadian theatre ecology

Qualifications

• Knowledge of and a passion for TYA
• A long-term vision for the company and TYA in Edmonton and Alberta
• Commitment to the values of Concrete Theatre
• An interest in new play development and developing the next generation of artists and audiences
• An understanding of income generation including audience development, grants, fundraising and other areas of revenue generation
• Significant background as an innovative stage director, actor, producer or playwright
• Strategic, artistic thinker who understands organizational vision and growth
• Previous experience developing artistic projects and relevant artistic leadership experience
• Extensive knowledge of theatre and theatrical processes
• Experience and potential connections within the Edmonton arts community for collaboration
• A record of advancing the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and spoken
• Demonstrated ability to balance creativity with operational administration, such as finances and human resources
• Proven collaborator with the ability to develop positive, collaborative, and inclusive working relationships throughout the company

Concrete Theatre is committed to inclusive hiring. We encourage applications from artists who self-identify as members of under-represented communities, and would happily consider co-applications. As a safe space that welcomes and fosters diversity, we are committed to providing accessible employment practices.  If you require accommodations during any stage of the recruitment process, or if you have any questions about the position(s), please let us know.