Job Opportunity: Programming Director

CALL FOR APPLICANTS

Term: Full-time, permanent. Workdays are Tuesdays-Saturdays; evening and weekend work is required for committee meetings and events.
Compensation: $27.50/hour at 35 hours/week ($50,050 annual), two weeks of paid vacation per year and two weeks of paid holiday closure.
Benefits: Employer-paid health benefits following a three-month probationary period.

Start Date (flexible): February 1st, 2023
Application Deadline: January 15th, 2023 at 11:59 pm EST

As an artist-run centre, Hamilton Artists Inc. (the Inc.) empowers artists of all career levels to take risks with their contemporary visual arts practices and present their work in a critical context. Our exhibitions, publications, and special projects offer education and mentorship, facilitate regional and national dialogue, and encourage collaboration, conversation, and critical inquiry. The Inc. aspires to connect with our changing communities by taking an intersectional approach, identifying and removing systemic barriers, and supporting artists and art practices that reflect the people of our region.

As the Programming Director for Hamilton Artists Inc., the successful candidate will foster and implement the organization’s artistic, educational, and programming vision in accordance with its strategic and operational plan. The Programming Director will work collaboratively with the Executive Director in non-hierarchical roles to oversee the staff and operations of the organization and will report to the Board of Directors. The successful candidate will receive training and professional development opportunities.

The Inc. is committed to equity and anti-oppression in all aspects of its operations, recognizing that systemic oppressions in our society cause considerable barriers to accessing equal employment. We welcome applications from members of equity-seeking communities (including, but not limited to): Indigenous, Black, people of colour, refugees, newcomers, immigrants, Two-Spirit, LGBTQI+, gender diverse persons, persons with disabilities, and those on low-incomes or living in poverty. Please advise us of any accommodations needed to ensure you can complete the application or interview process.

The successful candidate will possess:

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in a not-for-profit art gallery or relevant administrative experience.
• Professional experience in fine arts, art history, visual culture, museum studies, curatorial studies, or related fields. Lived experience as a practicing artist is considered an asset.
• A solid knowledge of Canadian contemporary art and an understanding of the local and regional arts community.
• Ability to work independently, be adaptable, problem-solve, and learn new skills.
• Curatorial experience and/or exhibition management skills.
• Experience developing and managing budgets.
• Experience with grant writing with a proven track record of success.
• Experience with art handling and exhibition installation in a variety of media.
• Strong critical writing skills in various styles, including curatorial essays, grant-writing language, promotional writing and email correspondence.
• Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Supervisory experience working with staff, interns, and volunteers.
• Ability to work collaboratively with the Executive Director and Board of Directors.
• Computer skills (PC), Google Suite, Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop), marketing and social media programs
• Demonstrated commitment to centring anti-oppression and anti-racism in all aspects of their work, guided by frameworks of equity and intersectionality.
• Experience cultivating and maintaining partnerships.
• Knowledge of a second language, including ASL, is considered an asset.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Managing the coordination of exhibitions, including coordination of the submission review process, negotiating and managing all contracts, budgets, and preparing exhibition receptions
• Communicating with exhibiting artists in the development of exhibitions, including coordinating shipping, travel, insurance and equipment needs and overseeing exhibition installation
• Coordinating all publicity, including writing press releases, preparing press packages, liaising with the media, managing press and mailing databases and actively raising the profile of the Gallery locally and internationally
• Coordinating all marketing, negotiating all advertising contracts, and designing advertisements
• Managing publication coordination, including brochures, distribution, catalogue exchange, documentation, the gallery website and archive
• Overseeing the maintenance of the gallery space and equipment
• Organizing Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance grant reviews
• Participating in developing and setting financial, operational and outreach priorities in collaboration with the Administrative Director and the Board
• Participating in creating and monitoring strategic and development plans in collaboration with the Executive Director and the Board of Directors
• Working with the Executive Director on all operational, employment, foundation, and sponsorship grant applications and preparing programming project-related grant applications and sponsorship packages
• Managing support staff and volunteers with the Executive Director
• Attending Board meetings and Committee meetings as required, preparing programming reports for the Board

Interested candidates are requested to submit a resume, cover letter, and two writing samples by 11:59 pm EST on January 15th, 2023, to jobs@theinc.ca with Programming Director Applicant in the subject line.

—Posted Dec 26, 2022