Executive & Artistic Director Job Posting

Executive & Artistic Director

Job Posting

APPLICATION DEADLINE: September 1, 2023

Golden & District Arts Council, known as Kicking Horse Culture (KHC) is seeking an Executive & Artistic Director (EAD) to lead, manage and plan arts and cultural programs for the region. This is an exciting and unique opportunity for a creative professional who can bring together their vision, experience and passion for a wide range of artistic endeavours.

About Golden and Kicking Horse Country

Golden, BC is on the Trans-Canada highway, an 8-hour drive east of Vancouver and 3 hours west of Calgary. It is nestled in the Columbia River valley, with the Rocky Mountains to the east and the Purcell Mountains to the west, at the confluence of the Kicking Horse and Columbia Rivers. Combining a traditional BC industrial base with a growing tourism sector, Golden attracts a broad cross-section of people from all over the world, who come to work, play and stay. With spectacular scenery, access to numerous parks and wilderness areas, an 18-hole championship golf course and the renowned Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, Golden is an enthusiastic mountain town offering plenty of outdoor recreational opportunities and cultural experiences. The population is clustered in town and spread out in rural settings (together, Kicking Horse Country). It is filled with long-standing residents, newcomers and tourists.

If you want to get a few runs in on the ski hill or bike any of the 129 km of cross-country trails before heading to work, where you will ensure the cultural vibrancy of your community – Golden is for you.

The Organization

KHC is an established, professionally-managed organization that serves the Town of Golden (population 4,000) and the Columbia Shuswap Regional District Area ‘A’ with another 3,000 residents within a 70 km radius. KHC plays a central, leadership role in the community by engaging collaborative partnerships to deliver a broad variety of professional cultural programming, arts education, and community arts activities. 

Its mission is to engage, energize and enrich the cultural life of Kicking Horse Country. In 2006, when KHC began to receive operational funding for its programs from the Town and Regional District, it made three promises to the community, which remain relevant today:

1. Partner with Kicking Horse Country, our provincial, federal, corporate stakeholders & our audiences to deliver vibrant, year-round cultural activity that will make “where” and “how” we live an “attraction”
2. Develop cultural activity as a catalyst to build upon and enhance our local traditions and further develop a strong “sense of place”
3. Fuel community economic development and tourism to help build the very real feeling that Golden is “a great place to live and visit”

With an annual budget of $600,000 and a membership of 700, KHC operates the Art Gallery of Golden and Studio Gift Shop and manages, on behalf of the Town of Golden, the operations of the renovated and restored Golden Civic Centre, where it stages performances, and where a variety of community activities (meetings, camps, weddings, and clubs) are held.

Specific programs include:

• Live Kicks: 10 concerts of music, theatre and dance from fall through the spring.
• Summer Kicks: 9 free outdoor concerts featuring established and emerging BC and Canadian artists.
• Art Gallery of Golden: 10 exhibits annually, featuring local, regional and provincial artists.
• Studio Gift Shop: ongoing exhibition and sales for 95+ local and regional artists and artisans.
• Film Kicks: 8 feature film nights (TIFF Film Circuit).
• Best of the Banff Mountain Film Festival
• Ice Kicks/Snow King’s MasqueParade: 3-month community arts activities leading up to February’s outdoor MasqueParade celebration.
• Gift Kicks: 2-day Christmas Craft Faire featuring 65 local and regional artists and artisans.
• Management of the Golden Civic Centre.
• Youth Engagement: workshops, residencies and concerts

Job Description

The EAD reports to a volunteer Board of Directors and is responsible for the overall vision and operations of the organization. Working with a team of employees and volunteers, the EAD will set the collaborative tone in the organization, empowering the team to contribute to its overall success. A visionary programmer, the EAD will ensure a diversity of artistic offerings that will engage with the broadest cross-section of the population and their interests. A community builder, the EAD will be equally comfortable working with community organizations and government officials, ensuring a thriving local arts sector. The successful candidate will display a passion for arts and culture and a commitment to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in the arts. Providing a public face for KHC, the Director will be active in the community, both responding to its needs and providing it with challenging and interesting opportunities to experience all art forms. The EAD will recognize the exponential growth KHC has experienced in the last decade and a half and will have a vision to build on the success that exists.

Roles and Responsibilities

Leadership

• Establish the “big picture” direction for the organization as a whole
• Establish a strategic plan that creates a common vision for KHC and its stakeholders
• Guide evolution and generate changes, when necessary
• Motivate and inspire the KHC team and partners
• Identify and solve problems as they arise

Programming

• Develop and articulate a compelling artistic vision across the organization
• Plan and present multiple performing arts series and community festivals, ensuring offerings are artistically balanced, in-line with community interests and demographics
• Select and contract artists
• Support staff and oversee programs in the visual arts
• Contribute to local artist development

Communications, Partnerships and Relationships

• Seek out and leverage relationships and resources to establish and build partnerships that contribute to success
• Maintain key relationships with existing funding partners 
• Maintain excellent relationships with members, donors and sponsors
• Oversee the development and implementation of a strong marketing and communications plan to develop audiences

Finance and Administration

• Establish and manage budgets
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting to the Board of Directors, funders and stakeholders
• Seek additional sources of funding
• Nurture the development of the Board and their involvement in KHC
• Oversee the effective management of the physical assets of KHC
• Oversee contracts for goods or services, insurance policies, leases, etc.

Human Resources

• Ensure that recruitment, compensation, benefits and other terms of employment policies meet legislative requirements and industry standards
• Motivate, inspire and empower the KHC team, including volunteers
• Properly orient, train, supervise and evaluate staff and volunteers; ensure that all team members are treated in a fair, equitable and non-discriminatory manner

Qualifications

Qualified candidates will have at least 5 years of progressive experience at a leadership level in arts organizations, preferably community-serving arts organizations. A proven track record of performing arts programming and/or visual arts exhibitions. Strong communication skills – verbal and written are a must. Ability to be a community and relationship builder. Excellent organizational skills.

Compensation:

$70,000 – $80,000 per annum, commensurate with experience. Competitive benefits package.

Application Instructions

Please send your resume and a cover letter, explaining why you are a good fit for the position, to lori@loribaxter.ca. Deadline: 5:00 pm PDT on September 1, 2023. 

We thank all applicants, but only those considered for an interview will be contacted.