Want to be part of the Powell Street Festival team?
The Powell Street Festival Society’s mission is to celebrate the arts and culture of Japanese Canadians and Asian Canadians, to encourage Asian Canadians to take a leadership role in the development of the arts in Canada, and to foster community development through cultural events. The society’s main objective is to produce the Powell Street Festival, an annual celebration of Japanese Canadian arts, culture and heritage.
The Powell Street Festival Society is in a transitional phase and is currently seeking candidates for one temporary full-time position (1 year position, with the potential to renew and become a permanent full-time position).
Powell Street Festival Society seeks a dedicated, passionate, visionary and highly motivated individual for the position of General Manager. This will be a full-time (35 hrs/wk) temporary position. Working with the Board of Directors, contract staff and volunteer committees, the General Manager & Programming Director must be committed to upholding and communicating the mission and policies of Powell Street Festival Society. This position has specific responsibility to carry out the administrative and financial aspects, as well as maintain the artistic vision of the Powell Street Festival Society. In addition to general administrative and managerial duties, the incumbent will carry out the creative projects in each season (as developed collaboratively by the Programming Committee and approved by the board of directors), as well as work on grant writing and production management. He or she will develop accurate budgeting forecasts and maintain productions on budget. Specific duties include:
- Grant-writing
- Budget-keeping and forecasting (current budget of $200,000)
- Investigating new sources of revenue (grants, donors, foundations and sponsors)
- Submitting society/charitable status reports and other society business (T4s, GST return, WCB dues, royalties, etc.)
- General outreach and communications (e-newsletters, production of printed winter newsletters, maintaining media relations, etc.)
- Database and membership management
- Overseeing hiring, payroll and supervision of summer production staff (Production Coordinator and Volunteer Coordinator) and other contract staff contracting of, and payment to, artists and booking travel arrangements
- Overseeing merchandise design and production
- Preliminary festival production tasks such as sending out application forms to community participants and vendors
- Facilitating work of the Board of Directors, the Fundraising Committee, Festival Committee and the Advocacy Committee
- Researching artists on an ongoing basis
- ·In cooperation with the Programming Committee, developing each year’s theme
- In cooperation with the Programming Committee, overseeing the development of each season’s programming and translating it into project descriptions
- Developing relationships year-round with artists and other arts partners
- Confirming MCs for the festival
- Liaising with festival artists
- Establishing community and arts organizational partnerships, sponsorships and projects
The General Manager & Programming Director will be required to attend monthly evening board meetings, an annual retreat, and other committee and community meetings as needed, and will chair the monthly Programming Committee meetings.
QUALIFICATIONS:
The ideal candidate will have a passionate commitment to supporting Japanese and Asian Canadian artists and art-forms in unique projects and to maintaining the Society’ s professional reputation and community-based principles. The candidate must be able to work independently in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment as well as enjoy working collaboratively with the board of directors, individual artists and other organizations, on all matters related to planning, programming, networking and community relations. The candidate possesses excellent interpersonal skills, communication skills (both verbal and written) and organizational skills. He/She is creative and resourceful, and able to work equally well independently and collaboratively. A post-secondary education in fine or performing arts, arts administration, programming or event management, or similar experience is required. Specific experience with, or knowledge of, the national and local Asian Canadian arts scenes, the mainstream arts community, and of the operations of non-profit societies is also desirable, with proven curatorial and/or programming experience. Familiarity with Vancouver’s non-profit artistic and social services organizations (Japanese Canadian, and Downtown Eastside organizations especially) is advisable. Graphic design and Web design skills are an asset. This position is perfect for a problem-solving team player who thrives in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
Start date: as soon as possible
Deadline for applications is Monday, December 6, 2010, 12:00pm. Early submissions of applications are encouraged.
Applications will be accepted by email only. Please submit a resume and cover letter to gm@powellstreetfestival.com with the subject heading: PSFS Job Application 2010. No phone calls please.
Powell Street Festival Society thanks all applicants in advance for their interest; however, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.