ARTISTIC ASSOCIATE, NATIONAL CREATION FUND

ARTISTIC ASSOCIATE, NATIONAL CREATION FUND

Competition number: J0124-1066

Department: National Creation Fund and Professional Development

Status: Full-time, Term (end date: August 31, 2025)

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (35 hours per week)

work evenings and weekends on occasion

Annual/hourly salary: $71,700 – $89,600 (position with benefits and pension plan)

Closing date: February 25, 2024

 

Introducing the National Arts Centre

The National Arts Centre (NAC) is Canada’s bilingual, multi-disciplinary home for the performing arts. The NAC presents, creates, produces, and co-produces performing arts programming in various streams—the NAC Orchestra, Dance, English Theatre, French Theatre, Indigenous Theatre, and Popular Music and Variety—and nurtures the next generation of audiences and artists from across Canada. The NAC is located on the traditional, unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation.

At the National Arts Centre, we believe the performing arts are vital to the human experience. A house of dreams for the Canadian performing arts, we work with artists and arts organizations from across this land to revitalize our sector.

Curious to learn more? Read our 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, The Journey Ahead.

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Anti-Racism and Accessibility

We are on a journey, committed to ensuring that equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, anti-racism and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples will guide our actions.

 

The NAC welcomes applications from candidates who can help us meet our vision, and contribute to the diversity of lived experiences, perspectives, and approaches. When you join the NAC, you will be part of an inclusive community working hard to dismantle barriers to employees’ well-being, access, potential, and success. The NAC actively seeks candidates who identify as women, Indigenous, Black, Persons of Colour (IBPoC), members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and people with disabilities. We encourage you to self-identify in the recruitment process.

 

About the National Creation Fund

The National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund is dedicated to the alchemy of artistic creation and driven by a conviction in the power of creation as a means of evolving culture, sparking innovation, and shaping our world. The Fund champions creation through transformative investments in the development of bold new music, dance, theatre and interdisciplinary performances, and through our work as a home for research and experimentation on the conditions required to create ambitious work.

The Fund invests up to $2 million per year in the development of 10 to 12 compelling new Canadian performance works. Fuelled by donors, the Fund is a catalyst for Canadian artists to take their creations to a new level. Our investments provide the time, space and resources necessary to make inspiring and impactful work for national and international stages. We invest in both new work and in promising productions that need additional development after their initial run, before going on tour.

 

The Fund invests in work that reflects the vitality and diversities of Canada. We support bold and ambitious work representing a diversity of disciplines, abilities, genders, ethnicities, languages, cultures, and regions.

The Fund makes investment decisions through a two-phase curatorial process. Our curatorial teams vary by project, and consist of the Fund’s Artistic Producer, the NAC’s artistic leaders (Dance, English Theatre, French Theatre, Indigenous Theatre, NAC Orchestra, and Popular Music and Variety), and invited external artists and arts professionals.

 

Key activities:

The Artistic Associate’s extensive experience in the creation and production of theatre, music, dance and/or inter-disciplinary performing arts makes them a key member of the National Creation Fund team. Under the supervision of the Artistic Producer, the Artistic Associate is the first point of contact for artists and organizations who are considering submitting a proposal to the Fund. The Artistic Associate builds sustained relationships with artists as they move through the Fund’s process, offering advice, guidance

and support. The Artistic Associate is responsible for managing the submission process including reviewing all proposals, providing strategic support to the curatorial teams, and preparing materials and briefings. Once a project receives a Fund investment, the Artistic Associate will provide ongoing support to the project’s team, including managing the Fund’s reporting and payment process.

 

A relational approach and deep curiosity are at the heart of this role. The incumbent will be curious to learn about new artistic projects being developed across the country; passionate about researching artists, arts organizations and cultural conversations; and dedicated to building meaningful relationships with members of the performing arts community.

The Artistic Associate works closely with the Artistic Producer and Managing Director on strategic initiatives, which are developed in response to the evolving needs of artists and artistic creation.

 

Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Foster and maintain ongoing relationships with artists, notably as the main point of contact for artists and companies submitting a proposal to the Fund;

• Manage the phase 1 submission process, including: reviewing all phase 1 submission materials, and providing analysis and advice to members of the Fund’s curatorial team;

• Think alongside individual applicants and provide guidance on requested submission materials. Work collaboratively to ensure questions from the curatorial team are addressed;

• Manage the phase 2 submission process, including: collecting and reviewing all phase 2 materials (text, audio, video, images, timeline and budget) and sharing with members of the Fund’s curatorial team;

• For projects that receive a Fund investment, work with the company to negotiate the investment agreement, and lead the contracting process from initial draft to signature;

• Manage the reporting and payment process for all projects supported by the Fund, including reporting timelines, and analysis of submitted reports and budget updates;

• Work collaboratively with the Fund’s cross-functional team on special projects and events;

• Collaborate with the Artistic Producer and Managing Director on the design and execution of strategic initiatives;

• Represent the Fund at industry events;

• Stay abreast of the national and international arts communities, and new ideas and practices in the performing arts field.

 

Required qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience in the creation and production of music, theatre, dance, and interdisciplinary performance, with a thorough understanding of current producing models and relevant trends;

• Extensive knowledge of the performing arts sector, including key artists, companies and presenters, in both French and English Canada;

• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain professional relationships with artists, presenters, and other cultural stakeholders;

• Demonstrated commitment to EDIA, accessibility, broadening access to the arts, and removing barriers to participation;

• Exceptional communication skills in English and French, both written and spoken;

• Strong planning, project management and systems management skills, and ability to manage a significant portfolio of Fund investments;

• Experience negotiating agreements and reviewing budgets;

• University degree in a related field and approximately 5 to 7 years of experience within the performing arts environment; or equivalent combination of education and experience;

• Ability to deal diplomatically with conflicting priorities and differing points of view;

• Excellent interpersonal skills;

• Ability to maintain discretion and absolute confidentiality at all times;

• Availability to work evenings and weekends on occasion.

 

Who can apply:

Persons residing in Canada and Canadian citizens residing abroad. Preference will be given to Canadian citizens.

As part of NAC’s interview process, in-person interviews may be required. Please ensure to have the most up-to-date information on your résumé including your current email address.

 

The National Arts Centre (NAC) is committed to inclusive employee recruitment and selection. The NAC welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. If you require accommodation during the selection process, please inform us as soon as possible and we will make every effort to fulfill your accommodation request.

The successful candidate will be required to provide the original or a certified true copy of their education credentials as appropriate, along with proof of a valid Background Check as a condition of employment.

While we appreciate all applications, only those selected for an interview will be contacted by us.

 

How to apply:

Please submit your cover letter and résumé online through the “Career Opportunities” section of our website at https://nac-cna.ca/en/careers.

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