Director, Visual Arts

Founded in 1933, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is a learning organization built upon an extraordinary legacy of excellence in artistic and creative development. What started as a single course in drama has grown to become the global organization leading in arts, culture, and creativity across dozens of disciplines. From our home in the stunning Canadian Rocky Mountains, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity aims to inspire everyone who attends our campus – artists, leaders, and thinkers – to unleash their creative potential.

Director, Visual Arts

The Opportunity

Banff Centre is seeking a visionary leader for the role of Director, Visual Arts, responsible for developing and executing innovative residency programming that aligns with the Centre's strategic objectives. The ideal candidate will create compelling visual arts programs that cater to the evolving needs of Canadian and international artists while enhancing the profile of our renowned initiatives. This position requires collaboration with directors across various disciplines and the Executive Director of Arts to design both specific and interdisciplinary programs that foster artistic exploration and development. While there are no direct reports, the Director will work closely with the Production Manager, Artist Support team, Program Manager for Visual Arts, and Program Delivery Specialists to ensure the highest quality in delivering impactful programs.

Responsibilities:

Roles and Responsibilities

Reporting to the Executive Director, Arts, below are some of the key accountabilities:

Strategic Planning
• Works with the Executive Director, Arts to understand and implement the strategic goals and business objectives of Banff Centre as they relate to visual arts and arts programming overall.
• Creates a comprehensive Visual Arts program plan and budget, annually and over a 3-year planning horizon, which includes program evaluation metrics.

Programming
• Creates an annual comprehensive and integrated program plan for the department area, working with the Production Manager, Artist Support, the Program Manager and other members of the team, as well as subject experts. This includes designing residency programs and planning for their implementation and evaluation.
• Meets mission aligned enrollment targets (FLEs) in the arts program plan as set out by the Executive Director, Arts.
• Collaborates with the Executive Director Leadership to create new, joint programming opportunities and to explore other synergies through planning, program design and delivery of arts and leadership programming.
• Develops an active program of dissemination of the results of studio activities and exhibitions developed at the Centre through open-studio events, print and digital means.
• Collaborates with colleagues in the other programming divisions of the Centre to develop and deliver innovative cross-disciplinary and/or cross-sectoral programming and research.
• Leads diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion efforts to ensure programs are representative and inclusive in order to reflect the changing cultural, economic, and political developments that affect artist and audience needs across the Canadian and Bow Valley landscape.
• Works closely with the Director, Program Administration and Participant Services and team incorporating the Admissions Office and Participant Resources to ensure program materials are clear, comprehensive, and accessible to potential applicants.

Operational Management
• Leads a highly motivated, well-functioning, knowledgeable and accountable team from across the relevant departments responsible for delivering the visual arts programs.
• Assists the Development Department in the development of donor, government and other grant proposals.
• Contributes to identifying funding opportunities arising from the visual arts programs, and new potential donors, sponsors and partners.

Financial Management
• Works with the Executive Director, Arts, the Managing Director, Program Operations – Arts and Program Manager, to build and manage the program budgets.
• Responsible for an active program of dissemination of the results of Visual Arts residency activity developed at the Centre, in print and digitally.
• Manages the administration budget for the Visual Arts department.

Relationship Building
• Utilizes effective contacts within the art, education and funding communities nationally and internationally to ensure the on-going relevance of Visual Arts programs to artists and curators, while enhancing the value of these programming areas.
• Expands and deepens the network of contacts across Canada and internationally to ensure the identification of outstanding facilitators and guests and to ensure the widest pool from which to attract program participants.
• Fosters relationships with donors to ensure good stewardship of past gifts and working with Development to secure new funding and ensure that stewardship reporting is completed in a timely fashion.
• Contribute to the enhancement and safeguarding of the reputation and image of the Banff Centre with the community and the general public.

Human Resource Management, Team Building and Interdivisional Cooperation
• Promotes a collaborative team environment for staff working on Visual Arts programs by fostering open communication, setting clear objectives, and nurturing a culture of positive intent that aligns with Banff Centre's values, ensuring an inclusive and diverse workplace.
• Ensures a positive and safe work environment for all Banff employees, aligned with Banff Centre’s policies including but not limited to code of ethics, anti-harassment policies, contractual obligations, and strategic directions.

Leadership and Influence
• Provides creative and strategic leadership, vision and program direction and design to Visual Arts residencies, through experience and knowledge of the contemporary visual arts culture and community.
• Leads a team in a unionized environment that achieves its financial and non-financial objectives within an environment of collaboration, communication, and innovation.
• Provides leadership through upholding Banff Centre’s safe work practices, anti-harassment policy, participant code of conduct, alcohol and drug policy, and other Banff Centre policies.

Stakeholder Relationships
• Contributes to the overall success of the Banff Centre by participating in internal committees as required.
• Represents Banff Centre externally and convey the case for the Centre at multiple and varied public events.

Qualifications:

Qualifications and Educational Requirements

• 10+ years of proven collaborative and inclusionary leadership.
• Network and reputation in the Canadian and International art community to attract high profile faculty, specialist and program participants to the Centre.
• Active member of the Visual Arts associations and groups.
• Related university degree with a deep understanding of art education and professional development at the post-secondary level.
• Previous experience in setting a compelling vision and utilizing creativity, innovation and a strong business acumen to deliver on this vision.
• Operational awareness (budgets, grants and fundraising).
• Experience working with external donors and stakeholders from government, the private and public sectors.
• Highly motivated and energetic – contemporary and forward-looking while honouring legacy and what has been built.
• Effective communication and presentation skills.
• Adept in planning and organization required to successfully launch multiple projects at once.
• Multi-lingual (preferred)
• Experience in capital projects (preferred)
• Experience working in a unionized environment (preferred)

How to Apply:

Employment Terms and Benefits

• In accordance with the terms of employment governing Management/PSP employees, this is a salaried, fulltime position, subject to a 6-month probationary period.
• The salary range for this position is $80,838 - $120,050 based on experience.
• The successful candidate will enjoy twenty paid vacation days and four personal days annually, extended medical and dental benefits, and participation in an employer-matched pension plan.
• Benefits of working at Banff Centre include transitional staff housing options (based on availability), professional development, Employee Assistance Program, onsite or hybrid work environment (3 days in the office, 2 days remote), health care spending account, staff cafeteria and restaurant discounts, and onsite fitness facility at a discounted rate – first month free for new staff!

Application Process

• We are accepting applications for the Director, Visual Arts position until 11:59pm MST on December 8, 2024.
• Candidates offered a position with Banff Centre, in this capacity, will be required to obtain a criminal record check verifying a clear record before a final job offer can be finalized.
• Visa Requirements: Candidates must be legally eligible to work in Canada. Banff Centre is unable to assist candidates in obtaining Canadian work authorization.