Position: Indigenous Director
Position Type: Full time, permanent
Compensation: $50,000 plus commensurate benefits
Collaborates most closely with: Executive Director, Artistic Director
Overview:
Fringe Theatre is seeking to build a reciprocal relationship with an Indigenous Director to support the ongoing and patient Indigenization and decolonization of Fringe Theatre’s artistic programming and processes while prioritizing community building and care. The Indigenous Director will be provided support and resource to hone artistic and curatorial skills that centre Indigenous artists local to Treaty 6 and the Métis homeland. In close collaboration with Fringe’s team, the Indigenous Director will take a leadership role in growing Fringe’s artistic programming, including programming as part of Fringe Theatre’s Season and Community Hub, and the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival. Programming may take many forms (gatherings, workshops, performance, or something new!) and is not defined by a Eurocentric philosophy of theatre production.
Is it you we’re looking for?
You are a community builder who passionately believes in the power of story. You nurture strong community relationships and are energized by creating opportunities and space for artists to share their story and connect with audiences. You value supporting a culture of abundance that celebrates the skills and spirit of everyone you collaborate with. You champion safer spaces and radical hospitality where everyone is welcome. You’re an artist at heart who may have theatre-creating experience or who is theatre curious. You communicate clearly, believe in mentorship at all levels, and respect the reciprocal nature of mentorship. You honour connecting with and consulting Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Creatives across the performing arts industry to help gather knowledge and share resources. You bring an open and positive energy to everything you do. You’ve got a great sense of humour and a desire to make the arts industry (if not the world!) a better place. A love for Fringe, live theatre, and the local arts scene helps, too!
Job Description:
As a leader within Fringe’s artistic programming department, the Indigenous Director will:
- Create opportunities for Indigenous-led artistic projects as part of Fringe’s Season, Community Hub Programming, and the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival. This may be achieved through presentation, gatherings, workshops and/or curation and is not defined by a Eurocentric philosophy of what a show is or should be;
- Consult with Indigenous artists and community leaders in Treaty 6 territory and across the Métis homeland to assess barriers to access and identify potential opportunities for engagement with creative partners and community stakeholders;
- Consult across the performing arts industry with other theatres and arts organizations who are also looking at Indigenization and decolonization to gather knowledge, build allies, and share resources;
- Create space for Elders and Knowledge Keepers to guide processes as needed or offered;
- Guide financial practices for paying Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and other cultural engagements;
- Develop mentorship training opportunities within the organization, including helping to identify and support the ongoing training that acknowledges Truth and Reconciliation across the organization and at the Board level and within Fringe’s Volunteer program;
- Grow Fringe’s community engagement; and
- Support and lead relationships with partner organizations that align with the Fringe Theatre in relation to Indigenous values.
We expect this position to grow, change, and evolve organically over time in relation to the person in the role, and the needs conveyed by community. Fringe Theatre commits to providing the support and resource necessary to nurture that change, and to clearly redefine reciprocal expectations as the position grows.
This position works cross functionally with all departments, as well stakeholders important to the health of Fringe Theatre. It is expected that this role will enthusiastically champion Fringe Theatre’s commitment to safer spaces and radical hospitality for all fringers.
Have the passion but not the hard skills? If you have the drive but not the years’ experience, please still apply! We want to work with someone who wants to learn and is passionate about Fringe.
To Apply
Please email your cover letter and resume to Murray Utas, Artistic Director, at murray.utas@fringetheatre.ca with “Indigenous Director” in the subject line.
Applications accepted until April 7, 2023, or until a suitable candidate is hired.
Why Fringe?
At Fringe Theatre, we foster artists. We nurture audiences. We take chances. Fringe Theatre cultivates safer spaces for brave ideas and big artistic risk.
Since its very beginning, Fringe Theatre has been the meeting place where experience, perspective, diversity, and passion are explored, uplifted, and celebrated. Representation onstage, backstage, in the Front of House and Box Office, in our administrative spaces, and in our mentorship and training programs matters. The future of theatre in Treaty 6 is equitable, diverse, inclusive, and accessible. We believe representation within our organization will lead to greater equity, diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility in our community.
We are a collaborative, playful, creative, flexible, hard-working team where big ideas and out-of-the-box approaches are encouraged. We know you have a big, beautiful, busy life outside of Fringe and we will do everything in our power to honour your humanness beyond the amazing work you do with us.
Our base of operations is the Fringe Theatre Arts Barns in Edmonton, AB (10330 84 Avenue). Our hours of business are typically 9am – 5pm Monday – Friday, though as a busy cultural space supporting more than 500 events year-round and as the producers of the largest, longest running Fringe Theatre Festival in North America, there is an expectation that staff are reasonably available evenings and weekends based on season and Festival event activity.
Employees are expected to uphold and champion Fringe’s Safer Spaces and Anti-Racism programs and abide by our Code of Conduct.
COVID-19 Considerations:
We believe in care and kindness above all else – we’re all in this together. We are a mask-friendly workplace where personal choice is respected.