Work with us - Lead Festival Administrator

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Lead Festival Administrator

Paprika Festival 2017/2018

Deadline to apply: Friday, September 15, 2017 at 5PM

Term: 10 hours/week, September 2017 - June 2018, increased hours around Festival time (May 14-20, 2018)

Honorarium: $750.00

This is a training position, designed as an exciting, hands-on learning opportunity for an emerging arts administrator or producer. For this position we are especially interested in candidates under the age of 30.

Paprika Festival is a youth-led professional performing arts organization (now in its 17th year) that runs year-round professional training and mentorship programs for youth culminating in a festival of new work by young artists. This year’s Festival is in partnership with Native Earth Performing Arts and will take place in the Aki Studio Theatre. Paprika runs programs for youth interested in playwriting, directing, acting, collective creation and producing theatre.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Lead Festival Administrator will lead Paprika’s Festival Administrators (8-15 people, ages 19-25) who provide invaluable visioning, prep-work, and on-site support for all Paprika programming and fundraisers. The Lead Festival Administrator will be in charge of organizing and leading meetings, spearheading Festival Administrator initiatives, and steering the direction of the Administrator program itself. Furthermore, the Lead Festival Administrator will have opportunities to shadow Paprika Festival staff in any aspect of arts management, programming or administration that interest them. A desire for mentorship and hands-on experience is essential! This is a great way to learn about how a charitable non-profit arts organization works. You will be designing your own portfolio of events and activities as you assist the Festival in connecting with new audiences, engaging participants with each other and the arts, managing training/festival logistics, and supporting the creation of new work.

Festival Administrators engage with the festival as creative thinkers, planning fundraising events and promotional projects to ensure the success of the festival for its participants and audience. From seeking sponsorship, to planning a hoppin’ fundraiser, to performing administrative tasks, Festival Administrators have a hand in it all and are a vital part of Paprika. The Lead Festival Administrator coordinates and oversees these initiatives and acts as the liaison between the Festival Administrators and Paprika Staff.

Important Dates:

  • Attend a meet and greet with participants and staff on December 10, 2017 and Paprika Festival Training Days on:

  • January 28, 2018

  • February 25, 2018

  • March 25, 2018

  • April 29, 2018

  • Bi-weekly Staff meetings on Wednesday evenings (at Theatre Passe Muraille)

  • Monthly Festival Administrators meetings scheduled based on Festival Administrator availabilities (beginning in October)

  • 17th Annual Paprika Festival: May 14-20, 2018

DUTIES

The Lead Festival Administrator will:

  • Assist the Artistic Producer and General manager in seeking and selecting the Festival Administrators team for the year (community and school outreach)

  • Coordinate and lead monthly meetings with the Festival Administrators

  • Coordinate three educational guest speakers to attend Festival Administrator meetings (in alignment with the Fest Admin team’s interests and training priorities)

  • Lead the planning and execution of a major Paprika Fundraiser (with the support of Paprika Staff & Fest Admin team)

  • Lead the creation and promotion of an online Paprika Fundraiser (in collaboration with the Communications Manager)

  • Seek and secure in-kind sponsorship for food at Paprika Training Days

  • During the Festival (May 14-20, 2018), coordinate scheduling and duties for Front of House management, managing the merchandise table, and ushers for performances

  • Contribute to the Paprika Festival blog

  • Work in collaboration with the General Manager, Artistic Producer, and other staff to provide administrative and creative support as needed

  • Commitment to creating a fun, engaging and motivating environment for the Festival Administrators

  • Assist other staff members with tasks as required.

The Lead Festival Administrator will gain meaningful hands-on experience and mentorship in:

  • Project and team management

  • Event planning and promotion

  • Seeking sponsorship and in-kind donations

  • Professional writing skills

  • Promotion and networking across multiple social media platforms

  • Volunteer coordination on-site during Festival

  • The behind-the-scenes daily operations of an arts organization

REQUIREMENTS

Ideal candidates will have:

  • Previous experience and passionate interest in Arts Administration and/or Producing

  • Exceptional organizational and time management skills

  • Excellent communication skills and email finesse

  • Enthusiasm for the arts, theatre, and youth engagement

  • Creative ideas to support emerging artists

  • A sincere investment in the well-being of Paprika

  • Strong initiative and willingness to learn

HOW TO APPLY

Please send your cover letter & resume to leslie@paprikafestival.com

In your letter, please address the following:
• What experience and/or skills would you bring to the Festival Administrators as Leader?
• What skills do you hope to gain from being the Lead Festival Administrator?
• How will you make time in your life to meet the time commitment of this program?

Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Thank you for your interest! Please send any questions to leslie@paprikafestival.com