Paprika Festival is seeking new Board of Directors members!
Toronto’s most influential youth-led professional performing arts organization is currently seeking Board of Directors applications.
For the past 20 years, Paprika Theatre Festival (Paprika) has been the home of the emerging artist. We are a year-round, youth-led performing arts organization celebrating the work of young and emerging artists. Paprika’s free programs include a strong focus on mentorship and training, guided by four core values of accessibility, artistic development, community, and youth leadership. Paprika received the Toronto Arts Foundation’s 2021 Arts For Youth Award.
Paprika collaborates with a diverse range of emerging artists, and arts organizations, locally, across Canada and abroad, and we prioritize building relationships with organizations and communities that respect our values and share our vision.
Board Position Summary:
This volunteer position will work in a collaborative environment to provide oversight, direction, and mentorship to Paprika’s executive team. Board members work together with Festival executives to oversee the strategic direction of the organization. The Board is made up of artists, arts administrators, and other professionals who contribute their experience in arts management, fundraising, financial and legal management, education, human resources, administration, marketing, and/or technical expertise. Directors serve one-year terms, however, it is encouraged that directors commit to a minimum of two years. Please note that current or prospective participants of Paprika programming, or those currently contracted by the organization, cannot serve on the Board.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Provide guidance and oversight to advance Paprika’s mission and strategic plan;
- Act as a Festival ambassador;
- Attend 8-12 meetings per year. Typically these meetings are held via Zoom, on weekday evenings (Eastern time zone), and run approximately two hours in length;
- Attend and contribute to an annual strategic planning meeting;
- Option to serve on one or more committees (Fundraising, HR, Development);
- Hire Paprika Executive staff (as needed);
- Provide oversight, direction, and mentorship to Paprika’s executive team;
- Attend the Festival (typically held in May, in Toronto when in-person), fundraising events, and at least one artist training day (typically in the fall);
- Make an annual financial contribution, at a personally meaningful level;
- Ensure strong fiduciary oversight and financial management (for more information on the fiduciary duty in the context of a NFP in Canada and the role of directors of a charity, please visit https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cilp-pdci.nsf/eng/h_cl00688.html and https://www.carters.ca/pub/article/charity/govset/A-duties.pdf respectively)
Expertise / Interest Paprika is Seeking:
- Fundraising, Development, and/or Grass-Roots Organizing
- Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
- Governance and Planning
- Human Resources and Legal Expertise
- Experience in Youth Mentorship, Teaching, and/or Developing Pedagogy
- Policy Development
- Audience Development
- Supporting the Future of Theatre!
What to Submit:
- A 75-100 word bio outlining your relevant experience
- A brief statement of interest that describes your relevant experience and what you hope to gain working with Paprika
Where to Submit:
Board of Directors, Paprika Theatre Festival
Email: board@paprikafestival.com
If you have any questions, need assistance with your application, or have an accommodation request, please let us know via email.
When to Submit:
Paprika reviews Board applications on an on-going basis.
Paprika is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates. We strongly encourage submissions from candidates of Indigenous backgrounds, all genders, ethnicities, and all equity seeking groups.
Accessibility:
Live captioning can be provided through Zoom software. Board meetings will continue to be conducted via Zoom for the foreseeable future and can be conducted with Directors who are blind or low vision (creating materials that are screen-reader compatible, and incorporating group practices such as providing visual descriptions and stating our names when speaking). The Paprika Board is committed to accommodating and embracing different learning styles and cognitive needs. Please reach out if you have access needs that aren’t reflected above.
About Paprika:
For the past 20 years, Paprika Theatre Festival (Paprika) has been the home of the emerging artist. Paprika’s year-round, youth-led performing arts programs celebrate the work of young and emerging artists. Paprika programs include a strong focus on mentorship and training, guided by the four core values of accessibility, artistic development, community, and youth leadership. Paprika’s free educational programs include: Creators Unit, Playwrights Unit, Directors Lab, Paprika Productions, Indigenous Arts Program, Design Lab, and the Festival Creative Producers and Administrators. These programs run between November and May, culminating in an annual Festival of original work. Paprika also hosts Hot Topics, a series of free talkbacks, workshops, and conversations for young and emerging artists.