JOIN OUR TEAM: #Paprika22 Communications Producer

Posted on July 11, 2022 by Julia Dickson

Paprika Festival is hiring a Communications Producer to join our team! This annual contract is an opportunity to lead the marketing strategy of a week-long festival of live performances, created and performed by young and emerging artists. 

Application Deadline: Monday August 1, 2022, 5PM
Contract Dates: August 22, 2022 - June 30th, 2023
Position: Communications Producer
Fee: $10,000 (approximately 500 hours over the course of the contract)
Region: Downtown Toronto, ON
Term: Contract

Job Description

The Communications Producer is a part-time role responsible for working with the Paprika team to plan, implement and manage marketing, publicity and graphic design efforts leading up to and during the Festival (May 2023). This position offers an excellent opportunity to take on a leadership role in promoting and marketing a youth performing arts festival. The successful applicant will also have excellent organizational, communication and interpersonal skills, the ability to work well on a team, some knowledge of marketing strategy, and a passion for the performing arts. Basic graphic design abilities are needed (Canva graphics are great!)

Paprika is a youth-led, youth-run theatre festival. We welcome learning on the job, and encourage applicants with no marketing experience to apply for this role. If you are a producer, administrator, stage manager, designer, writer, or any kind of artist with an eye for design and a passion for social media interested in a career as an artsworker, this opportunity is also for you!

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

  • Plan, create & execute a marketing plan for the festival that spans print, digital, and social media with input from the General Manager, and Artistic Producer.
  • Ongoing design/development of marketing materials and assets for the Paprika Festival and ancillary events.
  • Ongoing social media activity spanning our social media including regular Paprika updates, engagement with the Toronto theatre community and our current social media following.
  • Draft, edit, and proof all components of the Festival program guide and additional copy as required.
  • Contribute to concept and planning conversations including branding, marketing and social media plans.
  • Contribute to website content including: drafting copy, suggesting edits, archiving previous Festival information, creating new Festival landing page.
  • Manage online communications: participant call for submissions, social media postings, newsletters & website updates.
  • Coordinate photography coverage of all Paprika events, including rehearsals.
  • Ongoing participant correspondence, including gathering of promotional information for Festival shows and mentorship on creating show blurbs and artist bios.
  • Write press releases with support from General Manager, and lead liaising with Toronto media in the promotion of Paprika events
  • Draft copy for Festival ads, manage social media ads. 
  • Act as main liaison between the Festival and Printer. 
  • Attend all staff meetings; attend post-festival debrief.  

IMPORTANT DATES

  • August 2022: Training and on-boarding (15 hours)
  • September - October 2022: Call for Participants Campaign. Managing the social media, print, and PR aspects of launching our call for participants and advertising our programming. (120 hours)
  • November - December 2022: Regular social media updates including announcing participants, year end development campaign. Creation of Festival marketing plan. (50 hours)
  • January 2022 - March 2023: Preparing participants for Festival marketing through workshops and communication. Preparing and collecting assets for Festival Marketing Campaign, including coordinating with participants, photographers, graphic designers, and media contacts to lead up to the festival. (120 hours)
  • April - May 2023: Festival Campaign Live. Managing the social media, print, and PR aspects of marketing the festival. (150 hours)
  • June 2023: Transition meeting and archival documentation. (20 hours)
  • Year-round: Bi-weekly staff meetings, website updates, regular newsletters. Advertising for #HotTopics Community programming, regular social media updates including engagement with community partners. (25 hours)

NOTE: The candidate shall be available to work the hours and fulfill the duties as detailed.  Paprika and the candidate acknowledge that hours are flexible, which may result in an increase during busy periods and a decrease during slower programming periods.

YOUR QUALITIES + EXPERIENCES:

  • Pays attention to detail and is self-motivated with an eye for design
  • Has confidence managing detailed project plans and keeping multiple digital assets and logos organized
  • Likes setting and meeting deadlines and working with a budget
  • The type of person who loves meme culture, a good social media campaign, strong branding, or TikTok trend
  • Has previous experience with Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Canva, and/or Photoshop
  • Will feel comfortable supporting emerging artists in the process of creating marketing and publicity material for their projects
  • You identify as a strong writer, clear communicator, good storyteller, and/or a people-person who can adjust communication to reach different audiences
  • Confident in maintaining and keeping track of multiple email threads and conversations with suppliers, artists, partners, and coworkers.
  • Has experience with copywriting, website maintenance using Wordpress or similar platform, and Mailchimp (or is eager to learn)
  • Has training or experience in marketing, communications, public relations, theatre, visual arts, and/or arts administration
  • Ideally is under the age of 30, or considers themselves an emerging arts administrator
  • Has a knowledge of Toronto theatre and media landscape,  and/or feels confident in their ability to make connections (the idea of sending a cold call email sounds fun!)
  • Has a passion for youth leadership, mentorship, and professional development in the performing arts
  • A demonstrated dedication to accessibility and inclusion in your personal artistic practices and a passion to continuing to grow in these areas
  • The ability and dedication to be a powerful, active advocate for Paprika Festival, and young and emerging artists at large within the industry and wider community

HOW TO APPLY:

Please send us the following:

  • Resumé
  • Cover letter or short video (under 3 minutes) detailing why you would be a good candidate for this position
  • Example document work sample of previous graphic design work and copy writing in a single PDF. Ideally, work samples should include 1-2 visual assets (eg: poster, social media post, promo graphic, logo, etc.) and 300-500 words of copy writing (eg: a press release, announcement, promotional blurb, etc - can be a mix of multiple pieces.). Examples from work in different sectors are welcome. 

Email your application to Julia Dickson, General Manager, via julia@paprikafestival.com with the subject line: “Communications Producer - [YOUR NAME].”  

Applications are due by 5PM on August 1, 2022

Organization Description

For the past 21 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 programs include a strong focus on mentorship and training, and we are guided by the four core values of accessibility, artistic development, community, and youth leadership. Our 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 October and May, culminating in an annual Festival. For more information, please visit, www.paprikafestival.com.

ACCOMODATIONS & ACCESS

Please email if you require a short extension — our hard deadline for applications is 11:59PM Wednesday August 3, as applications will be reviewed the week of August 1, with interviews scheduled the following week.

You are welcome to email Julia (julia@paprikafestival.com) with any accommodations, requests, or questions about the application – we would be happy to accommodate any application process that showcases your capability, and interest in this role. 

Paprika is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. Paprika is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. Paprika will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on race, colour, religion or belief, sexuality, gender expression, family or parental status or any other legally protected grounds. Paprika encourages applicants of all ages. 

Paprika is a youth-led theatre festival. We prioritize applications from those under 30 and from equity-seeking communities.