Sappyfest bid farewell last month to outgoing Creative Director Steven Lambke. We thank Steve for all his contributions over the past five years and wish him the best in his next endeavours. We are now searching for our next Creative Director! The job posting can be viewed in our employment section, as well as below. Thank you for the consideration; we hope to hear from you.
Call for Applications: Creative Director
Sappyfest Inc. is a non-profit organization led by a volunteer Board of Directors. We promote the growth of arts and culture in Sackville, NB and Atlantic Canada on a year round basis, with a focus on the presentation of Sappyfest, an annual music and arts festival. The three-day event attracts an audience from across Canada and internationally, and engages a community of volunteers and participants who are attracted to our non-hierarchical festival structure and diverse presentation. Since 2006, Sappyfest has worked with more than 1000 artists, including: musical performances by Lido Pimienta, Jeremy Dutcher, U.S. Girls, Haviah Mighty, Willie Thrasher, Charles Bradley, and Arcade Fire; visual and performance works by artists Rita McKeough, Shary Boyle, Daniel Barrow, and Graeme Patterson; readings and discussions with writers Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Sean Michaels, Rebecca Roher, and Sue Goyette. The annual three-day festival is an opportunity to gather together a community to experience music, art, and conversations, and a chance to create real and ongoing connections between artists and audience.
Job Description:
Sappyfest is currently looking for a Creative Director to take the imaginative lead for two projects: an “off-season” presentation or small series of presentations through the winter of 2021/2022 as well as our next festival, Sappyfest 17, which will take place July 29-31 2022. In the ever-evolving COVID-19 pandemic, Sappyfest has stridently tested alternative modes of presentation, such as video and performance projection onto a 16-storey industrial “cube” and a 26-hour livestream broadcast.
We are seeking an enthusiastic candidate who enjoys organizing dynamic and introspective arts events and seeks to foster connections across numerous art and music disciplines. Sappyfest has guided the zeal for collaboration and making things happen in the backdrop of a small town. We are open to the shape and path a new Creative Director would like to take to present our annual coming-together.
Responsibilities:
Under the direction and support of the Sappyfest Inc.’s volunteer Board of Directors, the Creative Director will:
Develop and coordinate creative direction and management for the annual Sappyfest presentation.
Be responsible for all aspects of festival booking and event coordination, including booking artists and accommodations, venues, equipment and liaising with external sound technicians.
Establish and achieve budgets in coordination with the SappyFest Treasurer for programming and all operations.
Support the Sappyfest Treasurer and external bookkeeper with project and budget updates as well as maintaining accounts payable to artists and suppliers.
Write grant applications and their associated reports to public sector funding partners at the municipal, provincial and federal levels.
Hire, supervise and provide workplace mentorship to contractual summer employees through the Mount Allison University student internship program and/or Young Canada Works.
Continue ongoing collaborative relationships with other local arts organizations, venue spaces, and community stakeholders.
Update our website and communicate over social media about Sappyfest’s activities and presentations.
Collaborate with the festival’s external public relations representative and
contracted artists, ensuring all Sappyfest presentations are adequately and consistently marketed to the public and press contacts.
Attend and participate in regular meetings with the Board of Directors by providing progress reports and participate in other discussion/committee meetings.
Work with the Board to identify and implement long-term goals and maintain Sappyfest’s core mission.
Job Requirements:
Working knowledge of regional, national, and international music and cultural sectors.
Demonstrated experience in festival and event management, preferably in development of arts or community events.
Proven excellent and conscientious written and oral communication skills.
Ability to communicate and maintain working relationships with artists in a caring and confidential manner.
Experience with anti-oppression and equity practices in the arts.
Proficiency with standard digital office tools and social media communication.
Familiarity with small non-profit finances and the ability to develop and work within a budget.
Experience in writing successful grant applications; strong writing skills.
Contract Details:
Earliest anticipated start date – November 1st 2021
Total contract hours - 1220 hours @ $22.00/hr, with an approximate distribution of hours as follows:
20 hours/week – November 1st 2021 to May 2nd 2022
40 hours/week – May 2nd 2022 to August 31 2022
Remote work may be possible through the fall and winter months, but the Creative Director would need to be in Sackville, NB during pertinent stages of winter programming and during the summer months of contract (May – August). SappyFest will arrange to have an office from May to August with expectation of weekday office hours and public accessibility.
How to Apply:
Submit your cover letter and CV or resume with two references to producer@sappyfest.com using the subject line “Creative Director application.” Application review will begin Monday, October 25th.
Sappyfest is committed to an equitable hiring process and strongly encourages applicants who self-identify as being part of underrepresented groups or as having additional barriers to entering or staying in the labour market.
Please contact us with any questions you may have, and let us know if there are accessibility accommodations you may require in the application and interview process.
Thank you.