CALL FOR ARTISTIC ASSOCIATE

CanAsian Dance – Call for Artistic Associate (TBD/To-Be-Danced)

CanAsian Dance is working towards a world where openness to exchange, as well as cultural specificity in knowledge and artistic practice are not only valued but harnessed for collaborative creation.

Through commissions, promotion, and presentations, we support choreographers who create work based on Asian ideas, perspectives, and practices. Our commission process cultivates intercultural and intergenerational knowledge exchange. The promotion and presentation of these artists develops into diverse and pan-cultural programmes shared with pan-Asian diasporic communities and the greater Canadian public.

www.canasiandance.com/whatwedo

Opportunity & Position Overview

CanAsian Dance is in process of re-imagining itself: taking stock of the context of how we started and what we have achieved, reviewing how and what we do in context of the contemporary landscape of dance and performance, and co-dreaming and planting the seeds for our next 25 years.

We are searching for an Artistic Associate (TBD) for a part-time (contract) position from August 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022. Your mission is to guide CanAsian Dance’s works-in-progress program TBD (To Be Danced) in collaboration with the Managing Director to cultivate an environment for creativity and threaded community. As well, you will also support and be in dialogue with the parallel development of a new Vision and Strategic Plan.

The Artistic Associate (TBD) will work in collaboration with our Managing Director and reports to the CanAsian Dance Board of Directors.

The Program

TBD (To Be Danced) is a new program by CanAsian Dance, which offers local choreographers’ the opportunity to present a work-in-progress to a small audience and to participate in a facilitated feedback process with aims to support the development of the artist’s work toward its final stages.

CanAsian Dance is particularly interested in curatorial and artist development processes that cater and/or respond to artists and communities previously under-represented at CanAsian Dance programs. As part of the CanAsian Dance ethos, the program is open to all races and cultural backgrounds, but the concept of the proposed work must contain an Asian-based idea or practice.*

* ‘Asian-based ideas and practices’ are broad terms and we interpret them liberally. We ask applicants to think philosophically, mathematically, astronomically, ancestrally, artisanally, geo-politically, paradigmatically, poetically, personally, culturally, mindfully and/or critically. We ask applicants to consider power, processes, systems, structures, stories, songs, objects, artifacts and/or actions; and for applicants to integrate these ideas with respect and perspective.

Responsibilities

Artistic and Programmatic (65%)

Fulfill the mandate of the organization, in collaboration with the Managing Director, through the planning, tracking, and execution of the program.
Formulate the parameters with which artists submit their proposals as well as formulate the method of artist selection for the program. Review all submissions received by the program’s public Call to Artists;
Liaise with program participants throughout, offering guidance, feedback, and assistance as needed
Facilitate a respectful feedback process for the Choreographers & Participants
Recruit additional personnel for the program in consultation with community artists and in collaboration with the Managing Director.
Work with the Managing Director to collect useful feedback from the participants
Report to Board of Directors on the program’s activities.

Producing (25%)

Liaise with artists in regards to plans, updates, and scheduling.
Collaborate with Managing Director on artist contracts
Liaise with artists and technical staff to support the production of the event, in collaboration with the Managing Director.
Work with the Managing Director to produce the event.

Marketing and Communications (5%)

In collaboration with the Managing Director and other contract staff, strategically write and design content for publicity, social media, website, e-blasts, and other marketing / promotional material for the program.

Financial Management (5%)

In collaboration with the Managing Director, work within the programmatic budget
Ensure programmatic costs fall within budgeted allotments

Qualifications

Qualified candidates will possess the following core competencies:

Minimum five years of work experience in artistic leadership roles with direct experience in dance and performance curation, performing arts creation, production, and presentation.
Lived experience and/or compassionate understanding of the professional barriers and ecological contexts that marginalized dance artists face in Canada and elsewhere, including the social, cultural and political factors affecting Canadian artists of Asian ancestry.
Knowledge pertaining to and existing relationships within the cultural ecology of Toronto and Ontario.
An excellent and proven approach to communication and work style that is anti-racist and culturally-sensitive
Considerable interpersonal, written, and verbal skills, exercised with tact and diplomacy
The ability to collaborate and work well in a spherical artist-centred model and a Board-engaged organizational environment.

Values

CanAsian Dance is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. CanAsian Dance 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. CanAsian Dance will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on race, colour, religion or belief, sexuality, gender expression, ability, family or parental status or any other legally protected grounds. CanAsian Dance encourages applicants of all ages. Accommodations are available throughout the hiring process.

We thank and honour the ancestral and contemporary caretakers of this land: the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and the Wendat First Nation as well as any and all un/acknowledged caretakers. CanAsian Dance joins and upholds the Dish with One Spoon agreement as we create and convene on these lands and waters with the commitment to centre sustainability and respect for the resources we all share and protect.

Remuneration

One Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Canadian Dollars ($1,250.00 CAD) (plus HST if applicable) per month, for five (5) months, for a total of Six Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Canadian Dollars ($6,250.00 CAD) (plus HST if applicable) total.

To apply, please send your cover letter and resume to

info@canasiandance.com with the subject line:"Artistic Associate (TBD)"

before 11:59pm ET Friday July 15th 2022

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