Artistic Director

Artistic Director Great River Shakespeare Festival Job Posting

The Artistic Director will be a collaborating and co-equal partner with the Managing Director, each reporting to the Board of Directors through the Board Chair and Executive Committee. The Artistic Director will have several direct reports as approved from time to time by the board.

Set the artistic vision for GRSF and the artistic productions of the company.

Establish and maintain a strong working relationship with the Managing Director. This executive team must offer a unified and inspirational approach for the Board, staff and volunteers.

Participate with the Managing Director and Board Members in fundraising and donor activities. This includes onsite events and work in Winona, MN.

While this is an executive position, it is approximately 0.5 FTE. It is anticipated the Artistic Director may be engaged in artistic work outside of the company. The amount of time in residence in Winona will be negotiated during the hiring process.

The salary range for this position will be $25,000 - $35,000 with other duties (such as directing or acting) compensated separately.

• Together with the Managing Director, guide the organization to achieve its vision in a sustainable manner.
• Take the lead in developing an artistic vision for the company that encompasses the theater, education and outreach, collaborations with other arts organizations, and attracting new and diverse audiences.
• Have an engaged relationship with the Board and continue to support the Board’s efforts to oversee the institution and raise the funds to sustain it.
• Attend all board meetings and report ongoing activities and new developments to the Executive Committee of the board.
• Take an active and effective role in a broad fundraising strategy and in high level donor cultivation and solicitation.
• Support and continue to develop a core company of actors, designers, directors, dramaturgs, text coaches, intimacy directors, and other artistic staff to provide a foundation of seasoned, highly skilled artistic support.
• Manage artistic staff and provide clear guidance and directives to such staff with regard to their respective duties and responsibilities, creating and maintaining standard operating procedures when applicable.
• Create and nurture a highly collaborative environment in which artists, production teams, and technical staff can do their best work, and fully support the broader collaboration among the artistic and administrative personnel and the Board.
• Along with the Managing Director and other staff, guide the development of production budgets within overall financial parameters.
• Take primary responsibility for choosing the seasons of plays in consultation with others, with a particular eye upon seasons that will grow the audience.
• Take primary responsibility to select artistic talent, including directors, actors, acting interns, apprentice actors, and production teams; along with casting and design assignments.
• Provide inspiration and care to all departments across the organization, and take an active oversight role in education and outreach including the design of educational programs, selection and training of teaching staff, and design of curriculum.
• Advocate for the organization locally, regionally, and nationally to establish GRSF as a vital community pillar. Build and sustain high visibility and public value within the local community while maintaining an equally influential presence within the broader theater landscape.
• Maintain residency in the Winona region during the summer festival season as well as multiple times throughout the year especially when off-season programs are occurring such as school residencies, off-season productions, and fundraising events. It is desired that the Artistic Director will be physically in Winona enough to establish themselves as a significant community member.
• Lead the company in text centered scholarship and practice, ensuring that an active exploration of language is central to all productions and education programs.
• Maintain active relationships with artists outside the organization through…