Director, Visual Arts, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity

The Opportunity

Banff Centre is seeking a visionary leader for the role of Director, Visual Arts, responsible for developing and executing innovative residency programming that aligns with the Centre’s strategic objectives. The ideal candidate will create compelling visual arts programs that cater to the evolving needs of Canadian and international artists while enhancing the profile of our renowned initiatives. This position requires collaboration with directors across various disciplines and the Executive Director of Arts to design both specific and interdisciplinary programs that foster artistic exploration and development. The Director will work closely with the Production Manager, Artist Support team, Program Manager for Visual Arts, and Program Delivery Specialists to ensure the highest quality in delivering impactful programs.

Candidates should possess extensive knowledge of contemporary art practices, including ceramics, painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, and digital arts, along with a robust professional network within the visual arts community in Canada and internationally. A deep understanding of professional development in post-secondary contexts is essential for attracting exceptional faculty and high-quality applicants. The Director will collaborate with the Walter Phillips Gallery Curator to ensure cohesive programming and resource sharing while balancing artistic ambition with institutional efficiency. All arts initiatives must align with Banff Centre’s values, emphasizing transformative learning experiences that leverage diverse disciplines, Indigenous content, and residency-based training. We seek a leader who can foster community, provide networking opportunities, and implement continuous evaluation to enhance the residency experience for all participants.

Roles and Responsibilities

Reporting to the Executive Director, Arts, below are some key accountabilities:

Strategic Planning

Works with the Executive Director, Arts to understand and implement the strategic goals and business objectives of Banff Centre as they relate to visual arts and arts programming overall.
Working with other Banff Centre Arts Directors, and the Managing Director, Program Operations, Arts, creates a comprehensive Visual Arts program plan and budget, annually and over a 3-year planning horizon, which includes program evaluation metrics.

Programming

Creates an annual comprehensive and integrated program plan for the department area, working with the Production Manager, Artist Support, the Program Manager and other members of the team, as well as subject experts. This includes designing residency programs and planning for their implementation and evaluation.
Collaborates with the Executive Director, Leadership to create new, joint programming opportunities and to explore other synergies through planning, program design and delivery of arts and leadership programming.
Works closely with the Director, Program Administration and Participant Services and team incorporating the Admissions Office and Participant Resources to ensure program materials are clear, comprehensive, and accessible to potential applicants.

Operational Management

Works with the Executive Director, Arts, to understand the program goals and business objectives of Banff Centre as they relate to Visual Arts.
Contributes to identifying funding opportunities arising from the visual arts programs, and new potential donors, sponsors and partners.

Financial Management

Works with the Executive Director, Arts, the Managing Director, Program Operations – Arts and Program Manager, to build and manage the program budgets.
Responsible for an active program of dissemination of the results of Visual Arts residency activity developed at the Centre, in print and digitally.
Manages the administration budget for the Visual Arts department.

Relationship Building

Utilizes effective contacts within the art, education and funding communities nationally and internationally to ensure the on-going relevance of Visual Arts programs to artists and curators, while enhancing the value of these programs.
Fosters relationships with donors to ensure good stewardship of past gifts and working with Development to secure new funding and ensure that stewardship reporting is completed in a timely fashion.

Human Resource Management

Promotes a collaborative team environment for staff working on Visual Ars programs by fostering open communication, setting clear objectives, and nurturing a culture of positive intent that aligns with Banff Centre’s values, ensuring an inclusive and diverse workplace.
Fosters an internal culture that maintains the highest standards for participant service, excellence of staff, participant and guest experience, and fiscal, operational, and organizational integrity.

Leadership and Influence

Provides creative and strategic leadership, vision and program direction and design to Visual Arts residencies, through experience and knowledge of the contemporary visual arts culture and community.
Leads a team in a unionized environment that achieves its financial and non-financial objectives within an environment of collaboration, communication, and innovation.
Provides leadership through upholding Banff Centre’s safe work practices, anti-harassment policy, and other Banff Centre policies.
Addresses issues and concerns impacting residency program participants, faculty, and staff while working with Participant Resources and Security Services.

Stakeholder Relationships

Contributes to the overall success of the Banff Centre by participating in internal committees as required.
Interprets the impact of decisions and policies on the Centre’s ability to promote and profile Banff Centre.
Represents Banff Centre externally and convey the case for the Centre at multiple and varied public events.

Qualifications and Educational Requirements

10+ years of proven collaborative and inclusionary leadership.
Network and reputation in the Canadian and International art community to attract high profile faculty, specialist and program participants to the Centre.
Active member of the Visual Arts associations and groups.
Related university degree with a deep understanding of art education and professional development at the post-secondary level.
Adept in planning and organization required to successfully launch multiple projects at once.

Employment Terms and Benefits

In accordance with the terms of employment governing Management/PSP employees, this is a salaried, fulltime position, subject to a 6-month probationary period.
The salary range for this position is $80,838 – $120,050 based on experience.
The successful candidate will enjoy twenty paid vacation days and four personal days annually, extended medical and dental benefits, and participation in an employer-matched pension plan.
Benefits of working at Banff Centre are:
◦ Transitional staff housing options (based on availability)
◦ Employee Assistance Program
◦ Onsite or Hybrid work environment (3 days in the office, 2 days remote)
◦ Health care spending account
◦ Staff cafeteria and restaurant discounts
◦ Onsite fitness facility at a discounted rate

Application Process

We are accepting applications for the Director, Visual Arts position until 11:59pm MST on December 8, 2024.
Submit applications directly via www.banffcentre.ca/careers

Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
107 Tunnel Mountain Drive
Box 1020, Banff, Alberta Canada T1L 1H5