Call for Artistic Director at Nuit Blanche Toronto 2024

Mana Moana, Nuit Blanche 2022 by Michael Bridgman & Rachael Rakena.

Call for Nuit Blanche Toronto Artistic Director

Application Deadline: August 15, 2023

The City of Toronto is seeking an Artistic Director (AD) to oversee the artistic vision of Nuit Blanche Toronto 2024. The event takes place from 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 5 until 7 a.m. on Sunday, October 6, with a program of extended projects that will run until Monday, October 14. The Artistic Director must reside within the greater Toronto area and be available to attend frequent in-person meetings at City Hall, 100 Queen Street West with site visits and artist meetings across the city as required.The Artistic Director is expect will work collaboratively with the City Cultural Events Unit (CCE) programming and production staff, as well the Program Support Unit (PS) which includes sponsorship and marketing support. Primary responsibilities of the role include, but are not limited to, creating a curatorial thesis and theme for the 2024 event, assisting with selection of exhibition curators and art projects, actively supporting project development, fostering collaboration and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, supporting the development of the 2024 event visual identity and acting as a primary champion and event spokesperson. Prospective AD’s have the option to propose a 2-year vision encompassing both the 2024 and 2025 events. Work undertaken by the Artistic Director during agreed period will be funded by the City of Toronto within a range of $70,000.00 – $90,000.00 CAD.

SCOPE OF WORK:

Event and Artistic Oversight

• Be responsible for the artistic direction of the overall event, including but not limited to, input on curator selection, project development, contract negotiations and budget oversight.
• Manage project scope to ensure budget, timelines and team capacity are prioritized in the planning and execution of the event.
• Create a widely accessible curatorial thesis to inform all program elements including curated exhibition areas, independent projects, open-call projects, major institution participation, sponsor and special projects, activations and talks.
• Oversee the development and delivery of exhibition areas with a focus on curatorial vision, event cohesion and audience experience.
• Participate as a jury member in the selection of independent project and open-call projects.
• Provide advanced support and assist with the development of all projects.
• Ensure a diversity of projects in a variety of media (material and technical execution) are represented in the curated exhibition areas through active consultation with selected curators.
• Support the inclusion of diverse local, national and international artists.
• Work with the production team in a spirit of goodwill, collaboration and information-sharing to sustain the artistic integrity, and attain the objectives, of the project in its entirety.
• Work with CCE and selected Curators to create, install (and/or present) and remove site-specific contemporary exhibitions for Nuit Blanche 2024.
• Support the future siting, installation and legacy of the included works as requested by the producing team in conjunction with curators and artists.
• With due diligence, be available to curators, artists, and major institutions to support and facilitate project development meeting the needs of artists, curators, major institutions, and event.
• Facilitate and ensure open and timely communication and information-sharing between the curators, artists and the producing team, keeping them informed of exhibition and project progress and development.
• Become part of the execution team for the event and exhibition areas in the days leading up to and on the night of the event and be available to curators, artists, media, sponsors, partners and CCE staff for the duration of the night.
• Assist with identifying projects which could have a successful and fiscally responsible extension to Monday, October 14.

Sponsorship & Partnerships

• Develop new partnerships and build on existing relationships with key artists, stakeholders, organizations, communities, champions, audiences and media.
• In collaboration with City of Toronto sponsorship and production teams, define potential partnerships, sponsors and public funding or granting opportunities that will create opportunities to secure the required revenue to support the event.
• Participate in online, phone and in-person meetings with production team to create event awareness and build strategic partnerships and sponsorships.
• Define and leverage community or neighborhood partnerships.
• Attend venue site visits and ongoing meetings with partners as needed.
• In collaboration with sponsorship team, prospect and cultivate potential sponsors both financial and/or in-kind where there is a direct budget off-set opportunity.
• Attend and assist with sponsorship meetings and pitches as needed.
• Act as artistic advisor to confirmed participating major institutions.
• Work with the production team, curators and artists to consider placement of projects at sites with potential for sponsorship funding.

Administration

• Oversee the event from an artistic lens, based on what has been discussed,like content, materials, scale and budget, contractually negotiated and agreed upon by all parties.
• Support CCE in the oversight and management of the exhibition areas and curators.
• Work with the producing team responsible for delivering the event on budget, support the creation of deadlines and the critical path developed with CCE for the event.
• Participate in the development and delivery of staff and volunteer training sessions with the CCE team.

Communications – Marketing and Publicity

• Support the CCE team with the development of the 2024 event visual identity and marketing vision.
• Act as a primary event spokesperson for media appearances, speaking engagements, panel discussions, sponsor and partner events and planning sessions.
• Assist with drafting, editing and reviewing of exhibition area curatorial texts, project descriptions and signage text with a focus on artistic accessibility and ensuring inclusion of all audiences through intelligible, clear writing and interpretation of artworks.

HOW TO APPLY:

Applicants must submit their proposed curatorial vision (maximum 1 page), cover letter (maximum 1 page) and curriculum vitae (maximum 5 pages) directly to Rachel.Fender@toronto.ca & Jeanne.Holmes@toronto.ca by August 15, 2023.

Suitable accommodations will be available upon request. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only applicants considered for an interview will be contacted.