Artistic Director

Children's Theater of Madison / Madison, WI

Compensation

85,000

The Role
As the Artistic Director, you will be responsible for conceiving, developing, and implementing the artistic focus of the organization as well as assuring the aesthetic values, programs, and activities of the company. The Artistic Director co-leads with the Executive Director, both of whom report to the Board of Directors, in cultivating talent, securing financial stability, and realizing operational efficiency.

The Company
Children’s Theater of Madison (CTM), is dedicated to sparking imagination and building community through the creation and experience of theater. For over 55 years, CTM has been part of the cultural fabric of south-central Wisconsin, providing exceptional theater productions and educational programs for youth and families. Inclusion is a core value at CTM, and creating an inclusive workplace and work culture is essential. To learn more about us, click here.

What You’ll Do
These are the primary roles and responsibilities of the CTM Artistic Director:

  • Partner effectively with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to inspire staff and stakeholders with a strategic direction for the organization, an artistic vision for the company, and an educational approach to the work that reflects a respect for the past, the realities of the present and the potential for the future.
  • Set the artistic vision for the company in collaboration and consultation with CTM staff, youth, creative collaborators, and community members in a manner that promotes engagement and sustainability.
  • Demonstrate and lead by example in upholding CTM’s values while deepening the organization’s commitment to equity, inclusion, diversity, belonging, and accessibility.
  • Serve as ambassador, voice, and representative of CTM in the community, with donors, and among TYA groups; collaborate within the organization to shape and align the organization’s communications with the intended tone and aesthetics.
  • Cultivate financial support, steward donors, and develop strategies for generating revenue in support of the organization’s priorities, programming, and intended impact.
  • Oversee season productions and work with creative teams to ensure positive working relationships among production, artistic, and administrative staffs as well as with volunteers and collaborators. Cast and assemble creative teams for productions, working within established budgets and HR policies.
  • Provide executive support and collaborate with the Education Team on complimentary content and activities while developing relationships that increase interest, awareness, access, and participation in both CTM productions and educational programs.
  • Attend to the organization’s financial sustainability, working closely with the Executive Director and staff to create and manage budgets and policies reflecting fiscal, artistic, and educational priorities.
  • Establish and enforce policies, procedures, and HR practices for staff, contractors, and volunteers that reflect critical considerations for health, safety, compliance, and equity.
  • Hire, cultivate, manage, and develop talent within the organization. Bring out the best from the people with whom you work and engage in the spirit of CTM’s values.

Who We Are Looking For
Ideally, the successful candidate for this role reflects the following critical qualities and qualifications:

  • Brings experience and passion for developing talent and managing staff, embracing all staff as leaders.
  • Creates exceptional theater for young audiences, enthusiastically putting young people at the center of their work.
  • Leads on realizing and advancing inclusion, equity, and diversity in their work and relationships.
  • Demonstrates financial acumen with proven ability to create exceptional experiences within established resources and to use budgeting as a reflection of organizational goals and plans.
  • Embodies exceptional people skills, engendering trust, generating loyalty, demonstrating appreciation, and fostering respectful candor.
  • Welcomes building and deepening relationships with donors, collaborators, audiences, and other individuals or groups paramount to fulfilling CTM’s mission and securing resources.
  • Manages staff, organizations, or companies in a manner characterized by transparency, listening for understanding, and positive motivation.
  • Inspires engagement and confidence through their presence and adaptability.
  • Wants to live, work, play, and grow in the greater Madison, Wisconsin, community.

Previous artistic director experience is not a prerequisite, but prior artistic management and educational program development will be plusses. The Search and Screen Committee prefers candidates who are successful stage directors and collaborators, but this is not a prerequisite for consideration.

Where You Will Work
This position has on-site work requirements and occasional work-from-home options. Primary work sites include Madison Youth Arts Center (MYArts) and the Overture Center. There is bicycle parking onsite; numerous nearby bus routes; street and garage parking. This role can be physically active at times. Reasonable accommodations may be made.

What You Will Receive
This is a full-time salaried position. The salary range starts at $85,000. Your benefits include access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, retirement saving options, paid floating holidays, vacation, sick time, and personal leave. Plus, you’ll work with a really great team of creative people.

The Timing and Transition
CTM hopes to extend an offer in early 2024 with the new Artistic Director beginning full-time on June 1, 2024. There is a planned transition with the current interim Artistic Director.

What You Can Expect for The Application Process
A 7-member Search and Screen Committee comprised of CTM Board and staff leadership as well as involved community members is stewarding this process:

  • Applications will be reviewed as they are received with priority consideration for materials received by August 31, 2023.
  • Telephone screening and virtual interviews are anticipated to occur through October.
  • Finalists will be invited for in-depth, on-site conversations in Madison, Wisconsin, in December 2023. Candidate expenses for transportation and lodging will be paid by CTM.
  • We hope to extend an offer in early 2024 for the new Artistic Director to begin June 1, 2024.

How to Apply
Send the following to ADsearch@ctmtheater.org with the subject line “CTM AD Position”

  • A letter describing what interests you about this position and working with the CTM team and highlighting your work as a leader, a director, and a mentor (not to exceed two pages);
  • A reflection on how your approach would uphold the Company’s Inclusion Statement in your work (not to exceed one page);
  • A resume or summary of your experience as it relates to this position; and
  • If available, a director’s reel of your work.

Please combine your written materials into one document (PDF preferred) with your name in the file name and also provide a link to your reel. Note that files above 8MB may not transmit well.

Children’s Theater of Madison is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.