Director, Indigenous Strategic Planning
Edmonton Fringe Theatre
Full time 1-year contract position
Compensation: $50,000 – 55,000

The Director, Indigenous Strategic Planning is a full-time one year contract with Edmonton Fringe Theatre.

Overview:

Working closely with the Executive Director and Artistic Director, and in collaboration with the Fringe administrative team, this key role involves:

• identifying barriers for the community and gaps in organizational knowledge;
• building a clear, Indigenous-led strategy for organizational transformation in our sector, including
• developing a Strategic Plan for Indigenizing in Performing Arts Organizations; and
• observing, participating in, and informing all areas of Fringe Theatre operations, outreach, and relationship building.

We understand we cannot engage in work for or about Indigenous peoples without clear leadership directly from Indigenous voices and in consultation with the wider Indigenous community. Fringe Theatre is a predominantly white institution (PWI) created by settlers using colonial structures. While we seek to uphold the freedom that the unjuried, uncensored Fringe model offers to artists and audiences alike, Fringe Theatre is deeply committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion and to upholding the spirit and intent of our treaties. We acknowledge that to do so we must re-examine our organizational structure and producing practices.

Duties & Responsibilities:

The Director, Indigenous Strategic Planning will become familiar with all aspects of Fringe Theatre’s current activities with emphasis on the organization’s administrative, Festival, cultural, programming, governance, and community operations.

The Director, Indigenous Strategic Planning will:

• Investigate and gather information on current artistic, cultural, and organizational practices in collaboration with Fringe Theatre’s administrative team;
• Develop an Indigenous Innovation Program Strategic Plan including:
  • A report (delivered in whatever medium is most appropriate: written, spoken, captured on audio or video recording, or some combination thereof) summarizing the information gathered through these areas of investigation that articulates and prioritizes growth opportunities in terms of greatest impact; and
  • Recommendations for changes that Fringe Theatre and all our indie-producing partners can implement in the short term (1 year), mid-term (3-5 years), and long term (5-10+ years).
• Consult with Indigenous artists and community leaders in Treaty 6 territory to assess barriers to access and identify potential opportunities for engagement with creative partners and community stakeholders;
• Help identify and support further training that acknowledges Truth and Reconciliation within the organization, the board and volunteers;
  Guide financial practices for paying Elders, Knowledge Keepers and other cultural engagements;
  Consult across the performing arts industry with other theatres and organizations around the world who are also doing decolonizing and Indigenous work to gather knowledge, build allies, and share resources;
• Host a series of community and industry conversations throughout the year where all stakeholders can share knowledge and ask questions in a respectful spirit of curiosity and exchange;
• Help recruit Indigenous board members, staff, and volunteers;
  Develop mentorship training opportunities within the organization;
• Grow Fringe’s community engagement;
  Evaluate and offer governance structures that can be informed across the organization;
• Create space for Elders and Knowledge Keepers to guide processes as needed or offered;
• Support staff to understand and create their own personal self-location (or land acknowledgement) statements;
• Support and lead partnerships with partner organizations that align with the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival in relation to Indigenous values;
  Identify financial opportunities to broaden and deepen Indigenous engagement throughout the Festival and organization; and
  Create opportunities for Indigenous-led spaces to be included in the Festival.

Culturally, we invite the Director, Indigenous Strategic Planning to:

• Create safe spaces for Indigenous spiritual practices within our organization and building;
• Develop and guide cultural protocols within all aspects of the organization, including awareness in how to work with and communicate with Elders and Knowledge Keepers;
• Influence best practices;
• Identify areas where Indigenous language can be included in spaces, documents, programming, etc.; and
• Implement cultural safety measures that are held on all organizational levels.

Artistically, we invite the Director, Indigenous Strategic Planning to:

• Participate in Chinook Series planning meetings and work directly with the three partner companies to better integrate methodology for collaborative festival curation and producing;
• Develop workshops and events that support multidisciplinary artistic practices that include Indigenous artistry;
• Offer Indigenous values, insights, and practices within all programming to improve accessibility;
  Invite Elders and Knowledge Keepers to engage in programming, events, workshops; and
• Curate shows and Indigenous-focused events.

Fringe Theatre mentors and incubates artists and supports the development of new theatrical work all year long. We promote artistic exploration and creative risk, while actively removing barriers to access in an effort to allow artists at all stages of their career to thrive and learn. We continue to curate a focused audience of arts enthusiasts, while creating an open and welcoming laboratory where new work can be explored and elevated.

Fringe Theatre cultivates safer spaces for brave ideas and big artistic risk. Employees are expected to uphold and champion Fringe’s Safer Spaces and Anti-Racism programs, and abide by our Code of Conduct.

Primary place of employment is located at the ATB Arts Barn in the heart of the Old Strathcona Theatre Office, located at 10330 84th Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Currently, all Fringe Theatre staff are working remotely in accordance with current COVID-19 Health Restrictions. Under current guidelines, this position will primarily work remotely until Health Restrictions allow for a safe return to shared workspaces.

This position and job posting were mindfully created in collaboration with Indigenous leaders in and connected to the Treaty 6 territory in relationship with Fringe Theatre.

To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter via email no later than Midnight (MST), on Thursday, March 18 2021 to: Murray Utas, Artistic Director at murray.utas@fringetheatre.ca

We thank all applicants but only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.