Job Description

Staff - Non Union
Job Category
M&P - AAPS
Job Profile
AAPS Salaried - Conferences, Accommodations and Ceremonies, Level E
Job Title
Head Curator
Department
Academic Administrator | Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
Compensation Range
$8,305.08 - $12,952.33 CAD Monthly
The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.
Posting End Date
February 19, 2025
Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.
Job End Date
This position is expected to be filled by promotion/reassignment and is included here to inform you of its vacancy at the University.
At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.
Job Summary
Working closely with the Director of the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, the Curator-in-Residence is a member of the senior management team and provides strategic oversight and leadership for the Chan Centre's artistic programming, ensuring that all programming aligns with the Chan's strategic priorities. The Curator acts as the artistic lead for the Chan's programming team in the strategic development and oversight ofa broad range of concerts and other programming programs and projects, including g ??m?i ce:p x?iw?l (Come Toward the Fire) the annual Indigenous-led Festival presented in partnership with x?m??k??y??m (Musqueam). The Curator-in-Residence researches, develops and oversees programming implementation and provides expert artstic consultation and guidance to the Chan Centre's staff and external partners to ensure the successful sequencing, management and integration of artist contracting, marketing, production, and when appropriate--new work development. This position oversees programming budgets, schedules, contracts and grants, personal service agreements and participates in fundraising and long range curatorial and strategic planning. The position is expected to participate in, and contribute to, the intellectual life of the creative and performing arts at UBC. The incumbent liaises with a variety of university offices and units and represents the Director at meetings as required.

The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at UBC has an international reputation for its innovative work in the field of music programming, promoting understanding and discussion of contemporary issues. Through research, programming, commissions, special projects, education and outreach programs, the Chan Centre participates in the national and international community of institutions concerned with contemporary performing arts. Since its opening in spring 1997, the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts has earned an international reputation for its striking design, stellar acoustics and exceptional programming. Artists, critics and audiences alike are unanimous in their praise of this multi-faceted facility, winning it a place among North America's premier performing arts centres. Operating as a unit of the Faculty of Arts, the Chan Centre is a vital part of UBC campus life where artistic and academic disciplines merge to inspire new perspectives on life and culture.

Organizational Status
The position reports to the Director and together with the Director is responsible for setting strategic and operational priorities of the Chan Centre. The position contributes directly to the development of the Chan Centre's policies and procedures. Communicates directly with artists, agents, production technicians, donors, and other institutions from all over the world. Works with a variety of UBC departments and units, faculty members and various internal stakeholders across campus. Works with multiple vendors, suppliers, agents and artists. Liaises with external agencies, including government funders and private foundations.

Represents the Chan Centre on other UBC committees and to various other units. Represents the Chan Centre to the media and actively participates in the local, national, and international cultural communities.

Work Performed
Provides strategic oversight and leadership for the Chan Centre's artistic direction and ensures rigour, coherence and consistency with the Venue's strategic programming direction as well as ensuring the financial feasibility of new, existing and future artistic programming.
Provides expert artistic advice to the Director, staff, and artistic partners in the strategic development of diverse original and unique programming in order to broaden audience demographics and engagement and position the Chan as a leading institution for new work development.
Develops and leads the implementation of short, long-term, and future strategies for a broad range of programming and projects that are integrated with the UBC academy and community. This includes overseeing multiple, diverse projects including all annual and long-term programming, ensuring all external events, educational programs, academic, research, and community engaged programs align with strategic goals and contribute to the intellectual life of the creative and performing arts at UBC.
Acting as artistic lead, provides strategic leadership in the design and development of Chan Centre programming and new work development, including Indigenous programming. This includes the
??m?i ce:p x?iw?l (Come Toward the Fire) festival, working in close collaboration with the protocol office of the Musqueam Indian Band, and artists from the Musqueam First Nation.
Oversees the strategic integration of EDI and the Indigenous Strategic Plan into Chan artistic programming.
Annually curates and oversees the operational execution of the high profile Chan Presents and EXP series, ensuring financial viability and revenue generation of $1.4 million annually.
Provides Artistic leadership and guidance to Chan staff, and acts as a full collaborative artistic partner, developing a wide range of content and collaborations with on- and off-campus partners. Provides the overall strategic curatorial oversight on how all Chan programming fits together within annual and longer term programming cycles.



Contributes strategic artistic expertise related to the global and local artistic landscape in the development of Chan programs.

Leads the development of a wide range of innovative events, commissions and recording projects. Provides expert consultation and recommendations that contribute to the development of new programs and oversees new program development.
In collaboration with the Director, leads planning for the long-term development of educational and outreach audience engagement initiatives with the objective of growing the audience from underrepresented demographic audiences as well as the growing on-campus community. Oversees budgets, and evaluates success of programming in relation to strategic goals.
Provides curatorial guidance and direction for projects by guest curators and student curators, ensuring artistic offerings are balanced and align with the unit's strategic goals.
Oversees relationship building and management with a diverse range of performing arts stakeholders, including complex and persuasive negotiations with booking agents, artists, and other performing arts professionals to determine performance specifications and needs. Provides significant guidance to Chan Centre programming staff around complex artist contracts.
Researches and writes large and complex proposals for funding through internal and external granting agencies and sponsors for concert performances and other projects, as well as for the Chan Centre's multi-year presenting grant.
Represents the Chan Centre at professional conferences and meetings, performances, at times on evenings and weekends.
As required, acts as programming event manager backstage to troubleshoot decisions that affect legal obligations, revenue projections, budget requirements, relationship with artists and artistic integrity of performances, or that could have a substantial impact on the overall budget and reputation.
Oversees programming staff, students and contract workers on show days.
Holds signing authority for the Chan Centre and authorizes expenditures.
Provides expert information, advice, and support to the Director and performs other duties as assigned by the Director.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Makes independent decisions and recommendations in areas of strategic artistic planning regarding the Chan Centre's overall programming, with specific, focussed responsibility for high profile events includingfor Chan Presents, EXP, and ??m?i ce:p x?iw?l (Come Toward the Fire). Errors made in planning, budgeting or managing events could result in serious negative reputational, financial and public relations impacts for the Chan Centre and UBC. Such errors could also negatively affect relationships with patrons, clients, other institutions, donors, and funders. Consequences of errors could include decreased audience attendance, withdrawal or diminishing of grants, damage to donor relations, difficult working relationships with artists, artist management and loss of reputation with audiences and the artistic community.



Supervision Received
The position works independently with general supervision from the Director and within a broad mandate. Work is reviewed in terms of professional standards and and in the context of achieving strategic artistic goals in adherence to the Chan Centre's mandate.

Supervision Given
Manages contract staff and student workers. Provides strategic artistic guidance and leadership to Chan Centre Programming staff, and provides curatorial guidance and direction to a wide range of artistic collaborators and partners.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of six years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one's own
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one's own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion


Preferred Qualifications• Master's degree in a relevant discipline.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic arts administration and curation, including programming of a public performance series, project management, team leadership, budget development and administration.
• Demonstrated experience in curatorial practices in contemporary music in the non-profit concert or performing arts sector.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of contemporary musical practices across a wide range of genres.
• Demonstrated ability to research, plan, budget, organize and present concerts and other performing arts events, as well as lectures and workshops.
• Ability to lead, work effectively with, and coordinate the work of Chan Centre's staff, curators, artists, trades people, contractors, students, and people of varied cultural backgrounds.
• Significant grant writing and fundraising experience.
• Ability to efficiently organize, prioritize and manage several projects simultaneously.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of internal and external contacts.
• Ability to efficiently work under deadline pressures and budget limitations.
• Excellent oral and written communication, presentation, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively at professional meetings and use discretion and good judgment in sensitive situations.
• Ability to work in highly organized and independent manner, following policy guidelines, without supervision.
• Must be able to work flexible hours, including evenings or weekends, and be able to travel.