An artistic producer has an essential role in theatre. They oversee organizational operations and all aspects of a theatre production. They are responsible for the strategic planning and production of theatrical events and take care of the financial and managerial functions to make these theatrical events happen. They also manage day to day activities to make a company run. An Artist Producer balances the big-picture with everyday tasks required to make a business run. An artistic producer must be have the following skills: event management, time management, project management, teamwork, problem solving, leadership, financial planning, business management and communication. Their roles and duties constantly change depending on the need of the theatre company. In summary, an artistic producer is the person who makes theatre happen.
What Does An Artistic Producer Do?
Here is a list of just some of the things artistic producers do…
- Look after the finances and manage how the budget is spent
- Hire creative and technical teams
- Issue contracts
- Organize and manage technical, stage management and workshop functions
- Agreeing projects and financial backers
- Agreeing production timelines
- Find and book venues
- Set ticket prices
- Sell tickets
- Create and implement marketing strategies
- Outreach
- Hold regular meetings with Directors, creative teams and Artists
- Hold regular meetings with stakeholders
- Ensure legal compliance such as copyright law, insurance liability, payroll and tax
“Artistic producers have an incredibly important role. We forget how physically involved the administrative side can be. You think you just stay behind a desk all day. That’s not true.”
Shannon Farrell, Artistic Producer Summer Ensemble 2021
Why Artistic Producers Matter
Artistic Producers are leaders and go-getters. Nothing happens without them. They are the ones responsible for creating and providing the infrastructure needed to create and share theatre. It is a thankless and tiring, but ultimately incredibly rewarding role to play.
What Can You expect to Gain from the Summer Ensemble?
- Artistic Skills: Explore classical and contemporary text, improvisation, theatre around the world and their relevance and impact on arts jobs and society today.
- Orientation in Arts Jobs: Honest insight into professional organizations, structures and systems in place and how to navigate them successfully
- Financial Skills: Budgeting and financial literacy delivered in a comprehensible and easy to understand way, tailored for theatre artists’ needs.
- Leadership: Debate complex questions and develop ideas and strategies how to build not only your career but theatre ecosystem in Canada and Internationally.
- Touring in the Arts: Discover how artists around the world use international touring as a source of income, and learn how to create shows that can allow you to participate in that market.
- Digital Skills: Discover how blog/content writing can earn you additional income, promote your work, while mastering WordPress, one of the most desired skills in todays job market.
What will You be Expected to Do?
- Plan, organize and control the various stages and scheduling a live theatre production (A Stage Manager is more focused on the daily rehearsal scheduling while an Artistic Producer is tasked with overall performance schedule once the show is running).
- Communicate with venues and partners and the rental department of the City of Mississauga regarding availability of performing arts spaces.
- Visit locations for planned performances.
- Obtain permits.
- Plan and oversee the budget pertaining to a particular production.
- Source props, set and costume elements and/or materials.
- Contract staff and outsourced work such as design and set/material production.
- Assist with set and audience set up.
- Maintain production archives.
- Create social media postings about the production.
- Facilitate outreach and promotion of the show such as distribution of flyers, posters and interviews with media.
- Learn about and assist with updating the website with new show dates.
- Learn about and assist with updating the external listing sites.
- Learn about and assist with sponsorship acquisition and appreciation campaigns.
What Past Artistic Producers Said…
“Crane Creations Sumer Ensemble Program was very eye opening. It’s an awakening to the realities of what it is like to make a career in theatre in Canada.”
Temilola Gafaar
Meeting people with different backgrounds, working on something with people you believe in, with a company you believe in: It’s magical.
Jordine De Guzman
“I didn’t know half the stuff we learned in Summer Ensemble. They just don’t teach it you it in school.”
Emmanuelle So
I didn’t know how hands on it would be. … That is what’s so beautiful about working in theatre. You never know what will happen next and you really have to be the person goes ‘I guess I’m doing that now’. I love being that person and I love learning from those experience.
Shannon Farrell
How To Apply: Application Steps and Guidelines.
Guidelines
To be eligible all successful candidates must
- Be available to work online and in person at our studio located at 2359 Royal Windsor Drive Unit 210, Mississauga, ON Canada.
- Be available for all dates and hours stated in contract.
- Be a Canadian Citizen, have a PR, or refugee status.
What we value
Inclusion
Passionate and committed to reflect the population of Canada as much as possible we want to see its reflection in arts jobs. We don’t type cast. Submitting your headshot is not mandatory, we do not want to judge you by your looks. We want to solely look at your education and experience.
Actors are invited to sit in on auditions. It’s the best way to learn how to improve by seeing the audition process from the other side.
Transparency
We are happy to share statistics like: how many applications we received, people auditioned and got hired. All candidates have transparent insight into our selection process, in order to prepare well and understand the odds of getting hired.
Your privacy is respected at all times by never sharing your name or personal information; all information shared is for statistical purposes only to help us improve inclusivity and representation.
Support
We try to provide as much information about how we work and how to succeed in getting hired. Check out our professional development opportunities, read 10 tips for getting hired, and for fun, take our quiz about the theatre world!
After the program is done we do our best to stay in touch with you, and help you build your career. Do invite us to shows and tag us on social media when you have good news to share.
