Executive Artistic Director

Job Title:

Executive Artistic Director

Organization:

Vancouver Poetry House

Deadline:

Nov. 30, 2026

Organization Description:

Vancouver Poetry House is the largest spoken word organization in Canada. VPH is dedicated to bringing poetry from diverse oral and literary traditions to Vancouver and British Columbia. VPH oversees three programs: Vancouver Poetry Slam, a weekly community stage with a headlining performer; WordPlay Poets, an outreach program that offers workshops and performances in schools and communities around BC; and Verses Festival of Words, Canada’s largest, annual spoken word festival.

Website:

https://www.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/vancouver-poetry-house-seeks-next-executive-artistic-director/

Job Description:

Position:
This is a senior management position, directly responsible to the Board of Directors, requiring significant collaboration with the Operations Manager and contract team.

Summary:

The Executive Artistic Director (EAD) is the administrative and artistic leader of Vancouver Poetry house. The EAD has overarching artistic control over Vancouver Poetry House’s programs and initiatives and leads multi-year planning necessary for VPH to fulfill its mission. The Executive Artistic Director develops new artist directions, nurtures and coordinates the growth of VPH’s artistic vision, and executes creative deliverables.

As a leader in the organization the EAD curates and oversees programs, shows, festivals, and events. The EAD represents Vancouver Poetry House through community outreach, publicity, publishing, marketing, and enhancement of stakeholder relationships.

It is a priority for the EAD to work with the board to develop a multi-year strategic vision that aims to nurture a sustainable operation model for the organization and community.

Responsibilities:

Artistic Vision & Programming

• Develops, expands, and maintains the artistic vision for the organization

• Maintains the artistic integrity of VPH programs, events, workshops, gatherings, slams, etc

• Develops new arts initiatives prepares them for implementation

• Workshops, community partnerships, events, and programming

Event logistics

• Ensures that programming stays in line with VPH’s mission and values

• Regularly reports to the Board of Directors

• Writes and presents the Artistic Director’s Report at the AGM

• Maintains best practices with respect to the spoken word art form.

• Leads coordination of festival, slam, and extended programming in collaboration with relevant staff, including

• Curating featured artists, public workshop facilitators, and community partners in alignment with VPH equity, diversity, and inclusion priorities;

• Establishing and/or maintaining community partnerships that support festival and/or extended programming in alignment with VPH mandate;

• Establishing fee schedule for artistic contractors and preparing contracts with artists and stakeholders;

• Arranging travel and accommodations for non-local artists, as required;

• Coordinating venues and, as required, technicians; and

• Establishing protocols/procedures for event hosting and public engagement.

• Overseeing the development, management, and delivery of the Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Championships as part of Verses Festival of Words

• Managing the implementation of the Zaccheus Jackson Nyce Memorial Award in coordination with relevant stakeholders

• Supports identification and implementation of relevant professional development/training initiatives for program contractors, artists and/or community members (inc. volunteers).

• Oversees publicity and marketing through various media in collaboration with relevant staff and/or marketing contractors.

• Understand broad trends within Canadian arts communities

• Attend spoken word/literary programming around Canada and in other parts of the world, including series and festivals, to build/maintain relationships with national/international spoken word communities and support curation.

Administration and Finances

• Provides regular reports to the board of directors on ongoing status of operations and attends board meetings.

• Supports hiring and training for all core staff, with reference to VPH policies and procedures.

• Chairs regular staff meetings and coordinates program-specific meetings with relevant staff as required.

• Manages public and foundation grants in collaboration with Operations Coordinator, including identifying and pursuing new funding opportunities, and ensures reporting requirements are being met.

• Leads and/or supports fund and sponsorship development strategy in collaboration with Development Coordinator.

• Represents and hosts VPH at fundraising events, with community and stakeholders and cultivate relationships with new and existing donors.

Community Engagement

• Keeps up with the larger arts community; works with the larger issues in the spoken word community in Canada and other parts of the world

• Engages as a creative collaborator with the larger community, embraces diversity and equality

• Provides support and counsel for emerging artists engaged in VPH programs

• Represents and hosts VPH at fundraising events, with community and stakeholders

• Promotes professional development for artists (ie. granting workshops for artists, helping artists join the League, mentorship, publication submissions support, etc).

Collaboration

• Works closely with staff and contractors to align the overall vision with the needs and specific histories of the individual programs

• Works with key staff and contractors to plan and implement programs

• Identify and determine organizations to partner with, choose and book venues, and decide if new staff positions are necessary to implement programs

• Develop a publicity strategy, and in concert with staff and contractors, oversees the creation and implementation of promotional, funding and press materials (ie. Verses pamphlets, write-ups, interviews, etc)

Staff management

• Hires, trains and supports staff under the purview of the EAD

• Provides support, counsel, artistic input to production staff where requested

Qualifications:

• Project Management

• Familiarity with Spoken Word poetry

• Demonstrated success in grant writing

• The goal of cultivating a collaborative working environment

• Strong understanding of scope, liability, and business administration

• Strong understanding of community-engaged practice when servicing marginalized and vulnerable populations

How to Apply:

What to Send the Hiring Committee by Nov 30, 2026 (we will receive applications until filled):

A resume and cover letter, or it can be something else that shows competency
Your contact information.
References will be requested at the interview.

Remuneration:

Compensation is based on a flexed hour system with an average of 90/hrs a month (some months will be significantly busier, while others less so). This is an employed part-time position with CRA deductions. This is a one-year renewable contract position paying $2,150 a month for total compensation of $25,800/year.