Coastal Jazz Board of Directors
/Organization:
Coastal Jazz and Blues Society
Deadline:
Oct. 30, 2026
Organization Description:
Founded in 1985, the Coastal Jazz & Blues Society (CJBS) is a community-based, not-for-profit, charitable arts organization that has worked diligently to establish Vancouver as a centre for the creation and exchange of sounds and ideas between local, national, and international music communities.
The Society’s mission is to connect, transform, inspire and nurture artists and audiences through the joy, passion, and power of jazz, blues, and other forms of improvised music. We aim to strengthen the arts community by developing special projects, artistic exchanges, partnerships, educational initiatives, community programs, and collaborations that further the art form. Coastal Jazz & Blues Society produces the annual Vancouver International Jazz Festival, year-round concerts, and has a long-standing commitment to music education with the Sounds of Youth performance stage, workshops, children’s music programs, and more. The Coastal Jazz board operates as a governance board, not an operational board. We believe it is our role to provide oversight and guidance in the direction of the organization, but we believe in our operational team to carry out the actions.
We acknowledge our duty - both as a musical organization and part of a larger arts community - to proactively address systemic barriers and cultivate participation and a sense of belonging. To that end we are committed to building practices and policies that support an equitable and inclusive organization. Coastal Jazz and Blues Society operates on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Swxwú7mesh (Squamish), Səl ̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam) Nations.
Organization Website:
Volunteer Opportunity Description:
About a Coastal Jazz Board Member We are actively seeking individuals 18+ with professional experience or expertise in the following areas:
● Live performing arts and music (particularly jazz and improvised music)
● Legal expertise
● Human Resources
● Fundraising events and donor development
● Business Development
● Community connections
The board is prioritizing interested individuals who have helped organizations through a turnaround, and who enjoy the creative challenge of matching limited resources to ambitious priorities. If you're curious, eager to learn, and interested in opening up how things are done in the non-profit arts sector, we’d like to hear from you.
We're building a board that works in thoughtful, responsive, and responsible ways and that reflects Vancouver's ethnoculturally diverse community. That means welcoming a real range of skills, life experiences, generational outlooks, gender and 2SLGBTQ+ identities, communication styles, and worldviews, because we believe our strength lies in our differences.
We warmly welcome those who value consensus-based decision making, circle process, and other Indigenous community and group protocols as well as anyone who loves jazz, blues, and improvised music, and believes in its power to build healthy, vibrant communities and a more equitable society. Reciprocity and Purposeful Action: Fostering reciprocal relationships and a socially-engaged community are core values of CJBS. In exchange for your time and expertise, CJBS will support you with access to relevant training and select Coastal events.
Responsibilities:
Board member duties and expectations:
- 6-8 hours per month
- Monthly meetings (Board meetings and committee meetings alternating monthly, on Zoom),Quarterly Town Hall meetings
- Involvement in special projects and committees
- Attending training events, when relevant - Attending Festival and other events
Qualifications:
We are actively seeking individuals 18+ with professional experience or expertise in the following areas:
● Live performing arts and music (particularly jazz and improvised music)
● Legal expertise
● Human Resources
● Fundraising events and donor development
● Business Development
● Community connections
The board is prioritizing interested individuals who have helped organizations through a turnaround, and who enjoy the creative challenge of matching limited resources to ambitious priorities. If you're curious, eager to learn, and interested in opening up how things are done in the non-profit arts sector, we’d like to hear from you.
How to Apply:
Please complete the following intake form to express your interest before October 30, 2026. https://forms.gle/zn7R4n2GjY8nMoe49 Applications will be reviewed as they are received and eligible candidates will be interviewed by the recruitment committee the week of November 9th. Successful candidates should expect to attend our AGM via Zoom on November 22 at 7pm. In order to be eligible as a board member, you must be a member of the society in good standing. Membership is $5 and can be obtained at https://www.coastaljazz.ca/donate/. If you have any questions please contact cjbsboard@coastaljazz.ca.
