Directors plan, organize, and direct the operations of cultural programs and services. They are responsible for a wide range of projects and activities – business and career training, marketing ventures, publications, and exhibitions. Additionally, they are responsible for establishing objectives and formulating and approving policies and programming.
Directors are motivated by a passion for their respective arts and cultural sectors and the creativity of the people who participate within them.
Directors are employed by provincial or national governing agencies for arts and cultural sectors such as Visual Arts, Film and Music.
Skills
The Film & Video industry creates films, TV, documentaries, music video, corporate marketing and training materials and advertisements. This sector employs technicians, artists, managers, communications, marketing, PR, and other business professionals.
Establishing Objectives
The Executive Director plays a crucial role in the administrative structure of provincial and national governing agencies for arts and cultural sectors such as visual arts, film, television, and music. First and foremost, they are responsible for establishing objectives and formulating and approving all policies and programming. The director is truly the person who is in control of the day-to-day operations of their respective arts group. Typically they work closely with the Operations Manager in executing their organizational initiatives.
Many Executive Directors become a member of the board of their arts institution. This distinction puts them in a unique position of being well versed in their cultural industry’s pressing issues and campaigns, as well as being receptive to the needs of staff and volunteers.
Directing Operations
The Executive Director plans, organizes, and directs the operations of a wide variety of cultural programs and services. They are responsible for numerous projects and activities – business and career training, marketing ventures, publications, and exhibitions. In conjunction with the Operations Manager, The Executive Director is responsible for the many essential tasks that make a cultural organization successful and productive. Planning includes managing administrative functions, human resources, facilities, fundraising, and development activities. Together, they are responsible for consulting with regulatory agencies to ensure that program and department policies conform to the regulations of their respective industries.
The Executive Director also looks to create long-term initiatives that will provide new and ongoing revenue for an organization. They may be responsible for marketing, ticket sales, and venue bookings if they are the director of an arts group such as a symphony, opera or ballet.
A Passion For The Arts
Directors are motivated by a passion for the arts and cultural sectors, and thrive on the creativity of people who participate within them. The Executive Director participates in the development of budgets, organizational policies, and helps prepare grant and funding applications. They direct, through managers and subordinates, activities such as research and industry and economic impact surveys. The Executive Director is at the forefront of their industry’s economic and cultural development.
A Director typically has a college diploma or university degree. Participating in art administration training programs and several years of related management experience is a definite asset.