The Fringe of Toronto Theatre Festival, a non-profit/charitable organization that produces two annual festivals featuring over 150 independent theatre companies, is currently seeking a Festival Publicist, to be engaged on contract from mid April to mid July, 2009.
Reporting to the Development & Communications Manager and working in-office with the Fringe team, you will spearhead all publicity related activities pertaining to the 2009 Toronto Fringe Festival (running July 1 – 12, 2009).
With your broad knowledge of publicity practices you will be responsible for developing and maintaining positive communications with media outlets as well as creating and distributing all information on the Fringe Festival: its special events, initiatives and performers. You will be responsible for creating and nurturing media contacts, distributing materials to tourism bureaus, magazines, newspapers, websites and other media representatives in Ontario, across Canada and the United States. You will also work alongside the Development and Communications Manager to devise publicity campaigns/story angles to pitch to the media.
We are looking for someone who is creative, responsible, self-motivated, organized and outgoing. A sense of humour, the ability to multi-task efficiently and work within a team structure is also an important part of the position and festival environment. We stress that the festival environment is hectic and fast paced, and are looking for composure and organization from a candidate.
The Fringe is now in its 21st year and is Toronto’s largest theatre festival with a ticketed attendance last year of 58,001 and box office revenues totalling over $414,000. The Festival currently has three full time staff, close to 100 contracted staff and 350 volunteers.
Key Responsibilities & Skill Requirements:
- Proven publicity/media relations experience and understanding of the current media environment/personnel
- Superior verbal/written communication and presentation skills
- Excellent computer skills
- Organizing interviews between Fringe performers/staff and the media
- Coordinating and supervising all festival related media shoots
- Coordinating media ticket reservations for festival performances
- Researching and updating the Fringe’s media contact database
- Compilation of a media package and contact list for Fringe performers
- Demonstrated ability to work in a fast paced, high pressure environment
- Knowledge of the Fringe Festival movement and philosophy of the Fringe
- Compilation of a final report consisting of all festival press coverage
This is a contract position within the organization.
It begins part-time and will shift to full-time as we approach the festival.
Submission Deadline: Monday, March 2nd
Start Date: Monday, April 6th
We thank all applicants for their interest but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
The Fringe is an equal opportunity employer.
Please submit your resume along with a cover letter and two references to the attention of:
The Search Committee
Fringe of Toronto Theatre Festival
208-344 Bloor St. W.
Toronto, ON M5S 3A7
Fax: 416-966-5072
general@fringetoronto.com
Fringe of Toronto Theatre Festival-www.fringetoronto.com
Founded in 1989, The Fringe of Toronto Theatre Festival aims to provide the best possible environment for the production and presentation of new and challenging performance works, and is dedicated to the promotion and prosperity of the independent theatre community. The Fringe is Toronto’s largest theatre festival and is one of the city’s high profile arts events with over 140 local, national and international theatre companies participating.
The Fringe’s primary roles are to provide all artists with the opportunity to perform and to develop of new theatre patrons. We aim to provide a festival that is well marketed and organized in which artists may develop their skills and produce a professional independent production. Some of Canada’s most notable theatre artists began their careers at the Fringe. Since 1989 over 1,800 companies have participated in the festival with over $3,700,000 in box office revenue returned to the artists.
In addition to our summer festival, the organization also produces the Next Stage Theatre Festival and holds two annual contests to encourage the development of new scripts.
The Fringe plays a vital role in the independent theatre community and we pride ourselves on our ability to remain a strong, integral part of the development of Canadian art and artists. The Toronto Fringe is also an important stop on the national Fringe circuit which runs coast-to-coast from June through September. The Canadian Fringe circuit allows national and international artists to explore new ideas and to share their artistic vision and culture with artists and audiences from other communities.
The Fringe of Toronto Theatre Festival is a member of the Canadian Association of Fringe® Festivals (CAFF), the Toronto Alliance for Performing Arts (TAPA), The Toronto Arts Coalition (TAC), Theatre Ontario, Tourism Toronto and Festival and Events Ontario.
