Young People’s Theatre (YPT), now in its 47th season, is Canada’s largest theatre for young audiences and currently produces and presents an 8-play season with an audience of up to 80,000+. Housed at a renovated, historical venue in Toronto, YPT works on a 468-seat Mainstage and a 115-seat Studio stage. Its operating budget is approximately $3.5 million. The work culture at YPT encourages ingenuity, team-work, and an atmosphere of learning. YPT’s artistic policy focuses on arts and education – in fact, learning is at the centre of everything we do.
YPT is currently seeking an outstanding candidate to be appointed in the full-time term position of Community Participation Coordinator. This position will be contracted until June 30, 2013. Reporting directly to both the Artistic Director and to the Manager of Education & Participation, the Community Participation Coordinator is the principal outreach liaison between YPT, its programming and the geographical and diverse communities in which we work.
Key Responsibilities:
The maintenance and development of sustainable and meaningful arts-education programming that,
- Serves diverse and underserved communities within the building and externally.
- Is informed by, and innovates upon, best practices in the field within an anti-oppression framework,
- Is informed by YPT core values
- Fosters community-based ownership of YPT and its activities,
- Creates, supports and maintains a variety of opportunities for diverse communities and individuals to meaningfully participate in the life and work of YPT in collaboration with other staff and community members.
- Maintains a system of regular expenditure and program reporting and tracking for the Manager of Education & Participation.
- Monitors, evaluates and develops long term programs, budget, pedagogy and practice.
- Nurtures opportunities for resource-sharing within the company, with other organizations and with government bodies.
- Coordinating and supporting a network of community arts based practitioners.
- Working with community based partners to design effective and engaging drama workshops.
Current Programs:
In additions to a variety of community workshops and short-term collaborations, YPT’s Community Participation Coordinator currently oversees three ongoing projects/programs. These include:
- ESP: a new drop-in program for young people in the St. Lawrence Market/Esplanade neighborhood.
- Nomanzland: a participant-driven project based in Jane/Finch Community that creates performances reflecting community issues and aspirations. Nomanzland recently created Known to Police, a production that played on the YPT mainstage to great acclaim. Upcoming objectives for the participants include exploring the potential of establishing an independent theatre resource based in Jane/Finch community.
- Parents Resource Centre: with locations in Leslieville and St. Lawrence neighbourhoods, YPT works with PRC to provide arts-based programming for very young children and their caregivers.
Required Skills:
- 5 years proven ability to create and execute meaningful, safe and inclusive arts-education programming emphasizing theatre,
- Ability to engage young people and work with communities to develop purposeful arts based opportunities,
- Knowledge and experience of professional artist and community based networks throughout the GTA’s diverse neighbourhoods,
- Ability to work with volunteers who have varying levels of experience and goals.
- Experience with resource, project and budget management,
- Computer literacy: MS Excel, Word, database management,
- Multi-lingual preferred,
- Knowledge of the Urban Arts and Hip Hop in Toronto is an advantage,
- Conflict Resolution and Mediation skills an asset.
In accordance with YPT’s policy of screening all adults involved in working with children, the applicant will be required to provide a resume and cover letter, undergo an interview by at least two people, a reference check and, if offered employment, a Vulnerable Sector Screening Check. Offers of employment are conditional upon providing a satisfactory Vulnerable sector Screening Check and agreeing to abide by YPT’S Child Safety Code of Conduct.
Young People’s Theatre is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer and strongly supports and values diversity in the workplace. Applications from all qualified candidates are welcome and individuals from equity-seeking groups are encouraged to apply. Interested parties should apply with cover letter and resumé, detailing all relevant experience to:
Community Participation Coordinator Search
YPT
165 Front Street East
Toronto, ON M5A 3Z4
or search@youngpeoplestheatre.ca
Applications must be received by 4:30 on August 31st, 2012.
While we thank everyone who applies, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
