Artistic Director & Co-CEO

LA BOITE THEATRE; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

La Boite Theatre in Brisbane seeks an Artistic Director & Co-CEO to provide artistic and executive leadership for the company. The role shapes an audience-aware, financially responsible artistic programme, leads producing and creative partnerships, and collaborates with the Executive Director & Co-CEO to build relationships and revenue.

The successful candidate will balance artistic ambition with sustainability, guide programming across productions, and represent La Boite in government and

Qualifications

• Executive leadership experience with strong commercial and financial literacy, balancing artistic ambition with sustainability.
• Experience in theatre or performing arts leadership or senior producing roles.
• Ability to develop long-term vision and translate it into programming and partnerships.
• Credibility across artists, sector partners, government, funders and media.

Responsibilities

• Set artistic vision and programming aligned with strategy and cultural purpose.
• Lead annual and long-term programming across productions, co-productions and artist development.
• Oversee budgeting, timelines and production capacity to deliver the artistic program.
• Lead negotiations for collaborations, co-productions and presentations.
• Support fundraising and partnerships with donors, sponsorships and government relations.
• Represent La Boite across media, industry, government and public forums.

Skills

Executive leadership

Commercial acumen

Financial literacy

Stakeholder management

Job description

The Artistic Director & Co-CEO provides artistic and executive leadership for La Boite. The role shapes a distinctive, audience-aware and financially responsible artistic programme, leads producing and creative partnerships, and works with the Executive Director & Co-CEO to build the relationships and revenue needed to support La Boite’s future.

Key Accountabilities

1. Artistic vision and programming

Set and champion a clear artistic vision aligned with La Boite’s strategy and cultural purpose.

Lead annual and longer-term programming across productions, presentations, co-productions and artist development.

Make programming choices that balance artistic merit, audience potential, financial stability, production capacity and risk.

Create meaningful opportunities for Queensland artists and stories while maintaining a strong view of contemporary practice.

Develop the program early enough to support budgeting, production, marketing and fundraising.

Oversee the artistic and educational direction of production education notes and learning resources, ensuring they reflect the work’s themes, creative intent and opportunities for student engagement.

2. Producing and program delivery

Be accountable for delivering the artistic program within approved budgets, timelines and organisational capacity.

Set producing approaches, scope, budgets and delivery requirements for major activity.

Lead negotiations for significant collaborations, co-productions and presentations.

Support the Program Manager with clear priorities, decisions and accountability.

Evaluate artistic activity to strengthen future programming and organisational learning.

3. Fundraising, partnerships and government relations

Help build relationships with donors, sponsors, funding bodies and government alongside the Executive Director and Development & Partnerships Manager.

Articulate La Boite’s artistic ambition and impact in ways that inspire investment and support.

Identify artistic opportunities that can generate philanthropic, government or partnership support.

Build co-production, touring and creative partnerships that extend La Boite’s reach.

Represent and advocate for La Boite across media, industry, government and public forums.

4. Audiences and organisational leadership

Set the artistic narrative for seasons and productions and work with Marketing to translate it for audiences.

Use audience insight to inform programming and positioning without compromising artistic purpose.

Share accountability with the Executive Director for strategy, budgets, sustainability, reputation and major organisational change.

Contribute to an inclusive, accountable culture and collaborate across artistic and business functions.

Act as La Boite’s principal artistic spokesperson.

Selection Criteria

Executive leadership experience with strong commercial and financial literacy, including the ability to balance artistic ambition, audience opportunity and organisational sustainability.

Significant artistic leadership, programming or senior producing experience in theatre or the performing arts.

A compelling artistic perspective and demonstrated ability to develop and deliver ambitious work.

Strong relationships and credibility across artists, sector partners, government, funders, donors and media.

Sound judgement, collaborative leadership and the ability to operate effectively within a shared Co-CEO model.

Measures of Success

Audience response, attendance and engagement grow across a distinctive artistic program.

The program is delivered within approved budgets, timelines and organisational capacity.

Artistic risk, audience opportunity and financial sustainability are balanced effectively.

Philanthropic, government, industry and creative partnerships increase and diversify.

The Co-CEO model provides clear, collaborative and accountable leadership.

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