Manager, Performing Arts

The Role

The Manager, Performing Arts (MPA) is a key strategic and creative leader within the National accessArts Centre (NaAC), responsible for the design, execution, and advancement of performing arts programming for artists living with disabilities. Reporting to the CEO, the MPA collaborates across departments to plan, design, and execute programs that reflect the needs and ambitions of the NaAC’s artist community. This role is a member of the Senior Management Team within the NaAC.

This role blends creative direction, creative producing, artist-led practices, cross-departmental coordination, curriculum development, artist mentorship, and access-centered leadership. The MPA leads day-to-day operations and long-term planning while acting as a vital connector between staff, artists, external collaborators, and the broader Canadian and international arts sectors. The role involves high-level production leadership, creative risk-taking, grant development, marketing strategy, and collaborative development of new works — ensuring that projects are not only accessible but artistically ambitious and structurally sound.

Direct Reports:

• Coordinator, Performing Arts
• Coordinator, Audio & Music Programs

Tasks & Responsibilities:

A. Strategic Planning & Artistic Visioning

1. Translate NaAC’s strategic plan into actionable annual and seasonal programming goals
2. Develop multi-year plans for training, creation, presentation, and sharing of performing arts works
3. Provide dramaturgical support and artistic direction for major productions and works
4. Guide interdisciplinary artistic residences, collaborating with designers, dramaturg and co-creators
5. Identify and guide creative concepts from inception to performance, aligning artistic direction with access and inclusion

1. Cultivate partnerships with choreographers, guest artists, producers, and international collaborators
2. Represent NaAC’s work within the national and international disability arts sector through presentations, panel participation, and creative exchange
3. Initiate collaborative projects and foster artist-to-artist international dialogues that enrich NaAC’s programming
4. Identify and pursue partnership opportunities with arts organizations, community groups, educational institutions, and funders

B. Program Design, Curriculum, and Execution

1. Design inclusive, disability-led curricula and training programs across beginner to professional levels
2. Oversee the development of class frameworks, themes, and schedules for all performing arts offerings
3. Manage project timelines and workback schedules for major performances, films, residencies, and presentations
4. Act as lead creative producer on major NaAC productions, overseeing rehearsal frameworks, costume and set development, and technical integration while centering artist-led decision-making
5. Lead or support marketing strategy for performances and programs in collaboration with communications staff
6. Coordinate with admin staff and the Performing Arts Coordinator to support registration systems, scheduling, and communications
7. Lead integration of access-centered creative tools (e.g., audio description, tactile design, visual contrast)
8. Collaborate with artists to ensure access features are part of the creative language and not separate add-ons
9. Develop onboarding tools, teaching frameworks, and leadership opportunities for instructors and assistants
10. Plan and implement interactive experiences such as workshops, touch tours, and Q&As
11. Support education and outreach initiatives that broaden audience understanding and participation
12. Oversee the creation of accessible performance documentation, including video edits, promotional reels, and internal archiving

C. Budget Management & Fund Development

1. On an annual basis, develop and present a programming budget that aligns with the annual program and presentation plans and reflects the strategic goals of the organization. Work with the Manager, Operations & Artist Services, to ensure budgets are presented in a way that aligns with the NaAC accounting practice. Budget must identify grant dependent plans.
2. Oversee budgets, contracts, and reporting for performing arts initiatives in alignment with organizational policies
3. Manage approved department budgets; ensure budgets are adhered to; mitigate risks to budgets; be able to explain overspends.
4. Lead and support grant writing, reporting, and artistic documentation that balances accessibility and artistry
5. Support the CEO in sourcing funding opportunities relevant to Performing Arts initiatives
6. Monitor industry trends to adapt best practices and inform departmental growth

D. Team Leadership & Advocacy

1. Empower and inspire high performance team members through encouragement, involvement, positive debate, and collaborative decision making and problem resolution.
2. Develop team skills by identifying knowledge gaps and working with the Manager, Operations & Artist Services to engage team members in appropriate training, as required; provide constructive feedback; leverage mistakes as opportunities for learning; encourage team members to initiate and advocate for and lead their own learning and development.
3. Coach, mentor, and guide team leaders to actively contribute their own ideas and foster a collaborative and creative work environment that motivates excellence and promotes and recognizes accountability; respond to undesirable or ineffective behaviour through positive re-enforcement, coaching, and performance improvement planning; involve team leaders in their own improvement process and accountability; model behaviour for team leaders to provide the same support for their own teams.
4. Lead the resolution of internal team and artist conflicts with honesty and integrity ensuring that abuse reporting, and ethical dilemmas are managed with confidence, empathy, tact and care; work with the Manager, Operations & Arist Services to ensure alignment with HR and PDD policies.

C. Expected Leadership Behaviours

1. Take a holistic approach to all endeavours, striving to benefit the organization as a whole.
2. Adhere to the NaAC’s Code of Conduct at all times; behave respectfully and without discrimination; be willing to resolve conflicts respectfully, positively, and in a timely manner; maintain honesty and integrity in all communications and actions.
3. Be willing to adapt communication and leadership styles to meet unique and individual needs.
4. Actively support and participate in the NaAC’s initiatives to promote diversity, equity and inclusion.
5. Actively attend, engage, and participate in meetings as required; respond to all organizational email correspondence in a timely manner.
6. Complete all mandatory training on time; participate in team building events; respond to NaAC surveys and requests for information.
7. Be adaptable in the face of change or adversity; demonstrate confidence in the NaAC.
8. Lead by example and motivate employees to take initiative rather than direct instruction.

Required Personal Characteristics

• Patience, empathy, and a commitment to equity.
• Passion and energy for helping artists achieve their goals as members of the arts and culture community.
• Has vision, is innovative, thinks strategically.
• Mature attitude and ability to work autonomously in a collaborative environment.
• Desire and ability to lead and develop a team – attitude towards working on a team; conflict management resolution; committed to no conflict but not avoiding – instead resolving as it comes up.
• Committed to learning and personal development; curious about hearing or learning from others as well as sharing ideas; committed to ongoing learning.