Artistic Director

confidential; United States; On-site; USD 100,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

New Village Arts in Carlsbad, CA seeks an innovative Artistic Director to balance bold artistic vision with strong financial management and community partnerships. The leader will guide the theatre into its next era, report to the Board, and work with a Managing Director to grow audiences and revenue.

The role emphasizes fundraising, education programs, and community collaborations to expand reach while maintaining artistic excellence across a full season on two stages.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years of progressive leadership experience working in live theatre as high-level artistic staff.
• Able to define a unique creative identity and communicate that vision clearly to artists and audiences.
• Strong leadership and management skills and a proven track record hiring, supervising, and evaluating directors, actors, and production staff.
• Ability to balance creative desires with operational discipline and financial stewardship.
• Outstanding marketing, public relations, audience-development, and community building skills.
• Committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Demonstrated track record of championing an organization publicly with professionalism, credibility, and enthusiasm.

Responsibilities

• Set artistic vision and oversee season planning, production scheduling, and new work development.
• Lead casting, hiring, directing, and producing to ensure high artistic standards.
• Balance artistic ambition with available financial resources and fundraising needs.
• Oversee education and community programs, and foster collaborations with local arts partners.
• Attend rehearsals, performances, and meetings to maintain artistic oversight and strategic direction.

Skills

Leadership

Fundraising

Community building

Strategic planning

Job description

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

New Village Arts (NVA) seeks a vision-driven, creative leader with business acumen to serve as its next Artistic Director. This is a tremendous opportunity for an innovative leader to guide a well-established theatre company into its next era.

ABOUT NEW VILLAGE ARTS

For 25 years, New Village Arts has been creating adventurous artistic experiences to awaken the human spirit. NVA is a vital part of North County San Diego's artistic community, welcoming over 30,000 visitors each year to its home at the Dea Hurston New Village Arts Center in Carlsbad, California.

NVA produces a full season of professional theatre on its Ray Charles Stage, showcasing the diverse talents of award-winning actors, directors, and designers. In addition to the main stage productions taking place in its 100-seat theatre, NVA hosts a full calendar of comedy, music, opera, dance, spoken word, and performance art on its White Family Next Stage.

NVA is known for bold artistic programming, meaningful community partnerships, and a commitment to producing work that reflects the diversity and complexity of the region it serves. NVA is a community hub, it is a place for great art, and it's a place to belong.

Founded in 2001 in Carlsbad by graduates of the Actors Studio Drama School, NVA's first production at the Granary in Magee Park earned critical acclaim. Over the next five years, NVA transformed the Jazzercise corporate headquarters into a theatre space several times a year. In 2006, the City of Carlsbad designated the former Bauer Lumber Building in Carlsbad Village as NVA's permanent home and significant renovations were completed in January 2023.

New Village Arts is entering its next era as founder and executive artistic director, Kristianne Kurner, steps down in June of 2027 at the end of the theatre's 25th Anniversary Season.

This is a special opportunity for a talented creative leader to cultivate new audiences, expand NVA's reach in the community, and develop collaborative partnerships.

JOB DESCRIPTION

New Village Arts seeks an innovative creative executive to serve as Artistic Director. The ideal candidate will be a community builder who is adept at balancing artistic vision with strong financial management skills.

The Artistic Director in NVA's new structure will share institutional leadership as a co-equal partner with a Managing Director, with both positions reporting independently to the Board of Directors. The Artistic Director is a public-facing role with core duties that include setting the artistic vision, casting and hiring, directing and producing, managing and growing earned revenue streams, expanding audiences, overseeing education and artistic development programs, participating in collaborative financial management and fundraising, and managing creative/technical staff.

NVA's current budget is $2 million. Of that amount, $1 million is from earned revenue sources under the purview of the Artistic Director. The remaining $1 million is derived from fundraising.

ARTISTIC VISION

• Develop and oversee NVA's annual and long-term artistic programming, including season selection, production planning, new work, special events, and educational or community-based programming, as applicable.
• Select plays and other theatrical works that demonstrate artistic excellence, engage audiences, and reflect a diverse range of voices, perspectives, and experiences.
• Balance artistic ambition, audience interests, mission priorities, and available financial and operational resources.
• Identify opportunities for artistic innovation, collaboration, and the development of new work.
• Evaluate the artistic impact of productions and programs and use feedback to inform future planning and financial health.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND FUNDRAISING

• Develop artistic plans that reflect the company's financial resources and operational capacity.
• Work in partnership with the Managing Director to build realistic production and artistic budgets, manage those budgets to desired outcomes, and present an annual budget each season to the Board for approval.
• Exercise responsible stewardship of organizational resources, including production funds, personnel, facilities, and equipment.
• Participate in grant applications, fundraising campaigns, sponsorship initiatives, and donor cultivation and communications as appropriate.
• Create opportunities for earned revenue, contributed income, co-productions, partnerships, and other support for artistic programming (Ray Charles Stage, Next Stage, Non-Sub productions, and Education Programs).
• Oversee education and artistic development programs including Dea Hurston Fellowship, Phifer-Collins Stage Management Fellowship, college acting apprenticeships, Feeling Good, and A Walk with Yaamay.
• Provide timely information and reports concerning artistic activities, production outcomes, and future plans to the Board of Directors.
• Participate in Board meetings, committee meetings, strategic discussions, and organizational planning as appropriate.
• Respect established financial, personnel, and governance policies and operate within the authority delegated by the Board.

PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT

• Oversee the artistic development and execution of all productions.
• Engage and collaborate with directors, actors, designers, playwrights, dramaturgs, stage managers, and other creative personnel.
• Secure performance rights and licensing.
• Hire, supervise, and evaluate directors, designers, actors, and other creative or technical personnel.
• Direct one to two productions per season and oversee guest directors, staging quality, and technical execution.
• Establish artistic standards and support a collaborative, respectful, and productive rehearsal and production environment.
• Work with production and technical staff to ensure that artistic goals are achievable within established schedules, budgets, staffing, and venue capabilities.
• Attend rehearsals, performances, and production meetings as appropriate to maintain artistic oversight.
• Build and maintain relationships with local and regional artists and creative professionals.
• Recruit, engage, and retain talented artists who support the company's artistic vision.
• Foster an inclusive environment in which artists can take creative risks, develop their skills, and contribute meaningfully.
• Ensure that artistic personnel are treated professionally and that expectations, responsibilities, and working conditions are supported and clearly communicated.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

• Act as the primary artistic spokesperson for NVA in the community and media and serve as a visible and articulate advocate for the theatre and its artistic mission.
• Build relationships with audiences, donors, community organizations, educational institutions, cultural partners, and other arts organizations.
• Participate in audience engagement activities, including discussions, public presentations, post-performance conversations, and community events.
• Support initiatives that broaden participation, welcome new audiences, and strengthen the theatre's connection to its community.
• Help communicate the relevance, value, and impact of live theatre to the public and prospective supporters.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Minimum five years of progressive leadership experience working in live theatre as high-level artistic staff.
• Able to define a unique creative identity and communicate that vision clearly to artists and audiences.
• Strong leadership and management skills and a proven track record hiring, supervising, and evaluating directors, actors, designers, and production staff.
• Ability to balance creative desires with operational discipline and financial stewardship.
• Outstanding marketing, public relations, audience-development, and community building skills.
• Committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Demonstrated track record of championing an organization publicly with professionalism, credibility, and enthusiasm.

COMPENSATION

Salary range: $100,000–$115,000, commensurate with experience.

NVA offers a competitive compensation package, including:

• Medical insurance (80% of monthly premium paid by NVA)
• Optional dental and vision insurance, paid by the employee
• Access to a retirement plan with a 3% match opportunity (after one year of service)
• Generous paid time off benefits

ABOUT CARLSBAD, CA

Carlsbad is a scenic coastal city in North County San Diego. Located 30 miles north of downtown San Diego and 85 miles south of Los Angeles, Carlsbad is known for balancing a charming, small-town coastal vibe with thriving industries.

With a population of approximately 115,000 residents, the city has seven miles of coastline, a walkable Village area, and a wide variety of housing options. Open space is valued, hiking trails are plentiful, and outdoor and water activities abound.

Carlsbad is home to major golf equipment manufacturers and a thriving tech, life sciences, and hospitality sector. It is also known for its mild weather with warm and pleasant summers and cool winters. While NVA is in the City of Carlsbad, the theatre attracts patrons from the broader Southern California region.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

New Village Arts is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Applicants who need a reasonable accommodation during the application process may contact .

CONTACT

Dea Hurston New Village Arts Center

2787 State Street, Carlsbad, CA 92008

newvillagearts.org | Box Office: 760.433.3245

Medical insurance (80% of monthly premium paid by NVA); optional dental and vision insurance, paid by the employee; retirement plan with a 3% match opportunity after one year of service; generous paid time off