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DANCE
IDEAS
- Director of Marketing & Communications
CANADIAN STAGE is seeking a creative and energetic individual to serve as its next Director of Marketing & Communications. Reporting to the Executive and Artistic Directors, the Director of Marketing & Communications will develop and implement the strategic direction for all marketing and communication activities at Canadian Stage. The Director of Marketing and Communications will be responsible for building the capacity and the teams in the Marketing and Communications areas, and will work collaboratively with the senior leadership team to create strong and effective marketing strategies.
The Director of Marketing & Communications will build and manage the Canadian Stage brand and all aspects of marketing, communications, box office, and ticketing through the Canadian Stage Box Office to raise the organization’s awareness in the community, increase audiences, and drive earned revenues.
The ideal candidate will have a drive to build audiences for Canadian Stage from the GTA to maximize ticket sales, and marketing campaigns that drive earned revenues and visibility in the community. This is an exciting opportunity for a creative professional who can bring together their vision, experience, and passion for a wide range of artistic and community endeavors. The Director of Marketing & Communications will want to invest themselves in the success and growth of Canadian Stage and will find personal fulfillment in being part of an exciting future for the organization.
Director of Marketing & Communications Role and Responsibilities
The Director of Marketing and Communications is a key leadership role that drives the strategic vision and execution of marketing, audience development, and communications initiatives to build long-term audience loyalty, expand engagement, and grow earned revenue for Canadian Stage.
This position oversees all marketing and communications activities, with a focus on strengthening relationships with existing patrons, attracting new audiences, and promoting Canadian Stage’s productions and brand. Working closely with the senior leadership team, the Director will collaborate to align marketing strategies with the broader goals of the organization, including artistic programming, development, and institutional priorities.
The ideal candidate will have significant experience in arts marketing, with a proven track record of increasing audience loyalty and revenue through data-driven campaigns and strategic communication efforts. Knowledge of proven audience-building strategies will be an asset, as Canadian Stage is focused on leveraging best practices to foster deep, lasting connections with our patrons.
Key Responsibilities
Reporting to the Executive Director and the Artistic Director, the key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Strategy and Planning
- Develop and implement an overarching marketing and communications strategy for Canadian Stage that aligns with organizational goals, audience growth, and revenue targets.
- Lead the creation of compelling marketing campaigns for individual productions, as well as overarching season-wide initiatives, to reinforce Canadian Stage’s value proposition and strengthen brand presence.
- Collaborate with the Artistic Director and senior leadership team to ensure marketing efforts are closely aligned with artistic programming, institutional priorities, and brand messaging.
- Continuously analyze the competitive landscape to identify trends, opportunities, and emerging best practices to maintain Canadian Stage’s leadership in the arts sector.
- Design and refine integrated marketing strategies that target both new and existing patrons, focusing on compelling messaging across multiple channels (digital, print, media, etc.).
- Build strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including senior leadership, creative teams, and key community influencers, to ensure alignment and success in all marketing efforts.
Audience & Loyalty Growth
- Oversee and ensure the achievement of annual sales and attendance targets, ensuring Canadian Stage consistently meets or exceeds expectations for ticket sales, subscriptions, and audience engagement.
- Develop and implement audience segmentation strategies to drive targeted marketing efforts based on demographic, behavioral, and psychographic data.
- Monitor, analyze, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) related to audience retention, such as recency, frequency, and monetary value of patron interactions.
- Lead efforts to increase year-over-year (YOY) growth in subscription sales, renewals, and audience retention strategies, ensuring sustained engagement and repeat attendance.
- Develop and optimize customer loyalty programs, ensuring that subscribers and patrons are provided with personalized and meaningful engagement that fosters long-term relationships.
- Use CRM tools (Tessitura) to manage data insights and inform strategic decisions, driving marketing efforts that increase frequency and recency of patron attendance.
Revenue Optimization
- Lead the development and execution of strategies that maximize ticket sales and revenue, including pricing strategies, dynamic pricing, and promotions.
- Use data-driven insights to design and implement ticketing strategies that maximize earned revenue, including upselling (e.g., VIP experiences, premium seating), targeted discounts, and bundled offers.
- Drive initiatives to optimize revenue through add-ons such as donations, merchandise sales, and exclusive access to events or content, encouraging higher-value transactions per patron.
- Implement “nudging” techniques across digital platforms (website, email, social) to encourage desired customer behaviors, including early purchases, higher-value purchases, and renewals.
- Collaborate closely with the ticketing team to streamline purchasing processes, improve conversion rates, and enhance the overall customer experience.
- Analyze ticketing and sales data to identify new opportunities for revenue growth, adjusting marketing campaigns and pricing models as needed to achieve targets.
Partnerships & People
- Lead, inspire, and mentor a high-performing marketing team, setting clear goals and performance expectations, while fostering a collaborative environment that encourages professional growth and innovation.
- Cultivate and maintain relationships with external media partners, journalists, influencers, and organizations to maximize the reach and impact of Canadian Stage’s marketing campaigns.
- Identify and develop strategic partnerships with local businesses, sponsors, and community organizations to amplify marketing efforts, leverage co-marketing opportunities, and engage new audiences.
- Explore innovative partnership opportunities to enhance Canadian Stage’s visibility, reputation, and access to new audiences, while generating additional revenue streams.
- Ensure all external communications align with Canadian Stage’s mission and brand.
- Actively participate in key stakeholder meetings, ensuring that marketing and communications are fully integrated into the broader organizational and fundraising efforts, including board members.
- Promote a culture of collaboration, sharing insights, and encouraging team members to contribute ideas, feedback, and expertise to improve marketing initiatives continuously.
- Manage vendor relationships, including digital marketing agencies, designers, and other external partners, ensuring high-quality deliverables and adherence to timelines and budgets.
Administration and Oversight
- Oversee the marketing department and supervise the staff by setting clear expectations and ensuring their continuing growth and professional development.
- Influence and inspire others to act in an energetic, committed fashion in pursuit of a positive organizational culture.
- Ensure that the necessary organizational structure and guidelines are followed, and that policies, system controls, and procedures are in place and regularly reviewed for effectiveness.
- Prepare and monitor revenue and expense budgets; provide accurate reporting, analysis, and data integration; and oversee the maintenance and integrity of audience records.
- Guide a regular staff review and evaluation process that ensures the highest ethical standards in all departmental activities.
- Lead by example and mentor the marketing staff in utilizing available data and systems to analyze and document fundraising needs and opportunities.
- Ensure revenue goals are met, proactively identify potential shortfalls, and strategize creative options that lead to fulfillment.
- Prepare financial and statistical analysis of marketing initiatives and use this information to improve earned revenue activities.
- Project anticipated revenue and expenses for programs and review progress quarterly with the Executive Director.
- Assess current technology and refine marketing practices to ensure maximum efficiency and results.
- Embrace other administration and oversight roles and responsibilities as needed.
Qualifications:
- 10+ years of progressive experience in marketing and communications, ideally in a senior role within the arts, cultural, or entertainment sectors.
- Strong understanding of audience development strategies, particularly in the context of arts organizations and theatres.
- Proven ability to lead and manage a team, collaborating across departments to achieve shared goals.
- Expertise in digital marketing, including social media strategy, email campaigns, and website optimization.
- Strong analytical skills and experience with marketing data, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, and reporting tools with experience utilizing Tessitura an asset.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling narratives and deliver messaging across diverse platforms.
- A passion for the performing arts, with a deep understanding of the role of marketing in growing and sustaining audiences.
- A collaborative and flexible approach to leadership, able to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
- The ability to develop creative solutions and take a strategic approach to problem-solving.
- A commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of marketing and audience engagement
- The standard work week is Monday to Friday, with a minimum of two days per week in-office. Occasional evening and weekend hours will be required.
Traits and Characteristics
Collaborative, proactive, dynamic, self-motivated, detail and people-oriented, the Director of Marketing & Communications will be goal oriented and will possess exceptional time management, social and verbal communication skills and value frequent interaction and collaboration with others. The Director of Marketing & Communications will be an experienced professional with the vision to actively pursue the Canadian Stage’s goals with creativity and determination and will have a high degree of personal accountability – with a commitment to exceeding expectations.
The Director of Marketing & Communication will lead marketing strategies and will balance tasks and projects with a sense of urgency and possess superlative interpersonal and communication skills that articulate compelling verbal and written messages for support. A self-sufficient and self-managed professional with a highly organized strategic approach, the Director of Marketing & Communications will have the ability to achieve organizational objectives with artists, staff, board members, volunteers, and prospective supporters.
This individual will bring a passion for Canadian Stage’s vision, mission, and values, with the ability to bring those to reality, and a commitment to positively impact the organization’s long-term success.
Compensation
Canadian Stage offers a competitive compensation package with an annual salary of $120,000 – $135,000 commensurate with experience. Additional benefits include: annual vacation, participation in an extended health plan, and retirement benefits.
Application Instructions
The Canadian Stage Director of Marketing & Communication search is led by Martin Bragg, Nicola Dawes, and Nancy Webster of Martin Bragg & Associates. To apply in confidence, please email your letter of interest and resume in Word or PDF format to Martin Bragg & Associates at: canadianstage@mbassociates.ca
The deadline for application is 5:00 pm EST on Monday, July 28, 2025. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply and will receive an acknowledgement of their application. Preliminary interviews will begin immediately, and candidates are encouraged to apply early. No phone calls, please.
Canadian Stage is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace where all voices are valued. We deeply value diverse perspectives and encourage applications from qualified individuals from all cultures, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, and abilities. These experiences are essential to enriching our work and strengthening our community.
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ISSUES
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An external review “recommended a review into Creative Australia’s governance processes, better training for future board members, and the urgent appointment of a board member with deep visual arts expertise.” Many in the visual arts community want to go a whole lot farther. – The Guardian (UK)
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The Netherlands turned over 119 objects to the Nigerian government, while the MFA Boston gave their two directly to the Oba of Benin. “As these two repatriations underscore, questions linger about who should rightfully receive them — the state or the Oba — as well as what restitution looks like in practice.” – Artnet
- Peter Phillips, 86, Britain’s Pioneer Of Pop Art
“He became one of the originators of the British Pop art movement in the 1950s and ’60s. … Phillips layered mundane images of consumer culture and mass entertainment into his vibrantly colored paintings, often with a playful twist.” – ARTnews
- Paris’s Asian Art Museum Sued For “Tibet Erasure”
“Four pro-Tibetan groups in France have filed a legal complaint against Paris’s state-run Musée Guimet, accusing it of attempting to erase Tibet’s cultural identity by renaming its Nepal-Tibet gallery to ‘Himalayan world’ and removing references to ‘Tibetan art.’” – Artnet
MEDIA
- Not A Huge Surprise, But That One AI-Generated ‘Band’ Was An Elaborate Hoax
“A Canadian who duped journalists in an elaborate AI music hoax says he apologizes to anyone hurt by his experiment but that it’s been ‘too fascinating’ to turn away from.” – CBC
- Is Digital Security Even Possible In An Age Of Dictatorship?
Likely not, but people, and groups, persist in countries where the consequences can be dire. For instance, “the government of El Salvador has created an entire infrastructure to have not only social, but also digital control of the citizenry.” – Wired
- British Law Prevents The Victoria And Albert Museum From Returning Looted Objects
“They can get rid of an object only if it is a perfect duplicate; if it is unsuitable for retention in collections and can be disposed of ‘without detriment to students or the public;’ if it is damaged beyond repair.” – The Times
- Barbara Kingsolver, Author Of Demon Copperhead, Is Deeply Worried About What’s Coming For Rural America
The author, who is funneling her profits into a recovery house for women, says, “The damage will be unimaginable. Lots of people will die, lots of wild lands will be destroyed. The damage is terrifying.” – The Guardian (UK)
- Australia Says No To Kanye West After His Song Praising Hitler
“The song proved to be the final strike for Ye. First shared in a social media post on X, ‘Heil Hitler’ has been widely denounced for its racial epithets and antisemitism. It was also subsequently banned on most streaming platforms.” – Los Angeles Times
MUSIC
- Did The Salt Path Seem Like A Good Story?
That’s because the “memoir” (and its sequels, not to mention the new movie starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs) was at least partly fiction, covering up theft, a criminal case, and land in France. – The Observer (UK)
- The Euphoria Of Being A First-Time Novelist In One’s Fifties
“Debuting at fifty-three is sweet. And I am so incredibly grateful. The dream I had as a girl—the one I couldn’t say aloud—not in my family—has somehow, astonishingly, come true.” – LitHub
- Room For The Straight White Male Writer?
“Unwilling to portray themselves as victims (cringe, politically wrong), or as aggressors (toxic masculinity), unable to assume the authentic voices of others (appropriation), younger white men are no longer capable of describing the world around them,” Savage, who is 41, wrote. – The New York Times
- There’s Another Great American Novel Whose Centennial Is This Year
“F. Scott Fitzgerald was fulsome in his praise and Sinclair Lewis declared it the ‘first book to catch Manhattan”. … As Gatsby continues to be lionised, analysed and republished — and adapted for film and the musical stage — John Dos Passos’s novel Manhattan Transfer remains a niche concern.” – Prospect (UK)
- Did A Federal Court Just Open Our Libraries Up For AI Plundering?
Let’s call this what it is: a case about borrowed books and a legal system struggling to reckon with machines that never ask before they take. – LitHub
PEOPLE
- Director of Marketing & Communications
CANADIAN STAGE is seeking a creative and energetic individual to serve as its next Director of Marketing & Communications. Reporting to the Executive and Artistic Directors, the Director of Marketing & Communications will develop and implement the strategic direction for all marketing and communication activities at Canadian Stage. The Director of Marketing and Communications will be responsible for building the capacity and the teams in the Marketing and Communications areas, and will work collaboratively with the senior leadership team to create strong and effective marketing strategies.
The Director of Marketing & Communications will build and manage the Canadian Stage brand and all aspects of marketing, communications, box office, and ticketing through the Canadian Stage Box Office to raise the organization’s awareness in the community, increase audiences, and drive earned revenues.
The ideal candidate will have a drive to build audiences for Canadian Stage from the GTA to maximize ticket sales, and marketing campaigns that drive earned revenues and visibility in the community. This is an exciting opportunity for a creative professional who can bring together their vision, experience, and passion for a wide range of artistic and community endeavors. The Director of Marketing & Communications will want to invest themselves in the success and growth of Canadian Stage and will find personal fulfillment in being part of an exciting future for the organization.
Director of Marketing & Communications Role and Responsibilities
The Director of Marketing and Communications is a key leadership role that drives the strategic vision and execution of marketing, audience development, and communications initiatives to build long-term audience loyalty, expand engagement, and grow earned revenue for Canadian Stage.
This position oversees all marketing and communications activities, with a focus on strengthening relationships with existing patrons, attracting new audiences, and promoting Canadian Stage’s productions and brand. Working closely with the senior leadership team, the Director will collaborate to align marketing strategies with the broader goals of the organization, including artistic programming, development, and institutional priorities.
The ideal candidate will have significant experience in arts marketing, with a proven track record of increasing audience loyalty and revenue through data-driven campaigns and strategic communication efforts. Knowledge of proven audience-building strategies will be an asset, as Canadian Stage is focused on leveraging best practices to foster deep, lasting connections with our patrons.
Key Responsibilities
Reporting to the Executive Director and the Artistic Director, the key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Strategy and Planning
- Develop and implement an overarching marketing and communications strategy for Canadian Stage that aligns with organizational goals, audience growth, and revenue targets.
- Lead the creation of compelling marketing campaigns for individual productions, as well as overarching season-wide initiatives, to reinforce Canadian Stage’s value proposition and strengthen brand presence.
- Collaborate with the Artistic Director and senior leadership team to ensure marketing efforts are closely aligned with artistic programming, institutional priorities, and brand messaging.
- Continuously analyze the competitive landscape to identify trends, opportunities, and emerging best practices to maintain Canadian Stage’s leadership in the arts sector.
- Design and refine integrated marketing strategies that target both new and existing patrons, focusing on compelling messaging across multiple channels (digital, print, media, etc.).
- Build strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including senior leadership, creative teams, and key community influencers, to ensure alignment and success in all marketing efforts.
Audience & Loyalty Growth
- Oversee and ensure the achievement of annual sales and attendance targets, ensuring Canadian Stage consistently meets or exceeds expectations for ticket sales, subscriptions, and audience engagement.
- Develop and implement audience segmentation strategies to drive targeted marketing efforts based on demographic, behavioral, and psychographic data.
- Monitor, analyze, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) related to audience retention, such as recency, frequency, and monetary value of patron interactions.
- Lead efforts to increase year-over-year (YOY) growth in subscription sales, renewals, and audience retention strategies, ensuring sustained engagement and repeat attendance.
- Develop and optimize customer loyalty programs, ensuring that subscribers and patrons are provided with personalized and meaningful engagement that fosters long-term relationships.
- Use CRM tools (Tessitura) to manage data insights and inform strategic decisions, driving marketing efforts that increase frequency and recency of patron attendance.
Revenue Optimization
- Lead the development and execution of strategies that maximize ticket sales and revenue, including pricing strategies, dynamic pricing, and promotions.
- Use data-driven insights to design and implement ticketing strategies that maximize earned revenue, including upselling (e.g., VIP experiences, premium seating), targeted discounts, and bundled offers.
- Drive initiatives to optimize revenue through add-ons such as donations, merchandise sales, and exclusive access to events or content, encouraging higher-value transactions per patron.
- Implement “nudging” techniques across digital platforms (website, email, social) to encourage desired customer behaviors, including early purchases, higher-value purchases, and renewals.
- Collaborate closely with the ticketing team to streamline purchasing processes, improve conversion rates, and enhance the overall customer experience.
- Analyze ticketing and sales data to identify new opportunities for revenue growth, adjusting marketing campaigns and pricing models as needed to achieve targets.
Partnerships & People
- Lead, inspire, and mentor a high-performing marketing team, setting clear goals and performance expectations, while fostering a collaborative environment that encourages professional growth and innovation.
- Cultivate and maintain relationships with external media partners, journalists, influencers, and organizations to maximize the reach and impact of Canadian Stage’s marketing campaigns.
- Identify and develop strategic partnerships with local businesses, sponsors, and community organizations to amplify marketing efforts, leverage co-marketing opportunities, and engage new audiences.
- Explore innovative partnership opportunities to enhance Canadian Stage’s visibility, reputation, and access to new audiences, while generating additional revenue streams.
- Ensure all external communications align with Canadian Stage’s mission and brand.
- Actively participate in key stakeholder meetings, ensuring that marketing and communications are fully integrated into the broader organizational and fundraising efforts, including board members.
- Promote a culture of collaboration, sharing insights, and encouraging team members to contribute ideas, feedback, and expertise to improve marketing initiatives continuously.
- Manage vendor relationships, including digital marketing agencies, designers, and other external partners, ensuring high-quality deliverables and adherence to timelines and budgets.
Administration and Oversight
- Oversee the marketing department and supervise the staff by setting clear expectations and ensuring their continuing growth and professional development.
- Influence and inspire others to act in an energetic, committed fashion in pursuit of a positive organizational culture.
- Ensure that the necessary organizational structure and guidelines are followed, and that policies, system controls, and procedures are in place and regularly reviewed for effectiveness.
- Prepare and monitor revenue and expense budgets; provide accurate reporting, analysis, and data integration; and oversee the maintenance and integrity of audience records.
- Guide a regular staff review and evaluation process that ensures the highest ethical standards in all departmental activities.
- Lead by example and mentor the marketing staff in utilizing available data and systems to analyze and document fundraising needs and opportunities.
- Ensure revenue goals are met, proactively identify potential shortfalls, and strategize creative options that lead to fulfillment.
- Prepare financial and statistical analysis of marketing initiatives and use this information to improve earned revenue activities.
- Project anticipated revenue and expenses for programs and review progress quarterly with the Executive Director.
- Assess current technology and refine marketing practices to ensure maximum efficiency and results.
- Embrace other administration and oversight roles and responsibilities as needed.
Qualifications:
- 10+ years of progressive experience in marketing and communications, ideally in a senior role within the arts, cultural, or entertainment sectors.
- Strong understanding of audience development strategies, particularly in the context of arts organizations and theatres.
- Proven ability to lead and manage a team, collaborating across departments to achieve shared goals.
- Expertise in digital marketing, including social media strategy, email campaigns, and website optimization.
- Strong analytical skills and experience with marketing data, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, and reporting tools with experience utilizing Tessitura an asset.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling narratives and deliver messaging across diverse platforms.
- A passion for the performing arts, with a deep understanding of the role of marketing in growing and sustaining audiences.
- A collaborative and flexible approach to leadership, able to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
- The ability to develop creative solutions and take a strategic approach to problem-solving.
- A commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of marketing and audience engagement
- The standard work week is Monday to Friday, with a minimum of two days per week in-office. Occasional evening and weekend hours will be required.
Traits and Characteristics
Collaborative, proactive, dynamic, self-motivated, detail and people-oriented, the Director of Marketing & Communications will be goal oriented and will possess exceptional time management, social and verbal communication skills and value frequent interaction and collaboration with others. The Director of Marketing & Communications will be an experienced professional with the vision to actively pursue the Canadian Stage’s goals with creativity and determination and will have a high degree of personal accountability – with a commitment to exceeding expectations.
The Director of Marketing & Communication will lead marketing strategies and will balance tasks and projects with a sense of urgency and possess superlative interpersonal and communication skills that articulate compelling verbal and written messages for support. A self-sufficient and self-managed professional with a highly organized strategic approach, the Director of Marketing & Communications will have the ability to achieve organizational objectives with artists, staff, board members, volunteers, and prospective supporters.
This individual will bring a passion for Canadian Stage’s vision, mission, and values, with the ability to bring those to reality, and a commitment to positively impact the organization’s long-term success.
Compensation
Canadian Stage offers a competitive compensation package with an annual salary of $120,000 – $135,000 commensurate with experience. Additional benefits include: annual vacation, participation in an extended health plan, and retirement benefits.
Application Instructions
The Canadian Stage Director of Marketing & Communication search is led by Martin Bragg, Nicola Dawes, and Nancy Webster of Martin Bragg & Associates. To apply in confidence, please email your letter of interest and resume in Word or PDF format to Martin Bragg & Associates at: canadianstage@mbassociates.ca
The deadline for application is 5:00 pm EST on Monday, July 28, 2025. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply and will receive an acknowledgement of their application. Preliminary interviews will begin immediately, and candidates are encouraged to apply early. No phone calls, please.
Canadian Stage is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace where all voices are valued. We deeply value diverse perspectives and encourage applications from qualified individuals from all cultures, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, and abilities. These experiences are essential to enriching our work and strengthening our community.
- Will Europeans Curate Our Receding Cultural Past?
My 2022 book Dvorak’s Prophecy has just been published in German (by Wolke Verlag) with a new Foreword for German-language readers: “The
- Not A Huge Surprise, But That One AI-Generated ‘Band’ Was An Elaborate Hoax
“A Canadian who duped journalists in an elaborate AI music hoax says he apologizes to anyone hurt by his experiment but that it’s been ‘too fascinating’ to turn away from.” – CBC
- A Strad That Disappeared At The End Of WWII May Have Resurfaced
“The case of the Mendelssohn Stradivarius highlights the opaque trade for rare instruments, in which details about provenance, or the history of previous ownership, are often not well documented or, in some cases, intentionally obscured.” – The New York Times
- Netflix’s Animated K-Pop Band Is Beating Flesh And Blood Bands On Spotify
Perhaps this is not a surprise in a time of AI slop, but at least the villainous, fictional Saja Boys’s songs are performed by real-life musicians on the high-debuting soundtrack. – Vulture
PEOPLE
- Director of Marketing & Communications
CANADIAN STAGE is seeking a creative and energetic individual to serve as its next Director of Marketing & Communications. Reporting to the Executive and Artistic Directors, the Director of Marketing & Communications will develop and implement the strategic direction for all marketing and communication activities at Canadian Stage. The Director of Marketing and Communications will be responsible for building the capacity and the teams in the Marketing and Communications areas, and will work collaboratively with the senior leadership team to create strong and effective marketing strategies.
The Director of Marketing & Communications will build and manage the Canadian Stage brand and all aspects of marketing, communications, box office, and ticketing through the Canadian Stage Box Office to raise the organization’s awareness in the community, increase audiences, and drive earned revenues.
The ideal candidate will have a drive to build audiences for Canadian Stage from the GTA to maximize ticket sales, and marketing campaigns that drive earned revenues and visibility in the community. This is an exciting opportunity for a creative professional who can bring together their vision, experience, and passion for a wide range of artistic and community endeavors. The Director of Marketing & Communications will want to invest themselves in the success and growth of Canadian Stage and will find personal fulfillment in being part of an exciting future for the organization.
Director of Marketing & Communications Role and Responsibilities
The Director of Marketing and Communications is a key leadership role that drives the strategic vision and execution of marketing, audience development, and communications initiatives to build long-term audience loyalty, expand engagement, and grow earned revenue for Canadian Stage.
This position oversees all marketing and communications activities, with a focus on strengthening relationships with existing patrons, attracting new audiences, and promoting Canadian Stage’s productions and brand. Working closely with the senior leadership team, the Director will collaborate to align marketing strategies with the broader goals of the organization, including artistic programming, development, and institutional priorities.
The ideal candidate will have significant experience in arts marketing, with a proven track record of increasing audience loyalty and revenue through data-driven campaigns and strategic communication efforts. Knowledge of proven audience-building strategies will be an asset, as Canadian Stage is focused on leveraging best practices to foster deep, lasting connections with our patrons.
Key Responsibilities
Reporting to the Executive Director and the Artistic Director, the key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Strategy and Planning
- Develop and implement an overarching marketing and communications strategy for Canadian Stage that aligns with organizational goals, audience growth, and revenue targets.
- Lead the creation of compelling marketing campaigns for individual productions, as well as overarching season-wide initiatives, to reinforce Canadian Stage’s value proposition and strengthen brand presence.
- Collaborate with the Artistic Director and senior leadership team to ensure marketing efforts are closely aligned with artistic programming, institutional priorities, and brand messaging.
- Continuously analyze the competitive landscape to identify trends, opportunities, and emerging best practices to maintain Canadian Stage’s leadership in the arts sector.
- Design and refine integrated marketing strategies that target both new and existing patrons, focusing on compelling messaging across multiple channels (digital, print, media, etc.).
- Build strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including senior leadership, creative teams, and key community influencers, to ensure alignment and success in all marketing efforts.
Audience & Loyalty Growth
- Oversee and ensure the achievement of annual sales and attendance targets, ensuring Canadian Stage consistently meets or exceeds expectations for ticket sales, subscriptions, and audience engagement.
- Develop and implement audience segmentation strategies to drive targeted marketing efforts based on demographic, behavioral, and psychographic data.
- Monitor, analyze, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) related to audience retention, such as recency, frequency, and monetary value of patron interactions.
- Lead efforts to increase year-over-year (YOY) growth in subscription sales, renewals, and audience retention strategies, ensuring sustained engagement and repeat attendance.
- Develop and optimize customer loyalty programs, ensuring that subscribers and patrons are provided with personalized and meaningful engagement that fosters long-term relationships.
- Use CRM tools (Tessitura) to manage data insights and inform strategic decisions, driving marketing efforts that increase frequency and recency of patron attendance.
Revenue Optimization
- Lead the development and execution of strategies that maximize ticket sales and revenue, including pricing strategies, dynamic pricing, and promotions.
- Use data-driven insights to design and implement ticketing strategies that maximize earned revenue, including upselling (e.g., VIP experiences, premium seating), targeted discounts, and bundled offers.
- Drive initiatives to optimize revenue through add-ons such as donations, merchandise sales, and exclusive access to events or content, encouraging higher-value transactions per patron.
- Implement “nudging” techniques across digital platforms (website, email, social) to encourage desired customer behaviors, including early purchases, higher-value purchases, and renewals.
- Collaborate closely with the ticketing team to streamline purchasing processes, improve conversion rates, and enhance the overall customer experience.
- Analyze ticketing and sales data to identify new opportunities for revenue growth, adjusting marketing campaigns and pricing models as needed to achieve targets.
Partnerships & People
- Lead, inspire, and mentor a high-performing marketing team, setting clear goals and performance expectations, while fostering a collaborative environment that encourages professional growth and innovation.
- Cultivate and maintain relationships with external media partners, journalists, influencers, and organizations to maximize the reach and impact of Canadian Stage’s marketing campaigns.
- Identify and develop strategic partnerships with local businesses, sponsors, and community organizations to amplify marketing efforts, leverage co-marketing opportunities, and engage new audiences.
- Explore innovative partnership opportunities to enhance Canadian Stage’s visibility, reputation, and access to new audiences, while generating additional revenue streams.
- Ensure all external communications align with Canadian Stage’s mission and brand.
- Actively participate in key stakeholder meetings, ensuring that marketing and communications are fully integrated into the broader organizational and fundraising efforts, including board members.
- Promote a culture of collaboration, sharing insights, and encouraging team members to contribute ideas, feedback, and expertise to improve marketing initiatives continuously.
- Manage vendor relationships, including digital marketing agencies, designers, and other external partners, ensuring high-quality deliverables and adherence to timelines and budgets.
Administration and Oversight
- Oversee the marketing department and supervise the staff by setting clear expectations and ensuring their continuing growth and professional development.
- Influence and inspire others to act in an energetic, committed fashion in pursuit of a positive organizational culture.
- Ensure that the necessary organizational structure and guidelines are followed, and that policies, system controls, and procedures are in place and regularly reviewed for effectiveness.
- Prepare and monitor revenue and expense budgets; provide accurate reporting, analysis, and data integration; and oversee the maintenance and integrity of audience records.
- Guide a regular staff review and evaluation process that ensures the highest ethical standards in all departmental activities.
- Lead by example and mentor the marketing staff in utilizing available data and systems to analyze and document fundraising needs and opportunities.
- Ensure revenue goals are met, proactively identify potential shortfalls, and strategize creative options that lead to fulfillment.
- Prepare financial and statistical analysis of marketing initiatives and use this information to improve earned revenue activities.
- Project anticipated revenue and expenses for programs and review progress quarterly with the Executive Director.
- Assess current technology and refine marketing practices to ensure maximum efficiency and results.
- Embrace other administration and oversight roles and responsibilities as needed.
Qualifications:
- 10+ years of progressive experience in marketing and communications, ideally in a senior role within the arts, cultural, or entertainment sectors.
- Strong understanding of audience development strategies, particularly in the context of arts organizations and theatres.
- Proven ability to lead and manage a team, collaborating across departments to achieve shared goals.
- Expertise in digital marketing, including social media strategy, email campaigns, and website optimization.
- Strong analytical skills and experience with marketing data, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, and reporting tools with experience utilizing Tessitura an asset.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling narratives and deliver messaging across diverse platforms.
- A passion for the performing arts, with a deep understanding of the role of marketing in growing and sustaining audiences.
- A collaborative and flexible approach to leadership, able to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
- The ability to develop creative solutions and take a strategic approach to problem-solving.
- A commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of marketing and audience engagement
- The standard work week is Monday to Friday, with a minimum of two days per week in-office. Occasional evening and weekend hours will be required.
Traits and Characteristics
Collaborative, proactive, dynamic, self-motivated, detail and people-oriented, the Director of Marketing & Communications will be goal oriented and will possess exceptional time management, social and verbal communication skills and value frequent interaction and collaboration with others. The Director of Marketing & Communications will be an experienced professional with the vision to actively pursue the Canadian Stage’s goals with creativity and determination and will have a high degree of personal accountability – with a commitment to exceeding expectations.
The Director of Marketing & Communication will lead marketing strategies and will balance tasks and projects with a sense of urgency and possess superlative interpersonal and communication skills that articulate compelling verbal and written messages for support. A self-sufficient and self-managed professional with a highly organized strategic approach, the Director of Marketing & Communications will have the ability to achieve organizational objectives with artists, staff, board members, volunteers, and prospective supporters.
This individual will bring a passion for Canadian Stage’s vision, mission, and values, with the ability to bring those to reality, and a commitment to positively impact the organization’s long-term success.
Compensation
Canadian Stage offers a competitive compensation package with an annual salary of $120,000 – $135,000 commensurate with experience. Additional benefits include: annual vacation, participation in an extended health plan, and retirement benefits.
Application Instructions
The Canadian Stage Director of Marketing & Communication search is led by Martin Bragg, Nicola Dawes, and Nancy Webster of Martin Bragg & Associates. To apply in confidence, please email your letter of interest and resume in Word or PDF format to Martin Bragg & Associates at: canadianstage@mbassociates.ca
The deadline for application is 5:00 pm EST on Monday, July 28, 2025. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply and will receive an acknowledgement of their application. Preliminary interviews will begin immediately, and candidates are encouraged to apply early. No phone calls, please.
Canadian Stage is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace where all voices are valued. We deeply value diverse perspectives and encourage applications from qualified individuals from all cultures, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, and abilities. These experiences are essential to enriching our work and strengthening our community.
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