Artistic Associate
Contract Position
Vertigo Theatre, Canada’s National Theatre for Intrigue and Mystery, is seeking an Artistic Associate for our 2025/26 season (September 2025 to June 2026). The chosen candidate will work closely with Artistic Director Jack Grinhaus to support the many needs of the artistic department of the season.
The Artistic Associate is an important supporting role that offers both mentorship and opportunities to emerging artists within the Calgary arts community who are looking to enhance their presence and knowledge within Vertigo’s genre-focused programming model. Recent Associates have gone on to grow into some of Alberta’s top theatre artists and include Jenna Rodgers (current AD at Concrete Theatre, Edmonton), KP Smith (Current AD at Verb Theatre, Calgary), and Katelyn Morishita.
Vertigo is seeking someone connected to Calgary’s emerging and established artistic communities, with some knowledge of the national arts community. This is an ideal position for an early career theatre artist with a background in theatre arts and production, who is looking for an opportunity to combine personal creativity with administrative, research, and communications skills. The successful candidate should be able to self-lead and have a strong interest in artistic creation and administration.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Representing Vertigo and liaising with performances/productions within the local theatre scene in Calgary, helping to build relationships with
new and seasoned artists in the community.
• Administrating and coordinating general and season-specific auditions for the 2026/27 50th Anniversary Season.
• Liaising with artists for new plays/works coming into the theatre.
• Reading and vetting submissions to the theatre.
• Coordinating Vertigo Mystery Radio and other activities involved with Vertigo’s Digital Studio and ancillary events (i.e. Spark After Dark).
• Assisting with the 50th Anniversary Season Planning for 2026/2027.
• Supporting season artists both visiting and from Calgary.
• Coordinating mentorship and training activities, including the creation of postings and contracts.
• Assisting with coordinating and hosting external and internal learning and outreach events as required (talkbacks, pre-show talks, student
matinees, behind the scenes events, etc.)
• Assisting in grant writing.
• Helping maintain historical data and script libraries for posterity.
• Other duties as required.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE:
• Post-secondary education in theatre and performance studies or equivalent experience.
• Experience in artistic management, play development, and community engagement.
• Good written and oral communications skills.
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:
• Creativity and passion for new ideas combined with a self-motivating attitude.
• A passion for live theatre and the performing arts and an understanding of current theatre practices and trends.
• Knowledge of the theatre history and ecology in Calgary and beyond.
• Enjoys working collaboratively.
• A strong work ethic.
• Excels in a fast-paced environment, who can be flexible with hours and times varying throughout the season.
• An outgoing personality who enjoys dealing with the public and artistic community.
REMUNERATION & SCHEDULE:
• The chosen candidate will receive wages between $20 and $23/hour for a maximum of 420 hours between Sept 2025 and June 2026. Some
weeks will have more hours and some less, dependent on the needs. It is expected that the chosen candidate will self-manage and balance
their times and submit time sheets weekly.
• Additional compensation opportunities deriving from the production of Vertigo Mystery Radio may be available.
• Candidates must be available to start in September 2025. Exact date to be negotiated.
• The schedule for this position is flexible within this time frame, to accommodate an artist who may already have existing commitments in the
current season.
• Opportunities to work/mentor/gain skills in other departments, based on candidate interest.
• Candidates may have access to company resources (rehearsal space, technical knowledge, etc.) to further personal artistic projects.
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested candidates should forward their resume and letter of interest to the Company Manager, Laura Couch, at [email protected] by June 18th at 11:59pm, with the subject line “Artistic Associate Application”.
Interviews will take place between June 24-July 3. Only selected candidates will be contacted. Preference will be given to those who consider themselves locals to Calgary.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Vertigo Theatre believes in its responsibility to both hire equitably and create work spaces where people are comfortable in a creation process, and can be themselves in every capacity. With this in mind, we encourage submissions from those who identify as Indigenous, Black, or POC as well as women, 2SLGBTQIA+, Disabled/People with Disabilities and/or Neuro-Divergent people.
*If there are any potential barriers (language, disability, or any other considerations) preventing you from applying, please let us know and we will work with you to find a suitable application process.
