Artistic Director
Roles and Responsibilities:
Artistic Directors are mainly responsible for creating, developing and employing the artistic “vision” of the production company. They are also inconceivably involved in the development of making the production more aesthetically pleasing, often consulting with the Chief Administrative Officer. Sometimes these two roles are combined into one.
Other responsibilities include: hiring, and constantly checking on and helping other artistic members of the crew, e.g. the stage manager and performers; hiring and constantly helping technical directors, and other important people involved in the performance; developing an annual budget for the program; acting as a spokesperson during public appearances and/or fundraising events; directing some productions; reporting progress to the Board Of Directors regularly; helping make sure that rules are maintained; and creating relationships with other organisations, by participating in meetings and gatherings when suitable.
Employment:
Usually, artistic directors are employed on a long term basis for a specific production company, although sometimes they will be brought in to a specific performance, as they may be experienced in a certain field. Artistic directors for ballet companies are often retired dancers, unlike artistic directors in general theatre, who will usually not be experienced in performing. These directors are employed in: film and video businesses; TV; and generic theatres. Job opportunities in this field are quite poor, due to competition.
Training/Qualifications:
Although no specific training or qualification is required for this job, significant experience in this field, such as in choreography, directing plays, or script writing, is expected to become an artistic director. Useful subjects to have qualifications in include: English, Performing Arts, Film and Theatre Production, Classics, History, Music and