Call for Applications: Mentorship in Artistic Production (MAP)

Deadline to Apply: October 3rd, 2022 at 5pm EST

The deadline has now passed.

Continuum is seeking two passionate, imaginative, and collaborative early-career artists to join our team as Artistic Producers through the 22-23 and 23-24 Seasons as part of our inaugural Mentorship in Artistic Production (MAP) project.

The Artistic Producers will develop a concert program to be presented in Continuum’s 23-24 Season. The project will explore a collaborative approach to curation; over two seasons, the producers will learn about Continuum’s processes and engage in ongoing conversations informed by each artists’ interests, questions, and perspectives on the evolving practice of contemporary chamber music today. Through this exchange of ideas, the producers will work toward the shared goal of developing a co-curated program informed by each artists’ vision.

The selected applicants will each receive a fee of $2000 ($1000 per season), access to a concert budget, and ongoing support from Continuum’s Artistic Director and Operations Manager.

Goals

The Artistic Producer positions aim to provide leadership opportunities within the Toronto contemporary chamber music community, offering both professional programming and arts management experience within a supportive environment. Designed with a collaborative approach in mind, the goal is also to create a space for an exchange of ideas and expand artistic perspectives.

What to Expect

The Artistic Producers will:

  • Develop a concert program to be presented in the 23-24 Season;
  • Engage in regular Zoom meetings to discuss ongoing program development and gain familiarity with Continuum’s processes. These meetings will be adapted to address the questions and areas of interest of the successful candidates; 
  • Work with Continuum’s Artistic Director on artistic elements of the concert, including contracting musicians and scheduling;
  • Work with Continuum’s Operations Manager on production elements of the concert, including budgeting, logistics, and marketing;
  • Attend Continuum rehearsals and concerts as available;
  • Interview artists programmed through this project for Continuum’s Press Play online series.

The Artistic Producers can expect to work approximately 40 hours over the course of each season. While this time is flexible, an approximate breakdown of work would be:

  • 20 hrs: Artistic planning
  • 10 hrs: Team meetings, knowledge sharing and discussion of topics of interest
  • 5 hrs: Attendance at Continuum rehearsals
  • 5 hrs: Email communication with artists and stakeholders

The first season will be oriented towards planning and gaining a deeper knowledge of our organization and practices, while the second season will have greater focus on event planning and logistics.

Eligibility

The Artistic Producer positions are designed for early-career artists residing in Canada through 2024 who are seeking leadership opportunities within the context of contemporary chamber music. This role is ideal for those who:

  • wish to gain experience in concert programming, production, and project management in support of their artistic practice and/or professional development;
  • are currently considering or developing an approach to artistic programming;
  • would benefit from working directly with Continuum’s Artistic Director and Operations Manager to gain a deeper understanding of the day-to-day work of an arts organization;
  • have a strong interest in contemporary chamber music.

We seek two candidates with varied practices and perspectives who also demonstrate an openness to working with and learning from others. 

Selection Process and Timeline

A jury will review the submitted applications and determine a shortlist of candidates to be contacted for a Zoom interview. Members of the jury are Sanjeet Takhar, Artistic Director of The Music Gallery; Juliet Palmer, Artistic Director of Urbanvessel; Ryan Scott, Artistic Director of Continuum; and Christina Volpini, Continuum’s Operations Manager.

October 3: Applications Close

October 17-21: Interviews with short-listed candidates via Zoom

November 1: Notification of Results

Application Guidelines

As program development will be a part of the role, we ask that candidates do not submit completed programming proposals. Instead, candidates will be asked to submit a C.V. and a statement of interest.

Curriculum Vitae: 2 page maximum, PDF

Highlight your leadership roles within the arts (professional or volunteer experience in concert/event production, arts administration, curation, etc.) as well as your artistic practice.

Statement of Interest: 2500 character/500 word max.

Please address the following:

  • What interests you musically, particularly in the area of contemporary chamber music? What informs your curatorial practices or themes?
  • Tell us about your experience in programming or project management (This can include your own artistic practice and projects). What skills, knowledge, or lived experience would you wish to share in the Artistic Producer role?
  • What aspects of programming, production, or arts administration would you be most interested in learning more about? Speak to any specific personal, artistic, and professional goals that you would like to work towards in this role.
  • What are the questions, conversations, and launching off-points you wish to further explore through this program? In what ways do these play a role in the practice of contemporary chamber music today?

Applicants may explore Continuum’s Online Archive or YouTube channel to gain greater familiarity with Continuum’s past concert programs.


Continuum shares responsibility in fostering an equitable, diverse and inclusive contemporary music community. We encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to equity. Please be in touch if you wish to discuss adaptations that would remove barriers to applying or participating in this opportunity.

Should you have questions related to the program, please email Operations Manager Christina Volpini at christina@continuummusic.ca