Call for Directors of the Board
YYZ ARTISTS OUTLET Board of Directors (Volunteer Position)

We are currently accepting applications to join YYZ Artists Outlet’s Board of Directors for a 3-year term.

YYZ Artists Outlet seeks energetic and committed collaborators to actively participate in the programming, strategic planning, and leadership of YYZ Artists Outlet as members of the Board of Directors. YYZ’s Board is comprised of individuals possessing a variety of perspectives, disciplines, skills and expertise. We are committed to reflecting diversity in our composition and encourage applications from individuals of indigenous and diverse cultural heritage, as well as individuals of non-binary gender identities and with different abilities. Currently, we are particularly interested in applications from individuals who shares a keen interest in art; however, are not necessarily arts professionals. Because we are seeking insight and input toward the development, execution and championing of a new strategic plan, candidates with experience in fundraising and fiscal management, promotions, program development and oversight, and other development activities required to guide our organizational mission are especially encouraged.

AUTHORITY and RESPONSIBILITY of BOARD MEMBERS:

The Board of Directors is the legal authority for YYZ Artists Outlet (YYZ). As a member of the Board, a Director acts in a position of trust for the community and is responsible for the effective governance of the organization.

YYZ’s Board meets monthly or bi-monthly depending on need. Estimated time commitment is 10-12 hours per month, including meetings, correspondence and individual tasks that support staff on a project-by-project basis.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Attend and participate in the scheduled Board and Programming Committee meetings;

Attend and support special events and YYZ functions;

Approve, where appropriate, policy and other recommendations received from the Board, its standing committees and YYZ management;

Monitor all Board and governance policies, review the Boards structure, approve changes and prepare the necessary bylaw amendments;

Participate in the development of YYZs annual programming and operating goals and objectives;

Approve YYZs annual budget;

Approve the hiring and release of YYZ senior management;

Actively participate in fundraising.

PREVIOUS BOARD/COMMITTEE EXPERIENCE:

Knowledge of local, national and international contemporary artistic practices;

Interest in volunteerism;

Good communication, management, delegation and follow-up skills;

Commitment to YYZs goals and mandate;

Available time to participate in Board and committee activities;

A YYZ member (or willingness to become a member);

WHO WE ARE

MISSION:

YYZ supports critical and experimental artistic practices through exhibitions, publishing, educational programs and the commissioning of new works. By prioritizing the agency of artists, YYZ provides a unique platform for building communities and advancement of culture.

VALUES:

YYZ is an artist-centric environment. We place the artist at the centre of all activities and advocate for fair remuneration, balanced representation, and creative freedom. YYZ fosters collaboration in both our internal operations and our programming activities. Internally, we act on consensus and encourage dialogue. Externally, we engage with other institutions and work closely with artists. YYZ promotes openness. We provide multiple entry points to YYZ and its activities and seek to reach and cultivate audiences locally and beyond.

EXPRESSIONS of INTEREST

YYZ Artists Outlet Board of Directors will consider expressions of interest on an ongoing basis until the position(s) are filled. Please send a (250-word maximum) statement of interest with CV to: bod@yyzartistsoutlet.org.

YYZ Artists Outlet 140-401 Richmond St. W. Toronto, ON M5V 3A8

Tel: 416-598-4546

decentre redux

Submission deadline: October 20, 2016

Presented in partnership with Onsite Gallery at OCAD University

PUBLIC TALK
October 20th, 2016
6:30pm-8:30pm
Room 284, 100 McCaul Street, Toronto
It’s been 8 years since the publication of YYZBOOK’s title decentre: concerning artist-run culture | propos de centres d’artistes where we published 103 short responses to questions examining artist-run culture and its environment. We would like to hear your opinions again in preparation for a public talk organized in partnership with Onsite Gallery at OCAD University to happen this October.

You can answer any or all of these questions:

1. What interests you most about artist-run culture today in 2016?
2. What is the most innovative public programme, exhibition or event you have seen lately in an artist-run centre?
3. What is the greatest challenge facing artists today within the artist-run milieu?
4. How can artist-run centres better assist current artists’ practices?
5. What are the failings of artist-run centres?
6. What is your best experience in an artist-run centre (as an exhibiting artist, patron or cultural worker)? You don’t have to mention the name of the centre.
7. What is your worst experience in an artist-run centre (as an exhibiting artist, patron or cultural worker)? You don’t have to mention the name of the centre.
8. How can we reinvent/redefine artist-run centres?

Please send your responses, along with a very short bio and url of your personal website, if available, to publish@yyzartistsoutlet.org by September 10, 2016. Responses will inform the discussion and will be included in a future publication.

YYZ thanks Vera Frenkel for suggesting this engagement as part of the work initiated by Onsite Gallery.

Onsite Gallery’s working group has provided ten Concrete Steps to Reinvent Publicly Funded Art Institutions as a possible institutional framework. Developed from workshops with community members in early 2016, the conversation was inspired by responses under the Twitter hashtag #museumsrespondtoferguson and, of course, many others who have invested much time, energy, and thought into this conversation over the years.

1. MAKE A PROMISE TO THE WORLD.

Change your mission and mandate to reflect your institution’s aim to contribute to the betterment of society. Reflect on who historically and currently decides what art is… and how value and excellence are placed.

2. TAKE A LESSON FROM HISTORY.

Understand the colonial and class systems through which museums and public galleries were formed and the resulting systemic barriers today.

3. INVEST IN A DIVERSE TEAM.

Get people of colour, ability, gender, sexuality, class and age on your staff, boards and as volunteers. Value that diversity creates excellence.

4. BE ACCOUNTABLE.

Review your programming and ask yourself if it reflects your community. Consider: cultural background, class, age, gender, ability, sexuality and different learning styles.

5. CHECK YOUR ATTITUDE.

Don’t just make room for diverse programming, understand that different types of people need to become the decision-makers in publicly funded art galleries for these institutions to improve and evolve into spaces not yet envisioned.

6. SPEAK DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.

Create different platforms for different types of people, ways of communicating and learning.

7. LOOK AROUND YOU.

Link public galleries and their exhibitions and events to grassroots community initiatives and diversity of the city or town. Make the local matter.

8. BE DYNAMIC.

Create public galleries as spaces for responding to current events as spaces beyond passive contemplation and reflecting.

9. BE A TEAM PLAYER.

Learn to work collaboratively, absorb and propagate the fact that decisions, project leads and input from diverse voices (from different realities) create better programming and institutional culture.

10. DON’T BE AFRAID OF TIME AND COMMITMENT.

Making publicly funded art institutions more accessible spaces will take time, discomfort and learning from failure.