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Working at Freehold

Freehold is a highly collaborative work environment full of passionate professionals dedicated to broadening engagement, serving diverse audiences, and encouraging deep participation in the arts. 

“One can say a true artist is always ready to make any number of sacrifices in order to reach a moment of creativity. The mediocre artist prefers not to take risks, which is why he is conventional. Everything that is conventional, everything that is mediocre is linked to that fear.”  
– Peter Brook

Freehold was created as a safe place to practice what is not safe.  We ask our collaborators, students, board, audience, and extended community to practice risk in rehearsal and performance, in individual practice, and in collaboration.  We ask that they risk taking this art form seriously and risk believing that the theatrical event can be of consequence.

We are a community with a more than 30-year history of celebrating diversity of age, race, gender, economics, and physical ability. Freehold continues to increase its commitment to dismantle racism and increase accessibility. In our continuing effort to engage a broad spectrum of our community we encourage people from all communities to apply.

OPPORTUNITY
Freehold Theatre Lab/Studio seeks a strong, energetic, and inspired leader to partner with our Artistic Directors’ Circle, Gin Hammond, Robin Lynn Smith, and Annette Toutonghi, as a member of the organization’s executive team. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Managing Director leads all administrative activities of the organization. Effective stewardship of resources and a strong connection with and advocacy for the mission and vision of Freehold are essential traits of a successful Managing Director.

ABOUT US
Freehold engages people from all walks of life in cultivating the audacity of the human spirit through the practice of theatre. An inclusive creative haven since 1991, Freehold is a thriving collective of artists, teachers, and students collaborating to explore both the mind and the heart. Throughout our 25-year history we have encouraged participation by all people of all identities. Freehold continues to increase its commitment to dismantle racism and eliminate inherent white advantage, and we encourage people from all communities to apply.

Mission:
Freehold engages the artist in every human, through theatrical training, experimentation, and practice; to foster a deeper connection with themselves and with each other in pursuit of radical mutuality.

Vision:
We at Freehold believe that theatre should inspire people to embrace the full range of human experience and connect us more deeply in community. To accomplish this, we must create a space where all people of all identities will be welcomed, respected, and valued. The practice must be truthful, illuminate the unseen, and articulate the unspoken.

Values:
Artistic Excellence rooted in organic truth, juxtaposed with Radical Accessibility
Freehold’s Lab provides a forum for experimentation by professionals to challenge themselves to raise the bar artistically. The Lab has fostered award winning new plays, and re envisioned classics; and has expanded the horizons of the Seattle arts community by hosting collaborations between Seattle artists and internationally recognized theatre artists. The Freehold Faculty and collaborating Lab Artists bring an extraordinary depth of training and professional experience to their practice at Freehold; and are supported in their continued growth as artists. This is juxtaposed with Radical Accessibility: the commitment to make the practice available to the full spectrum of our community through our Studio and Engaged Theatre Program.

Equity and Inclusion
Freehold has continued to incorporate strategies that evolve this center for the practice of theatre to be genuinely more inclusive, more equitable, welcoming to all people of all identities and abilities, and actively anti racist. As an organization that believes in the power of art to shine a bright light on the terrible truths of our behavior; we are examining, honestly, our part in systemic bias, racism, injustice and inequity: wrongs we have perpetuated, and suffering we have caused. We’re participating in social justice advocacy with honesty, vulnerability, humility, empathy, and the courage to act. We have begun through shifting of practices, structures, policies, and people in curriculum, programming, production.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Managing Director position includes the following responsibilities. A successful candidate need not be experienced in all areas but must demonstrate an understanding of their importance in running a successful small non-profit arts organization. Applicants should discuss their skill gaps openly in their cover letter.

Financial Oversight and Administrative Management.
The Managing Director works with the Artistic Directors’ Circle and Board of Directors to craft and approve an annual budget in line with Freehold’s strategic plan. They supervise a part-time staff of three, and are responsible for hiring and staff development. They oversee payroll, and accounts payable and receivable. They prepare and present monthly financial statements and operational reports to the Board.

Business Development.
The Managing Director seeks and develops unrecognized opportunities for new or expanded earned income, in keeping with organizational capacity and Freehold’s strategic plan, mission, vision, and values.

Fundraising.
The Managing Director is responsible for fundraising strategy development, managing fundraising to an annual goal, and cultivating and sustaining our donor base. This includes maintaining positive donor relationships and finding new donors to increase contributed income. The Managing Director collaborates with staff to apply for and report on grant-based income.

Marketing and Communications.
The Managing Director is responsible for maintaining our brand image and to find new and effective ways to reach prospective students and audiences. The ability to increase Freehold’s brand recognition would be highly valuable.

Technology.
Freehold maintains a website to support our classes and studio spaces, manage donations, and support other business functions. The Managing Director is responsible for optimizing their use, and directing contracted technical assistance when needed.

Facilities.
The Managing Director oversees operations and maintenance of Freehold’s physical space, including our offices and studios. They are part of a team that provides after-hours, on-call coverage for programming in the space. 

Essential Skills/Interests
 Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills
A strong commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism in the arts
An open mind, creative spirit, and talent to lead and thrive in a multi-faceted, fast-paced company
Experience building and managing budgets
 Interest in leading, managing, and motivating a small staff of professionals
Interest in capacity and organizational building/planning
Interest in marketing and promotions within arts and/or educational organizations
Training, degree and/or relevant experience in arts management
Proficiency in the Google Office Suite and a working knowledge of Quick Books.
Fundraising, including individual-giving, grant writing, sponsorships, and other activities

Recommended Skills/interests:
Board of Directors communications/relations
Recruiting students and promoting enrollment in an educational setting
Digital marketing campaigns and website management
 Using customer relationship management (CRM) and project management software.

Freehold’s Managing Director is a full-time (40 hours/week), on-site, salaried position with full benefits. Compensation range is $55,000-$60,000 per year, depending on experience. Freehold is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees, job applicants, customers, and partners are treated with respect and dignity. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable laws. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and encourage individuals with disabilities or special needs to inform us of any accommodations they require during the recruitment and interview process. We will make every reasonable effort to accommodate such requests in a timely and respectful manner.

Applications should include detailed cover letter, a resume that includes an overview of relevant previous work and impact, volunteerism, education, and other experience, and three references, emailed to MDSearch@freeholdtheatre.org.

Position is open until filled with the intent that the new Managing Director will begin employment in early Summer of 2023.

Board Member 

We are seeking volunteer board members to support our small but mighty organization. Join us as Freehold Theatre Lab/Studio emerges stronger than ever from the pandemic:

  • offering high quality and accessible theatre training 
  • providing affordable rehearsal and performance spaces
  • expanding community connections
  • and cultivating an inclusive and diverse environment. 

Learn more here and apply via our Google FormQuestions? Email caroline@freeholdtheatre.org