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Clay & Paper Theatre’s Founder and Artistic Director David Anderson recently traveled to Nairobi, where he taught workshops at the International School of Kenya, and spoke to a seminar of emerging Kenyan theatre artists. There, he was approached by the Puppetry Institute of Kenya, and the president of  UMIMA Kenya, to launch a collaborative project, dubbed Architecture XX project,  to create a new major work in puppetry to tour in Kenya, East Africa, and Canada.

Way to go, David!

JOB POSTING – ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Contract: As soon as available to November 30, 2012 with possibility for extension or renewal

Wage: $15/hour (30-32 hours/week)

About Clay & Paper Theatre: Clay & Paper Theatre creates, develops and performs multi-disciplinary, community-driven theatrical works using narrative theatre and large-scale puppetry in public spaces for large and diverse audiences. Clay & Paper Theatre produces plays, pageants and parades with the community, grounded in the idea that performance in public space is an act of cultural transformation. Our practice of building, rehearsing, and performing in full public view is an attempt on our part to “bring back the commons,” reunite art with the daily life of the community, and to make art accessible to all.

Job Description: Clay & Paper Theatre is seeking an Administrative Assistant to optimize our daily operations. The Administrative Assistant is the nerve centre of our theatre company and will ensure fluid communication between Clay & Paper Theatre’s production and administrative staff, be responsible for company logistics, contribute to the efficient day-to-day operations of the company, and support the work Clay & Paper Theatre staff and the company as a whole. This is an excellent opportunity for a recent graduate with exceptional administrative skill, and a passion for community-engaged public space theatre.

Duties and Responsibilities: The Administrative Assistant is responsible for all daily administrative tasks that allow Clay & Paper Theatre to function efficiently and effectively. The Administrative Assistant is required to perform a range of duties including, but not limited to:

• Coordinate and support Clay & Paper Theatre’s activities, which include: two community festivals, a summer show, workshops, and administrative and fundraising activities
• Ensure fluid communication between production and admin staff
• Coordinate volunteers
• Answer and direct phone and email inquires and respond to general information requests
• Update and maintain Clay & Paper Theatre’s information systems including data entry and filing of documents
• Book space rentals and organize logistics for groups and organizations renting space
• Schedule administrative meetings, prepare meeting agendas, and take minutes
• Sort incoming mail and prepare and send outgoing faxes, mail and packages
• Support the company’s financial management by preparing bank deposits, organizing invoices, and supporting the company’s bookkeeper
• Ensure that Clay & Paper Theatre has the necessary resources and office supplies for day-to-day operations
• Maintain and update company schedules and calendars
• Support fundraising activities on a needs basis (events, individual giving, grant support)
• Ensure the cleanliness of Clay & Paper Theatre’s offices and workshop
• Provide Administrative support to all staff
• Any other duties required to support Clay & Paper Theatre in its activities and operations
• Participate in artistic activities (learn to puppeteer, stilt-walk, perform) if you’d like to!

Qualifications/Characteristics:

• Degree, diploma or certificate in Arts Administration or equivalent work experience
• Experience in grass-roots not-for-profit arts organizations is an asset
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite. Experience with Simply Accounting an asset
• Ability to anticipate, understand, and respond to the needs of staff, clients, volunteers, and community members to meet or exceed their expectations
• Excellent organizational and time management skills including the capacity to prioritize tasks by assessing situations to determine urgency, the ability to develop a work plan, set goals, and to create, implement, and evaluate action plans
• Ability to work cooperatively and effectively with others to resolve problems, and make decisions to enhance organizational effectiveness
• Organized and detail oriented, able to process and manage large amounts of information
• Highly motivated and responsible, must be able to work independently and with a team
• Outgoing and personable, able to form positive relationships with a wide range of people
• Positive and helpful outlook, able to be flexible in response to changing working conditions and situations
• Able to take initiative, to propose, design and implement systems to enhance organizational  efficiency
• Ability to work in a creative and sometimes hectic work environment

Working at Clay & Paper Theatre:

• The Administrative Assistant will work from Clay & Paper Theatre’s offices currently located at 60 Atlantic Ave., soon to move to 35 Strachan Ave.
• The Administrative Assistant will work 30-32 hours/week, generally Monday through Friday, although weekend and evening work will be necessary at times to support productions, special events and fundraising activities.
• The Administrative Assistant will be entitled to either 2 weeks paid vacation or 4% vacation pay according to their preference.
• Occasional overtime may be required; compensation will be in the form of time off in lieu as negotiated
• As an outdoor public space theatre company, Clay & Paper Theatre’s staff roster changes substantially throughout the year. Clay & Paper Theatre’s work is accomplished by full-time, part-time, seasonal, and contract staff, as well as by interns and volunteers. The Administrative Assistant will work at times independently and at times as part of a large team and will need to be flexible to changing working conditions.
• Clay & Paper Theatre is an equal opportunity employer.

Please submit your resume and cover letter to clayandpaper@sympatico.ca by February 6^th. Please put ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT APPLICATION in the subject line. Interviews will take place between February 13^th and 24^th. Clay & Paper Theatre encourages applications from people of diverse backgrounds.

We thank you for your application, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Is City Hall the scariest thing you’ve seen this Halloween Season? Clay & Paper Theatre are tackling the subject in our 12th annual Night of Dread, featuring Service Cutbacks as our “Fear of the Year”. Through a series of workshops, Clay & Paper worked with the local community to select service cuts as the scariest thing happening in the GTA this year. To address community concerns, we have created a giant papier-mâché sculpture symbolizing government cutbacks (to be unveiled at Night of Dread) which will meet its fiery end in a cathartic spectacle.

The twelfth annual Night of Dread will parade our private and collective fears through the darkened streets of Toronto. Former years have featured fears such as: environmental contamination, war, hunger, big business and propaganda. The hour-long procession returns to Dufferin Grove Park for an evening of pagentry that compel us to call on, mock and banish the fears that unite and divide us in these tumultuous times. Night of Dread is an unforgettable evening of pageantry, music and masquerade incorporating towering puppets, stilt dancers, fire-spinners and fearful masks in a daring exploration of dread. This much-beloved community celebration incorporates international folk and theatrical traditions, drawing inspiration from festivals of death and remembrance around the world. Join us as we dance in the streets with our city’s finest musicians, puppeteers, dancers and stilt walkers; together we’ll laugh at our fears, waltz with death, eat the bread of the dead, and remember those who have gone from our midst.

This annual community parade and pageant will take place on the evening of Saturday, October 29th. Masks and puppets will be available for pick-up from 4 to 6 o’clock for those who wish to participate in the parade. At 6:15 the parade will begin its journey, eventually circling back to a park transformed for the evenings festivities.

Night of Dread community workshops are being held until Night of Dread:

Wednesday – Friday, 5-9PM