About – Inuit Art Foundation

As the only national organization dedicated to supporting Inuit artists working in all media and geographic areas, the Inuit Art Foundation (IAF) works to empower and support Inuit artists’ self-expression and self-determination while increasing the public's access to and awareness of artists’ work.

They provide emerging and established artists with the tools and programming they need to chart the course of their own careers. This includes training and mentorship opportunities, access to markets, cultivation of the next generation of Inuit arts writers and critics and help to access grant opportunities for visual and performing artists.

For over three decades, the IAF has published the award-winning Inuit Art Quarterly (IAQ), the only magazine in the world dedicated to circumpolar Indigenous artists, which ensures that Inuit voices are amplified and lead discussions of Inuit art. The IAF also offers a robust suite of artist support programs, including Kajungiqsaut Grants in partnership with the Canada Council for the Arts, the Kenojuak Ashevak Memorial Award, the Watt Scholarship, Developing Qanuqtuurniq: Artist Portal, Ilisarniq Series professional development workshops and much more.

Inuit Art Foundation Strategic Plan

The three key goals of the strategic plan are:

Artist Support

Artists are the centre of the Inuit art community and should be able to pursue their careers on their own terms, no matter their artistic discipline, career stage, age, location, gender, sexual orientation or fluency in different languages. The Inuit Art Foundation will work to ensure artists are empowered to choose their career paths with full knowledge of and access to options and opportunities.

Supporting a holistic ecosystem that nurtures and showcases artists

The Inuit art sector has traditionally been settler-led, and while many strides have been taken across the field to shift the balance of power back to Inuit, there is still much left to do. The Inuit Art Foundation will continue to support efforts to decolonize the sector’s structures and create an ecosystem intentionally designed to support Inuit agency. 

Stewardship

The Inuit Art Foundation must be agile and responsive to meet the evolving requests of artists and Inuit art communities. This also requires working to ensure its sustainability.

Click here to learn more about the Strategic Plan 2024-2028.

Click here to learn more about the Inuit Art Foundation.

The Role – Executive Director

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is a dynamic leader responsible for ensuring the organization’s consistent progress toward its mission while overseeing operational and financial objectives.

Collaborating with the Board, the Executive Director will shape the IAF's strategic vision and implement annual operational plans that align with the organization’s Strategic Plan. As a key representative of the IAF, the Executive Director builds and maintains strong relationships with stakeholders, fosters organizational sustainability, and champions the ongoing growth of Inuit art and artists.

Key Responsibilities 

• Act as the Publisher of the Inuit Art Quarterly magazine
• Ensure that the organization has a long-range strategy for achieving its mission, toward which it makes consistent and timely progress
• Provide leadership in developing program, organizational and financial plans with the Board of Directors and staff and carry out plans and policies authorized by the Board
• Maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in the field
• Establish sound working relationships and cooperative arrangements with community groups and organizations
• Represent the programs and point of view of the organization to agencies, organizations and the public
• See that the Board is kept fully informed on the condition of the organization and all important factors influencing it
• Encourage staff and volunteer development and education, and assist program staff in relating their specialized work to the total program of the organization
• Maintain a climate that attracts, keeps, and motivates a diverse staff of top-quality people
• Be responsible for developing and maintaining sound financial practices
• Ensure that adequate funds are available from diversified funding sources to permit the organization to carry out its work
• Ensure that the organization meets all of its regulatory requirements in Canada and the United States
• Jointly with the President of the Board, conduct official correspondence of the organization and jointly with designated officers, execute legal documents
• Uphold a strict level of confidentiality
• Attend both internal and external events, which involve domestic and international travel

The Candidate

The successful candidate for this role will have the following:

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Knowledge of the context the IAF works within, including Inuit artistic practice, Inuit culture and ways of being, international art trends and non-profit governance and regulatory requirements
• Understanding and awareness of Inuit and, more broadly, Indigenous/Northern lived experiences
• Experience in team leadership
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite of programs including Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Understanding of financial reporting
• Strong written communication and editing skills
• Professional, respectful, and effective communication skills
• Sound judgement, analytical and problem-solving skills

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or certificate in Arts, Business/Public Administration, or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and lived experience is an asset
• 5+ years’ experience working in a similar role, with experience working in an Indigenous organization or community considered a strong asset
• Experience in an arts organization is an asset

Other Qualifications

• Willing to participate in personal and professional development
• Ability to work and motivate others, fostering strong teamwork
• Ability to travel multiple times a year when required

To apply, please submit a Cover Letter and Resume, in PDF format, directly to Pathways Executive Search outlining your interest, qualifications, and experience to Applications@PathwaysExecutiveSearch.com

Pathways Executive Search is a national recruitment firm offering Indigenous-focused professional services. With a mission to make recruitment and career journeys less challenging and more equitable, Pathways is guided by Indigenous values and principles of Indigenous inclusion, which underscore the capacity to build an inclusive process for all racialized and equity-deserving professionals.