Job Posting
Executive Director SAVAC

About SAVAC

SAVAC (South Asian Visual Arts Centre) is the only non-profit, artist-run centre in Canada dedicated to increasing the visibility of culturally diverse artists by curating and exhibiting their work, providing mentorship, facilitating professional development and creating a community for our artists. SAVAC was founded to be an organization staffed by people of colour, committed to support the work of artists of colour.

We champion and provide a platform for artistic practices informed by cultural identity, explored through diverse mediums and aesthetics. We support work that addresses the ways histories of people of colour are represented alongside the story of ongoing imperialism and post-colonial contexts of the global south.

For 30+ years, SAVAC has operated without a gallery space as an explicit, political choice. Instead, as a means of pushing diversity mandates within the Canadian arts ecology beyond the minimum, we partner with galleries, institutions and museums to integrate artists and curators of colour into the curatorial and programming practices of those institutions. 

About the Position

We are seeking an Executive Director to lead the strategic and administrative direction of the organization, working closely with the Board of Directors. The ED carries out the mandate of SAVAC and has oversight of finances, staffing, strategy, marketing and communications and sectoral relationships, collaborating with a range of arts and community organizations to ensure its success and vitality. The ED serves on the Executive Committee of the Commons at 401, a collectively run, shared space initiative with 4 other arts organizations. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• General organizational oversight
• Manages and supervises a small team of professional staff
• Financial Management
• Artistic Vision Stewardship
• Hire, recruit, onboard and manage staff
• Fund development and grant-writing 
• Strategic Planning and implementation 
• Marketing and communications oversight
• Board relations
• Community and public relations
• Active of member of the Commons Executive Committee

Working Conditions and Location:

This position is a hybrid position working out of The Commons at 401 Richmond, or other sites, and remote work. The position is 30 hours per week. Weekend or evening hours will be required. Some travel within Canada and internationally. Light lifting may be required. 

About You

The successful candidate will have a combined in-depth knowledge of arts management, strong leadership and communication skills, and financial acumen. You have the experience to lead multiple simultaneous grant writing efforts and other funding development initiatives, understand and advocate for artist run centres, and are committed to the uplifting and professional development of racialized artists. You are passionate and knowledgeable about the South Asian arts eco-system (contemporary and historical), artists, and diasporic arts practices in Toronto, Canada, and internationally. You are able to lead a small team in a calm, compassionate, confident way that values collaboration, openness, and a healthy work culture. You are invested in maintaining the 401 Commons, a collectively run arts space in Toronto.

Qualifications: 

• Minimum 5 years experience in the non-profits arts sector, preferably in a management or leadership role
• Experience writing grants and proposals
• Experience managing budget and expenses, including working with a bookkeeper, managing an audit, CADAC, and knowledge of investments.
• Experience managing staff
• Strong and effective communicator in writing, presentations and in interpersonal communication
• Demonstrated experience in strategic thinking and implementation  
• Commitment to anti-racism, equity and accessibility principles and actions
• Understanding of the arts sector and the history and trajectory of South Asian arts nationally and internationally
• Knowledge of artist run culture in Canada

• Familiarity with non-profit governance 
• Creative problem solving
• Responsive to community 
• Flexible and adaptable
• Will maintain SAVAC’s alignment with, and advocacy for, PACBI
• Novice fluency with one or more South Asian language is an asset but not required

What SAVAC Offers

• Salary: $68,000 per annum 
• A benefits package
• Three weeks paid vacation 
• Flexibility to work hybrid
• Serves as an international leader in advocacy and professional development initiatives for racialized artists.
• As an artist run centre, flexibility to maintain your own artist practice is welcome as negotiated 
• The incoming Executive Director will receive a robust training and mentorship period with the outgoing ED and a number of other senior arts administrators. 

To Apply

This role is an existing position. Please send your resume and a maximum two-page cover letter, outlining how your skills, experience and interests align with this position, in one electronic file to: board@savac.net

Applications are due no later than Wednesday March 4, 2026, 5pm EST

Anticipated start date: April 2026

If you require an accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please contact us at board@savac.net. 

We thank all applicants for their interest in SAVAC, however based on the volume of applications received, we may only contact  those selected for an interview

Join SAVAC’s Board

Nomination Form
Deadline: February 17, 2026
Annual General Meeting: February 21, 2026 1:00-3:30PM ET on zoom.

The Board of Directors is responsible for the operation of SAVAC within the confines of the organization’s constitution, mandate, and established policies. In most cases, the Board will be assisted in carrying out responsibilities by staff. The Board works closely with the Executive Director on Strategic Planning, Projects and Programming; Recruiting and HR Administration; Budgeting and Finance; and Governance. The Board also acts as the employer of the Executive Director. Along with the Executive Director and staff, the Board is responsible for ensuring that the organization acts in the interests of its community.

Duties and responsibilities:

Strategic Planning, Projects and Programming

The Board is responsible for visioning and setting the goals of SAVAC for the year and evaluating our success in reaching those objectives at the end of planning and programming cycles.

The Board is responsible for attending and supporting projects and events. The planning and carrying out these activities is done in conjunction with the Artistic Director.

• Approve new definitions and changes to vision, mission, and values
• Review and approve plans for implementation of goals and objectives based on strategic plan
• Support the execution of events and programming as needed by the Artistic Director

Recruiting and Human Resources Administration

As employers, the Board is responsible for hiring and supervising staff, developing and updating staff job descriptions, and evaluating staff.

• Determine compensation of staff (refer to HR and Budget Committees)
• Hire staff
• Recruit board members
• HR Administration related to the role of ED (recruit, hire and set compensation for Executive Director; removal/Dismissal of ED; supervise or assign tasks to ED; performance evaluation of ED; settle grievances or disputes involving ED
• Approve Human Resources policies and procedures
• Approve decisions to fire, lay off, suspend or remove staff from positions with the advice of the ED

Budgeting and Finance

The Board is responsible for financial planning and for ensuring that money is properly spent and that appropriate records are kept. The board works with the Bookkeeper and Executive Director to ensure fiscal responsibility.

• Fundraising
• Donor Development
• Other fundraising activities (i.e. third party events, bequests)
• Sign cheques – recommended ED or designated staff and one board member sign
• Approve budgets, contracts, and new financial procedures and controls

Governance

• Write and update by-laws (current need to overhaul)
• Political or government advocacy
• Ensure that board policies are up-to- date and followed
• Ensure Board complies with by-laws
• Establish a system for periodic policy /procedure review

Board meetings

Meetings of the Board of Directors occur roughly 10 times per fiscal year and are normally approximately 2 hours in length. Additional time must be spent in preparation, reading minutes or other documents, developing your documents, developing your thoughts and completing tasks. The jobs of recording (minute-taking) and facilitation (leading discussion) are rotated among Board members in order to develop skills.

Tasks: 

• Agenda Setting
• Facilitation
• Timekeeping
• Board meeting minutes – current practice is voluntary

Board evaluation and performance (not applicable right now but may want to consider in future)

• Auto-evaluation
• Annual reporting to the community
• Exit Interviews for departing board members
• Plan and deliver board orientation

Speak to media on behalf of organization (depending on situation and context)

Plan the Annual General Meeting (Set agenda)

The Board Elections will take place at our Annual General Meeting. Annual General Meetings are held every calendar year. It is a valuable opportunity for reconnections between the board, staff and community, and provides an overview of the organizations present financial state, current and upcoming projects and events. Prospective board members who’ve sent in their nomination forms present their case as to why they have the experience, skillset and vision to become a board member. After the presentations, racialized people who are present at the AGM can vote for who they believe will be an appropriate representative. Elected board members serve a 2 year term. 

We accept international candidates if you’re available for online meetings during the afternoons and evenings ET. 

All nominees MUST be present online at the AGM on February 21, 2026 at 1- 3:30pm ET to be eligible.
(more details for AGM to come)  

Please complete the nomination form to apply. Deadline: February 17, 2026.