Clayco Future Leaders Fellowship Program Opera Theatre of Saint Louis

Description

Opera Theatre of Saint Louis is looking for the next cohort of Fellows for the 2023-2024 Clayco Future Leaders Fellowship program. This program supports and cultivates BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color) future arts leaders and administrators. OTSL’s Clayco Fellows each serve in a full-time position specializing in one area while gaining knowledge and in-depth experience in a range of essential functions across the organization, including artistic administration, fundraising, marketing, audience cultivation, and business administration.

Through this fellowship, Opera Theatre seeks to introduce a diverse group of young professionals to the issues, challenges, and rewards of running an arts organization, whereby developing successful arts administrators who represent the diversity of our communities and who will add to the vibrant future of the opera field.

The 2023-2024 Fellowship program will begin in late November and conclude late August 2024. Applications are now open – please note that all submissions must be received no later than August 11, 2023.

*Note: We use the term BIPOC to mean that we seek to serve individuals of color who identify as: Black/African/African American, Afro Latino/a/x, Caribbean, Chicano/a/x, Mexican, Central American, South American, Middle Eastern/North African, Indigenous Peoples, Southeast Asian/Asian, Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian, Native Alaskan.

We recognize that these descriptions and this language is ever-evolving and will always be inadequate. If this description resonates with you, we invite you to apply.

The Clayco Future Leaders Fellowship is possible thanks to a generous three-year commitment from Clayco and Bob & Jane Clark.

Company Bio: Opera Theatre of Saint Louis

Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (OTSL) is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization known for innovative productions featuring outstanding young artists. The company offers a festival opera season each spring which attracts ticket buyers from zip codes throughout the metropolitan area, as well as visitors from nearly 50 states and multiple countries. As of the 2023 Festival Season, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis has presented 37 world premieres and 28 American premieres, which may be the highest percentage of new work in the repertory of any American company. In addition to the spring Festival Season, Opera Theatre operates year-round education and community programs serving nearly 17,000 local children and adults.

Opera Theatre of Saint Louis has a year-round artistic and administrative staff of approximately 40, which grows to approximately 500 during the Festival Season. Several hundred volunteer members of the Opera Theatre Guild provide support for all aspects of Opera Theatre’s work and advocate for the company throughout the greater St. Louis community. The company’s annual budget size is approximately $12 million; contributed revenue represents more than 50% of budget.

Responsibilities

Three fellows will be chosen for the 2023-2024 class, one in each of the following positions:

Production

As a member of the Production & Operations Department, the Production Fellow will take on a critical support role for the department assisting with the preparation of production elements for multiple projects, planning, budget tracking, purchasing, as well as production staff support services.

Includes areas of focus and learning such as: project management, designer hospitality, reading and analyzing designs, budget reporting, product research and purchasing, contracting, recruitment, union relations, scheduling, timesheet review, coordinating activities for educational programs.

Marketing

Working with Opera Theatre’s Marketing & PR Department, the Marketing Fellow will support OTSL’s audience building activities and sales campaigns across the Festival Season and other year-round programming.

Includes areas of focus and learning such as: marketing campaign planning, copywriting across a variety of advertising and communications mediums, graphic and video design using the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, e-mail marketing, social media and influencer marketing, website maintenance, community event support, and Tessitura database analysis.

Administration

Working as a vital member of the Administration & Finance Department, the Administration Fellow will support the business management of the organization, in addition to partnering with various departments across the organization, such as the office of the General Director, Education Department, and the Finance team.

Areas of focus and learning include: budgeting; HR policies and procedures; financial strategy; MIP accounting system; data management, analysis, and reporting; community engagement and learning events; constituent relations (working with board members, committee volunteers, and VIPs visiting the Festival Season), and strategic planning.

Qualifications / Requirements

Eligibility:

  • Eligible candidates must have completed at least two years of college level work or have equivalent experience in arts or arts-related work (administration, performance, or other related experience).
  • Candidates may be aspiring or early career administrators or those transitioning from performance into administration.
  • Strong candidates will have a passion for the performing arts. They will be self-motivated, balance multiple responsibilities effectively, and demonstrate strong communicate skills that will allow them to interact with artists, donors, volunteers, board members, and staff in a range of professional situations.

All Fellows receive:

Full-time salary of $750 per week plus benefits
Relocation reimbursement (up to a fixed amount)
Monthly transportation stipend
Professional development
Mentorship

All candidates must complete the online application which includes submitting a resume, cover letter explaining their interest in the program, contact information for at least two (2) references, a personal statement of no more than 500 words, and a brief video response to a question.

Applications will be reviewed, and interviews will take place this summer. Successful candidates will be notified in late September 2023.

For more information about the selection process and to apply, please visit
ExperienceOpera.org/Fellowship

For questions, email us at fellowship@opera-stl.org