Centre A Board of Directors: Call for Members

October 2022 

Centre A (officially, the Vancouver International Centre for Contemporary Asian Art), is seeking a number of new Members to serve on its Board of Directors. We are committed to improving accessibility, equity, and inclusion throughout our organization, and interested individuals of all backgrounds are encouraged to consider this exciting opportunity to serve as creative citizens and ambassadors for the organization. Board Members are volunteer positions.

Centre A is seeking Board Members with one or more of the following areas of expertise: 

• Governance and Legal 
• Marketing and Communications 
• Sponsorship and Fundraising
• Facilities and Architecture
• Accounting and Financial Management 
• Stewardship and Outreach
• Risk Management

How to Apply:

If you believe that your skills and experiences align with Centre A and that you are a team player, please send 1) a statement of interest (maximum 1 page), 2) a short bio outlining your relevant expertise (maximum 75 words), and 3) a CV, to [email protected], by November 15, 2022.

We acknowledge the time and effort invested in each application, and thank you in advance for your interest; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

About Centre A: 

Centre A is a leading public art gallery currently situated in the heart of Vancouver’s Chinatown, on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. It is a registered charity and the only public art gallery in Canada dedicated to contemporary Asian and Asian-diasporic perspectives since 1999. 

Centre A is committed to providing a platform for engaging diverse communities through public access to the arts, creating mentorship opportunities for emerging artists and arts professionals, and stimulating critical dialogue through provocative exhibitions and innovative public programs that complicate understandings of migrant experiences and diasporic communities.

In addition to our exhibition space, we house a reading room with one of the best collections of Asian art books in the country, including the Finlayson Collection of Rare Asian Art Books. In these facilities and beyond, we rigorously engage in culture-making through research, curatorial engagement with artists, mentorship of emerging arts professionals, presentation of works, public dialogues and various forms of documentation.

Board of Directors Position Summary:

As a nonprofit public gallery, Centre A strives with the support of an active and engaged Board of Directors. Being on the Board, first and foremost, means believing in our organization’s mission, and pledging to contribute time, knowledge, skills, and good counsel.

1. Key Responsibilities: 

• Providing organizational leadership, planning, financial oversight, and strategic development; 
• Providing oversight and feedback to the Executive Director;
• Representing and championing the work of the organization;
• Assisting with fundraising, outreach, and expanding our donor base;

Serving as an Executive Officer (President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary) and/or chair a Board Committee (Governance, Finance and Risk Management, Human Resources, Development, and Facilities).

2. Expectations:

Board Members are expected to: 

• Be alert to community concerns that can be addressed by Centre A’s mission, objectives, and programs;
• Help communicate and promote Centre A’s mission and programs to the community;
• Participate in strategic planning processes to review purposes, programs, priorities, funding needs, and targets of achievement;
• Ensure financial responsibility by approving the annual budget and overseeing adherence to it;
• Activate personal and professional networks;
• Understand and uphold the policies and procedures of Centre A;
• Adhere to our code of ethics of transparency, open communications, non-discrimination, fairness, and global cooperation.

3. Key Qualifications

• Efficient communications skills;
• Capacity to contribute to Centre A;
• Critical and/or solution-oriented thinking skills;
• Fundraising and/or community-building experience.

4. Length of Term 

Board terms are two years, renewable at the end of each term at the Annual General Meeting.

5. Meetings & Time Commitment

• The Board of Directors meets monthly (with breaks in August and December), virtually or at the Centre A office, as required.
• Board Committees meet quarterly, monthly, or biweekly, depending on the committee and projects, as required.
• Each Board Member must participate in at least one Board Committee.
• Board Members are expected to partake in fundraising activities and other Board and organizational events, as required.
• The Executive Director occasionally emails requests for information/support. Directors are expected to reply in a timely mannerTime commitment is approximately 2 to 6 hours per month.

Diversity, Equity Access, and Inclusion

Centre A is located in Vancouver’s Chinatown on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. Centre A values diversity in the staff and leadership because it allows us to better understand and meet the needs of the communities we serve. It helps us foster greater creativity, breadth of experience, and personal growth among our Staff and Board, and it’s essential to our success as an organization. We are committed to equity and inclusion, and strongly encourage applications from members of underrepresented and marginalized groups, including but not limited to sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, and/or disability.

If you require assistance with submitting your application, please get in touch with us at +1 (604) 683-8326 or [email protected]

Contact

For any questions regarding Board duties, please contact: April Liu, Board President, at [email protected].