High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company, that handles the organization`s artistic direction. He or she is generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization. The artistic director of a theatre company is the individual with the over-arching artistic control of the theatre`s production choices, directorial choices, and overall artistic vision. In smaller theatres, the artistic director may be the founder of the theatre and the primary director of its plays. In larger non-profit theatres (often known in Canada and the United States as regional theatres) the artistic director may be appointed by the board of directors.