News

Arts by the Sea is recruiting a new Board.

The festival is looking for a Chair and four Board members to create a new governance
model moving into the new funding period of 2023-2025.

Background

Arts by the Sea is Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole’s annual flagship cultural festival,
bringing exciting and unique performances, installations and participatory experiences to
residents and visitors alike. With a key focus on talent development, community
engagement and sustainability, the festival’s Mission is to:
provide inspirational and inclusive experiences, rooted in its location and reflecting its
communities through a celebration of art, culture, people and place.
The festival is delivered by BCP Council and funded by BCP Council and Arts Council England.

Your role on the Board

Arts by the Sea aims to improve the lives of local people by providing access to creative and
cultural activity. Within the team and in the work it presents, Arts by the Sea promotes an
inclusive and diverse environment where people from different perspectives and
backgrounds are encouraged and valued. In your role as an Arts by the Sea Board Member,
you will have a direct impact on the work the festival delivers and, on the lives, and
opportunities available to local people.

As Chair or as a Board Member you will provide strategic governance and oversight for the
festival, supporting and challenging the Executive team. This is a chance for you to shape
the future direction of the festival and have a tangible influence over the cultural offer of
the region. You will be involved in visioning and forward planning, monitoring the festival’s
progress, contributing to new partnerships and projects, and advocating for the festival at
local and regional levels.

Commitment

Board Members are expected to prepare for and attend a minimum of 3 out of 4 Board
meetings per year. The Chair is expected to attend and lead 4 Board meetings per year.
Time commitment is estimated at a minimum of 6 hours per quarter. There will be
additional mandatory training in equalities and sustainability. Meetings will take place either
in person or via Teams and a mutually convenient time will be found for all attendees. The
Chair role and Membership of the Board will last for the three-year funding period (April
2023 – March 2026). If Board Members would like to stand for the Chair role they have an
option to do so on an annual basis.

Board Member roles

Each Board Member will be aligned to one of Arts Council England’s four Investment
Principles and is expected to become a champion in that area:

• Ambition & Quality
• Dynamism
• Inclusivity & Relevance
• Environmental Responsibility

The Chair will have overall responsibility for championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. A
Vice Chair will be appointed from the four Board Members.
Skills and attributes required:

The festival is looking for Board Members with a diverse range of skills and experience in
such areas as:

• Experience working in the cultural sector and dealing with funders.
• Commercial experience and links to the local economy or business networks.
• Experience working with our local communities, particularly in under-served areas.
• Experience working with young people and in education.
• Passion for environmental sustainability and a commitment to advocating for
change.

Board members are expected to:

• Make a commitment to support the work and values of the Arts by the Sea festival.
• Demonstrate good independent judgement.
• Work as a member of a team and be willing to state personal convictions.
• Be willing to accept a majority decision and be tolerant of other people views.
• Show a commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity,
objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.

Applications to the Board from artists, freelancers and local creatives are welcomed. The
festival will pay particular attention to diversity and inclusion within the recruitment process
for the Board and aims to make the process and membership of the Board as accessible as
possible.

Expenses

All Board positions including the role of Chair are voluntary and unpaid. The festival can
cover reasonable expenses to allow Board Members to attend meetings. The festival is also
able to pay Freelancers a reasonable rate for their time.

How to apply

If you are interested in becoming a Board Member or Chair of the Board, please send an
email to Leigh Hayler (leigh.hayler@bcpcouncil.gov.uk) by Friday 24th March 2023
enclosing:

1. A completed Chair and Board Member Application Skills/ Experience Review form:

ABS Board Member Skills and Experience review.

2. A covering letter of no more than 2 pages with your CV, or a 3-minute video detailing
what interests you most about this role and what you could bring to it.
If you would like to discuss the role further, please contact Andrea Francis, Festival Director
at andrea.francis@bcpcouncil.gov.uk

Interviews will be held for the Chair role first, followed by interviews for Board members.
Dates to be arranged.