Worcestershire Arts Partnership Blog

Friday, 9 December 2016

Worcestershire Arts Partnership - New Chair required

Worcestershire Arts Partnership is looking for a new Chair to take the organisation into the next stage of its development. Please see below advert and role responsibilities


ROLE DESCRIPTION

 
position:        Chair of Worcestershire Arts Partnership (WAP)

Tenure:          Three years

Salary:            Voluntary position


Responsibilities:

-       To be the key strategic lead of Worcestershire Arts Partnership (WAP), ensuring that the WAP Steering Group effectively drives and monitors the delivery of Worcestershire’s Arts Strategy ‘1000 Days’, 2016-2019

-       To be an ambassador and advocate for the Arts in Worcestershire, acting influentially to raise its profile with artists, funders and the public and being a spokesperson to the media and other bodies

-       To effectively chair and be fully involved in 4 meetings annually of the WAP Steering Group, plus preparation meetings.  (Members of the WAP Steering Group can be seen here: http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/wap)

-       To attend associated WAP events and meetings

-       To ensure that any dedicated budgets related to WAP are managed effectively and demonstrate value for money

-       To take an active interest in ensuring the sustainability of WAP into the long-term

-       To provide leadership for harmonious and effective working relationships between WAP members

-       To bring ideas, support and challenge to the WAP team (currently The County Arts Service, a WAP Development Manager and part-time Chairs of four sub-groups) and WAP network

-       To understand the role of non-arts representatives on WAP (such as from Health, Education, Economic organisations) and to work with the WAP team to strategically engage these sectors in the Arts

 

Skills required:

-       Drive and enthusiasm for threading high quality Arts into people’s lives

-       Substantial experience of working co-operatively with a broad range of people and organisations, and of working in partnership to make things happen

-       Ability to provide clear leadership and direction

-       Knowledge of the wider context for the arts in the UK

-       Authenticity and integrity

-       High level influencing skills with a range of people and organisations

-       Strong networking skills

-       Good, independent judgement, political impartiality and the ability to think creatively

-       Well-developed interpersonal skills, including tact and diplomacy, to achieve outcomes

-       Excellent communication and presentation skills

-       A commitment to equality of opportunity

 

Notes:

-       Worcestershire Arts Partnership (WAP) is an unincorporated association of people who work in, or have a professional interest in, the sustainability and development of the arts in Worcestershire.  It is an established network that operates county-wide.  It is not a separate legal entity, but is supported by the resource of the County Arts Service, part of Worcestershire County Council.

-       This is a voluntary position and does not constitute a contractual relationship

-       Administrative support for the role can be provided by the WAP team

-       You will be invited to attend a wide range of WAP events in this role, including day-time and evening events, but are not expected to be able to attend them all.



A new Chair for Worcestershire Arts Partnership

These are exciting times for the Arts in Worcestershire, home to a strong mix of independent artists and arts organisations, arts venues, festivals and galleries, and which welcomes a breadth of art forms including visual arts, performing arts, music, literature, dance and many more.  Some of the best arts projects in the county have been collaborative ventures, involving the arts and non-arts sectors in coming together to create an exciting and vibrant offer for Worcestershire’s communities and visitors.

But there are challenges too – providing artists with the skills to be resilient in the face of reduced public funding; encouraging arts graduates to stay in the county; diversifying the arts scene; shouting louder about the role the arts can play and ensuring the arts can contribute further to people’s health and wellbeing, young people’s life chances and the economy.

Worcestershire Arts Partnership (WAP) is at the heart of enabling positive artistic collaborations and responding to the challenges. 

WAP brings organisations together to champion the arts in the county and to create a more sustainable future for the sector. It has made significant progress since its formation in 2009.  It now has over 500 followers on social media and 80 members who attend events and networking meetings.

 

Led by a Steering Group of influential partner organisations, WAP has a small number of sub-groups who carry out innovative and exciting collaborative projects on cross-cutting subjects, bringing the arts to people across the county.

 

In 2017, WAP will formally launch its new 3 year Arts Strategy for Worcestershire, ‘1000 Days’, as well review its own structure and delivery mechanisms.  To coincide with this, it is seeking a new Chair. 

 

Are you interested in this exciting and influential leadership role?

 

We are looking for someone with

-       Drive and enthusiasm for threading high quality Arts into people’s lives

-       A reputation for objectivity, authenticity, integrity, tact and diplomacy

-       Leadership and influencing skills

-       Strong networking skills

 

You would be able to advocate for the Arts in Worcestershire at a senior level, raising its profile amongst artists, the public and funders.  You would be expected to chair four Steering Group meetings annually and to input your own ideas, challenge and support to the team who make Worcestershire Arts Partnership happen on the ground. 

To apply for this voluntary role, please send a CV and brief covering letter explaining your suitability for the position (with reference to the Role Description) by 4pm on Friday 3rd February 2017 to

Steve Wilson, County Arts Officer, Worcestershire County Council via email swilson@worcestershire.gov.uk.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Steve Wilson on email or on 01905 845754. 

The current Chair of WAP, Judith Elkin, is also happy to be contacted for an informal discussion about her perception of the role.  Her contact details are j.elkin@worc.ac.uk

Interviews will be held between 8th and 17th February 2017 with a panel drawn from the WAP Steering Group.
 




 

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