At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a passionate team in shaping the future of arts and culture.
- Company: Activate Performing Arts, a vibrant charity dedicated to community engagement through the arts.
- Benefits: Voluntary role with expenses covered, plus the chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Flexible hybrid working with opportunities for personal growth and networking.
- Why this job: Be a key player in promoting creativity and inclusivity in the arts.
- Qualifications: Experience as a trustee and a passion for arts and community engagement.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Activate Performing Arts (Activate) is a 35-year-old arts charity that brings contemporary performance to communities and landscapes across Dorset, the UK and Europe. Activate is known for its free-to-access outdoor arts, festivals and touring work, driven by a belief in creativity as a public good, connecting people, place and artistic expression.
With a strong commitment to access, equity, environmental responsibility and artistic ambition, Activate is entering an important period of evolution. The organisation is looking ahead to its next phase of development, including shaping a new 3–5-year strategy and preparing for its next Arts Council England National Portfolio application.
Activate is now seeking a new Chair of Trustees to provide thoughtful, inclusive leadership to the Board and support the Artistic & Executive Director as the organisation builds on its achievements and strengthens its future direction. Working closely with the Artistic & Executive Director, trustees and wider stakeholders, the Chair will help ensure Activate remains creative, resilient, well-governed and ambitious in its impact.
As Chair, you will play a key role in guiding strategic discussion, supporting good governance, encouraging meaningful contribution from trustees and acting as an ambassador for Activate. You will champion the organisation’s work and support Activate to enhance its visibility, partnerships and long-term sustainability.
To succeed in this role, you’ll bring:
- Prior experience as a trustee, with a strong understanding of good governance and effective Boards
- Strong alignment with Activate’s values around free and low-cost access, equity, diversity and inclusion, landscape and nature, and environmental responsibility
- A strategic outlook and the ability to support values-led organisational development, growth and innovation
- A fundraising mindset and an understanding of the wider funding landscape
- A passion for the arts, ideally the performing arts, festivals, outdoor arts, landscape-based practice or nature-based creativity
Term: 3-year term, renewable
Remuneration: Voluntary, with expenses reimbursed
Location: Hybrid, with some travel to Dorset for key meetings and events
We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, or any other category protected by law. Charisma is committed to inclusive and accessible recruitment processes. If you have any reasonable adjustments, please confirm in your application, or contact our Operations Team.
Chair of Trustees in Weymouth employer: Activate
Activate Performing Arts is an exceptional employer that champions creativity and inclusivity, making a significant impact in the arts community across Dorset and beyond. With a strong commitment to access and environmental responsibility, Activate offers a collaborative work culture where trustees can contribute meaningfully to strategic growth and governance while enjoying the flexibility of hybrid working arrangements. This role not only allows for personal and professional growth but also provides the unique opportunity to lead an organisation dedicated to enhancing cultural advocacy and community engagement.
