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- Tasks: Lead a vibrant cultural programme, building relationships and co-designing creative initiatives with the community.
- Company: Join Arts Trust and partner with local organisations to shape culture in Tendring.
- Benefits: Opportunity to make a real impact and develop your leadership skills in a creative environment.
- Why this job: Be a key player in making creativity accessible and relevant for everyone in Tendring.
- Qualifications: Experience in strategy, production, and community engagement is essential.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal growth and community connection.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Creative Tendring is a new, district-wide cultural programme for Tendring. It is an invitation to make creativity feel closer, more relevant and more welcoming, not something reserved for certain people or certain places, but something you can encounter in everyday life and be part of shaping.
We are recruiting a Programme Director to lead the programme over its first three years. This role starts with a development phase: building deep relationships, listening widely, and co-designing a long-term cultural vision with communities across Tendring. You will then deliver the plan they help create, turning shared priorities into high-quality cultural activity on the ground.
THE ROLE
The Programme Director will be the founding lead for Creative Tendring. You will guide the programme from early-stage set-up into confident delivery, ensuring it is resident-powered, creatively bold, operationally strong and publicly accountable. You will work across Tendring's towns, coastal communities and rural villages, helping more people experience, make and shape culture in the places they already spend time.
This role is equal parts strategist, producer and relationship-builder. In the first phase, you will prioritise time on the ground: listening, meeting people, mapping local energy and building trust. You will translate what you learn into a clear plan for action, identifying the first focus areas, setting up community-led decision-making structures and co-developing the three-year business plan, programme approach and measures of success.
Across the programme, you will grow partnerships, support artists and residents to collaborate, and shape activity that ranges from neighbourhood work in everyday spaces to larger public moments, including connecting with existing local festival infrastructure and building towards a major town-centre activation in Clacton.
As Creative Tendring is a major action research initiative, learning and evaluation will sit at the heart of the work: using insight to improve practice, remove barriers to participation, and evidence impact over time.
WHO YOU'LL WORK WITH
Creative Tendring is hosted by Arts Trust and developed in partnership with a consortium of civic, voluntary and cultural partners: Tendring District Council, Community Voluntary Services Tendring (CVST) and Harwich Arts & Heritage Centre. While hosted by Arts Trust, Creative Tendring operates as a distinct, arm's-length programme with its own identity and governance. The Programme Director will be the key connector between communities, partners, the host organisation and Arts Council England.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply, please:
- Download the Recruitment Pack Here
- Send Your CV (max 2 pages)
- Send a cover letter (max 2 pages) outlining how your skills and experience match the role and your vision for Creative Tendring
- We also accept applications by voice note or film (uploaded privately to YouTube/Vimeo)
- Please complete an equal opportunities monitoring form via this link: https://uk.culturecounts.cc/s/7NbnQN
Applications should be sent to hello@artstrust.co.uk with the subject line: Your Name: Programme Director Creative Tendring
Deadline: 6 February 2026, 5pm
Interviews: 27 February 2026, Tendring District Town Hall, Clacton-on-Sea
For an informal conversation about the role, please contact hr@artstrust.co.uk
Programme Director - Creative Tendring in Clacton-on-Sea employer: Arts Trust Productions
Contact Detail:
Arts Trust Productions Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Programme Director - Creative Tendring in Clacton-on-Sea
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the community! Spend time in Tendring, meet locals, and understand their needs. This will not only help you build relationships but also give you insights that can shape your approach as Programme Director.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion for creativity! When you’re networking or chatting with potential partners, let your enthusiasm shine through. People are drawn to those who genuinely care about making a difference in their community.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive in seeking collaborations. Reach out to local artists, organisations, and community groups. Building these partnerships early on will be crucial for the success of Creative Tendring and will demonstrate your commitment to co-designing the programme.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing creative approaches, so feel free to showcase your unique style in your cover letter or video!
We think you need these skills to ace Programme Director - Creative Tendring in Clacton-on-Sea
Some tips for your application 🫡
Get to Know Creative Tendring: Before you start writing, take some time to really understand what Creative Tendring is all about. Dive into the programme's vision and values so you can tailor your application to show how you fit in with our mission.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Make it personal and engaging. Share your vision for Creative Tendring and how your skills align with the role. Remember, we want to see your passion for creativity and community!
Keep It Concise and Relevant: When it comes to your CV and cover letter, less is often more. Stick to the point and highlight the experiences that are most relevant to the Programme Director role. We’re looking for clarity and impact!
Show Your Personality: Whether you choose to apply via CV, cover letter, voice note, or film, let your personality shine through. We want to get a sense of who you are and how you’ll connect with the communities in Tendring. Don’t be afraid to be yourself!
How to prepare for a job interview at Arts Trust Productions
✨Know Your Community
Before the interview, dive deep into the communities of Tendring. Understand their unique cultural dynamics and what makes them tick. This will help you demonstrate your commitment to building relationships and co-designing a vision that resonates with local residents.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
Prepare to discuss how you would translate community insights into actionable plans. Think about specific examples from your past where you've successfully developed and delivered cultural programmes. This will show that you can think strategically while being grounded in community needs.
✨Emphasise Collaboration Skills
Highlight your experience in building partnerships and working collaboratively with diverse stakeholders. Be ready to share stories of how you've fostered trust and cooperation among different groups, as this role is all about connecting communities and partners.
✨Be Ready for Creative Problem-Solving
Expect questions that assess your ability to tackle challenges creatively. Think of examples where you've removed barriers to participation or innovatively engaged communities. This will showcase your ability to lead a bold and resident-powered programme.
