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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, work collaboratively, and develop your leadership skills.
- Why this job: Be a key player in making creativity accessible and relevant for everyone in Tendring.
- Qualifications: Experience in cultural programming, strong relationship-building skills, and a passion for community engagement.
- Other info: Dynamic role with a focus on community-led decision-making and innovative cultural activities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
Creative Tendring is a new, district-wide cultural programme for Tendring. It’s 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’ll guide the programme from early‑stage set‑up into confident delivery, ensuring it is resident‑powered, creatively bold, operationally strong and publicly accountable. You’ll 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’ll 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 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
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the community! Spend time in Tendring, chat with locals, and understand their needs. This will not only help you build relationships but also give you insights that can shape your vision for Creative Tendring.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your creativity! When you’re networking or meeting potential partners, don’t just talk about your experience—share your ideas for cultural activities. This will demonstrate your passion and commitment to making creativity accessible for everyone.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive in building partnerships. Reach out to local artists, community groups, and organisations. Collaborating with them will not only strengthen your proposal but also show that you’re serious about co-designing a cultural vision.
✨Tip Number 4
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 express yourself in your cover letter or even through a voice note or film!
We think you need these skills to ace Programme Director - Creative Tendring
Some tips for your application 🫡
Get to Know Creative Tendring: Before you start writing, take a moment to really understand what Creative Tendring is all about. Dive into the programme's vision and values, so you can reflect that in your application. We want to see your passion for making creativity accessible to everyone!
Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter: Make sure your CV and cover letter are tailored specifically for this role. Highlight your experience in community engagement, cultural programming, and relationship-building. We’re looking for someone who can connect with diverse communities, so show us how you've done that before!
Show Your Vision: In your cover letter, don’t just list your skills—share your vision for Creative Tendring! We want to know how you plan to make creativity feel closer and more relevant to the people of Tendring. Be bold and creative in your ideas!
Keep It Professional but Personal: While we love a professional tone, don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. We’re looking for someone who can build relationships, so a touch of warmth and authenticity in your application will go a long way. And remember, apply through our website for the best chance!
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 experiences where you've successfully led similar initiatives, and be ready to share your vision for Creative Tendring's first three years.
✨Emphasise Collaboration Skills
As a Programme Director, you'll need to work with various partners and stakeholders. Be prepared to talk about your experience in fostering collaboration and how you plan to engage artists and residents in shaping cultural activities across Tendring.
✨Highlight Your Evaluation Approach
Since this role involves action research, be ready to discuss how you would implement learning and evaluation processes. Share any methods you've used in the past to measure impact and improve practices, showing that you're committed to making a difference.
