At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead cultural initiatives and provide strategic guidance for Lancaster Arts and the Peter Scott Gallery.
- Company: Lancaster Arts, a dynamic arts organisation supported by Lancaster University.
- Benefits: Opportunity to shape cultural leadership and engage with diverse communities.
- Other info: Inclusive recruitment process encouraging applications from diverse backgrounds.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the arts and champion social and environmental justice.
- Qualifications: Strong leadership experience in the cultural sector and excellent communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Two Chair opportunities – cultural leadership, strategic insight, governance, advocacy, and collection development.
Lancaster Arts is a dynamic and ambitious combined arts organisation, embedded within Lancaster University and supported as an Arts Council England NPO. Its programme spans contemporary performance, music, visual art, commissions, artist residencies, Creative Gatherings and public programmes across the Nuffield Theatre, the Great Hall, the Peter Scott Gallery, campus spaces and locations across the wider region. Lancaster Arts has a long-established reputation for the creation, development and presentation of cutting-edge contemporary arts. Its work brings together artists, researchers, students, communities and audiences through programmes that are socially engaged, internationally relevant and rooted in a commitment to social and environmental justice.
Lancaster Arts is now seeking to appoint two exceptional Chairs to support the next phase of its development:
- Chair of the Lancaster Arts Board
The Lancaster Arts Board is an Advisory Board providing strategic guidance, advocacy and critical support. The Chair will work closely with the Director, Vice-Chair and Board members to help guide Lancaster Arts’ strategic priorities, champion its values and strengthen its visibility, profile and connections across Lancaster University, the cultural sector and civic life.
- Chair of the Peter Scott Gallery Charitable Trust
The Peter Scott Gallery Charitable Trust is the registered charity responsible for the Peter Scott Gallery, a distinctive and valued part of Lancaster Arts and Lancaster University. The Gallery is an Accredited Museum and holds a rich and varied collection spanning thousands of years, from ancient Egypt and Greece to contemporary art, including works by major artists such as Barbara Hepworth, L. S. Lowry and Terry Frost. The Chair of the Trust will provide thoughtful leadership, uphold strong governance, support financial resilience and act as an ambassador for the Gallery and its ambitions. Working closely with the Curator, Director of Lancaster Arts, fellow Trustees, Lancaster Arts Board and university colleagues, the Chair will help ensure the Trust continues to thrive and that the collection is developed, interpreted and shared with ambition and care.
To succeed in either role, you’ll bring:
- A strong track record of leadership in the cultural sector or a closely related field
- A strategic outlook and the ability to convene diverse stakeholders across the arts, Higher Education, civic life and cultural relationships
- Skilled facilitation and communication, with the confidence to support inclusive, purposeful and mutually supportive Board discussion
For the Chair of the Peter Scott Gallery Charitable Trust, prior experience as a Trustee is particularly important, ideally with experience of chairing Boards, committees, meetings or events. You will also share Lancaster Arts’ commitment to inclusion, environmental responsibility and socially engaged arts practice, and bring the credibility, networks and enthusiasm to act as an ambassador and connector for Lancaster Arts, the Peter Scott Gallery and their wider communities.
Closing dates: Thursday 13th August 2026. Interviews with Lancaster Arts / Peter Scott Gallery Charitable Trust: from 1st September 2026 onwards.
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, veteran status, or other category protected by law. Peter Scott Gallery Charitable Trust particularly encourages expressions of interest from disabled, D/deaf and/or neurodivergent people and those from Black, Asian and ethnically diverse backgrounds. Charisma is committed to inclusive and accessible recruitment processes.
Chair employer: Lancaster Arts
Lancaster Arts is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that champions creativity and social engagement within the arts sector. With a commitment to inclusion and environmental responsibility, employees have the opportunity to grow through meaningful collaborations with diverse stakeholders, while contributing to innovative programmes that resonate with the community and beyond. Located within the inspiring environment of Lancaster University, staff benefit from a rich cultural landscape and the chance to make a significant impact in the arts.
