Head of Engagement and Communities / Head of Music / Head of Theatre, Performing Arts and Touri[...] in Cardiff

Shape the future of the arts in Wales; lead, inspire and champion creativity across communities and diverse art forms.

Location: Arts Council Wales offices in Cardiff, Colwyn Bay or Carmarthen

Who we are

The Arts Council of Wales leads the strategic development of the arts across the nation. As an arms‑length public body funded by the Welsh Government and the National Lottery, we set direction, allocate investment and advocate for the arts as an essential part of national life. Our ambition is to build a sustainable, inclusive and confident creative sector that reflects the richness of modern Wales and contributes to its future prosperity.

In response to feedback from the arts community and our staff, we have recently gone through an extensive restructuring and change process to ensure our organisation can better support the sector and continue to evolve in line with the sector’s changing needs.

About the roles

These are three new and pivotal senior roles requiring visionary and collaborative specialists ready to drive strategy, champion collaboration, and ensure that creativity continues to flourish in every part of Wales.

Who are we looking for?

These roles arrive at a defining moment for the Arts Council of Wales. As we reshape how we work with the sector and with communities across the nation, we’re looking for exceptional leaders who combine art‑form expertise, strategic vision and a collaborative spirit. Each Head will bring deep understanding of their area — whether in music, theatre and performing arts, or engagement and communities — and the ability to translate that insight into bold, practical strategy that makes a real difference for artists, audiences and partners.

You’ll be:

• An expert and advocate — recognised and respected within your field, with the credibility to speak on behalf of the Arts Council and to influence national conversation.
• A strategic thinker — able to see the bigger picture, shape long‑term plans, and guide your art‑form or area with clarity and purpose.
• A collaborative leader — ready to build new connections across teams, organisations and communities, breaking down silos and inspiring shared ambition.
• A proactive self‑starter — comfortable working in a fast‑evolving organisation, leading new teams, and helping shape how we deliver our work for the future.
• An inclusive and values‑led manager — committed to equality, diversity, and bilingualism, and motivated by making the arts accessible to all.

We’re particularly keen to hear from individuals who can demonstrate:

• Proven experience leading or influencing within their specialist area.
• A record of developing partnerships and delivering impact at a regional or national level.
• The confidence and communication skills to engage credibly with artists, local authorities, funders and the Welsh Government.
• A deep respect for Wales’s bilingual and multicultural identity, and a willingness to embrace and use the Welsh language.

These roles are more than management posts — they are opportunities to shape how the arts in Wales evolve over the next decade. You’ll help set direction, nurture talent, and ensure that creativity continues to enrich lives across the nation.

To view the role description and person specification, please go to the “How to Apply” tab above, fill in your details and download the job pack. For further information or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners.

If you would like to know more about this role please contact David Hingley.

Welcome Letter from Dafydd Rhys, Chief Executive, Arts Council of Wales

Thank you for your interest in becoming one of our new Heads of Art Form with the Arts Council of Wales. Here at ACW, we believe that the arts are at the very heart of our national life — connecting us to one another, enriching our wellbeing and inspiring us now and for generations to come. Across Wales, creativity helps shape our sense of identity, strengthens our communities and fuels our collective imagination.

In recent months, the Arts Council of Wales has undergone a restructuring to enhance its support for the arts sector following conversations with artists, organisations and our own dedicated staff. We listened closely to the voices of the arts community and alongside several commissioned reports — including those focusing on dance, folk music and English‑language theatre — a clear message has emerged: the Arts Council of Wales must continue to evolve in order to respond to the sector’s changing needs.

In response, we are creating three new senior roles: Head of Music, Head of Theatre and Head of Engagement and Communities. These positions will be central to ensuring our support for the arts is dynamic, inclusive and forward‑looking. Each Head will bring strategic leadership to their area, deepening our connections with artists, audiences and communities across Wales.

Our ambition is clear: to nurture a Wales of creativity, ambition and fairness — a nation where the most exciting and meaningful art is created; where the arts are integral to our health and wellbeing; and where opportunities exist for every voice in Wales to inspire and be inspired by the world around us.

If you share this vision and are passionate about shaping the future of the arts in Wales, we look forward to hearing from you. Together, we can ensure that the arts continue to flourish, reach every community and remain an essential part of who we are.

Warm regards,

Dafydd Rhys

Chief Executive

Arts Council of Wales / Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru

About the Arts Council of Wales

The Arts Council of Wales is an independent charity and the national arts development agency for Wales, established by Royal Charter in 1994. It funds artists and arts organisations with money from the Welsh Government and the National Lottery, with the goal of nurturing arts talent and enabling everyone in Wales to engage with the arts. ACW focuses on promoting ambition, respect, and transparency in the arts, and its work includes developing strategy, supporting artists, and working on specific areas like arts and health and international arts.

The role of the Arts Council of Wales is to create an environment where the knowledge, understanding and practice of the arts can flourish and where everybody in Wales can engage with the arts. We want a Wales of ambition and fairness, where the most exciting arts are created; arts that are integral to the health and wellbeing of the nation, relevant to all communities and where opportunities exist for the voices of Wales to inspire and be inspired by the world around us.

Key Principles

• Creativity: Art should connect people, challenge thinking, and bring joy and hope.
• Widening Engagement: Arts and culture should reflect the lives of all citizens of Wales, working to remove barriers to engagement.
• Welsh Language: The Welsh language should be a thriving part of creative lives, giving everyone an equal opportunity to access and create art through Welsh and bilingually.
• Climate Justice: Action should be socially, environmentally, and ethically sustainable.
• Nurturing Talent: Pathways should be ensured for people from all backgrounds to develop their creativity, skills, and leadership for a healthy future for the arts.
• Transformation: The sector should seize new opportunities, take risks, and be resilient and responsive to change while remaining relevant to Welsh communities.

We understand that different members of the community have different access needs and have made some modifications to the way we do business to accommodate people from diverse communities and abilities.

Accessibility and Support

• Step free access to the building, all key meeting rooms and bathrooms, and an accessible workstation.
• Accessibility dogs are welcome.
• Interviews can be held in meeting rooms that support hearing loops.
• Papers and materials can be presented in different formats.
• A sign language interpreter can be accessed for interview.
• Working patterns and locations can be adjusted.

Timetable

• Closing date: 9 a.m. Monday 12th January 2026
• Candidates informed of outcome: Friday 16th January 2026
• First stage Interviews: Wednesday 21st January, Thursday 22nd January, and Friday 23rd January 2026
• Second stage Interviews: w/c Monday 2nd February 2026

We are in the process of confirming interview dates. Once confirmed, we will update the site and contact those who have applied.

Equality and Diversity Statement

Peridot and Arts Council Wales are committed to promoting equality and diversity. To help us raise awareness and support a culture that is diverse and recognises and develops the potential of all, we need to appreciate the profile of candidates who apply for positions. We will send an equality monitoring survey at the point of receiving your application and at the time of placement. This ensures that our processes remain inclusive and equitable throughout, and provides us with important data to help us showcase our impact. The information will be treated confidentially and anonymously and will help us to support our commitment to fair recruitment practice. All information provided will be held in the strictest confidence and will not be shared with anyone, in line with the Data Protection Act 2018.

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