Arts Council England Appointment Of Chair

Arts Council England
United Kingdom
Applications close 07 August 2003

TIME COMMITMENT: Up to two days per week LOCATION OF MEETINGS: The national office is in Westminster, Central London. Thereare also regional offices in Birmingham, Cambridge, Dewsbury,Exeter, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, and Brighton. Council meets five times a year in different locations around the country. DURATION OF APPOINTMENT: Four years, with the possibility of a further term BACKGROUND: The Arts Council England operates under a Royal Charter with the objectives: to develop and improve the knowledge, understanding and practice of the arts· to increase the accessibility of the arts to the public· to advise and co-operate with departments of government, local authorities, the Arts Councils of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and other bodies The Arts Council England is administered by a Chair and Council appointed by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The Council currently has 15 members with a wide range of experience and backgrounds including artists, arts managers, educationalists and leading figures from business. The Arts Council invests £500 million a year of public funds in the arts, including funding from the National Lottery. It works in partnership with stakeholders, including regional and national development agencies, Local Authorities, other Government departments and organisations in the public and private sector. The Arts Council is responsible for advising the Government of the day on the development of policies for the arts, and for the implementation of detailed policy within the arts sector. It receives an annual grant-in-aid from the DCMS which it distributes to a range of arts organisations and activities at arms length from Government, in accordance with its Funding Agreement with the Department and the terms if its Financial Memorandum. The Chair of the Arts Council England must be a person of the necessary stature to exercise influence on the national and regional stage for the good of the arts and to carry conviction as both a spokesman and ambassador for the arts. They must have the skills to handle the national media, and be able to command the respect of, and deal with, a wide range of constituencies. The Chair must be able to ensure harmonious and effective working relationships between the National and Regional Offices and give a strategic lead to the system which they represent. The Chair has a particular responsibility for providing effective strategic leadership on the following matters: I. formulating the Council's strategy for discharging its statutory duties; II. encouraging high standards of propriety and promoting the efficient and effective use of staff and other resources throughout the organisation; III. ensuring that the Council, in reaching decisions, takes proper account of guidance provided by the Secretary of State or the Department; IV. representing the views of the Council to the general public; and V. providing regular performance assessments of individual Council members. QUALITIES SOUGHT: Provision of strategic leadership Representation and media handling skills, inc. public speaking Ability to work in partnership with multiple stakeholders Knowledge and experience of the arts· Experience of change management

Show latest news, more from August 2003.