RECRUITMENT PACK CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Transcription

1 #ThisisCoventry RECRUITMENT PACK CREATIVE DIRECTOR

2 COVENTRY HAS BEEN AWARDED THE TITLE OF UK CITY OF CULTURE 2021 FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF DERRY 2013 AND HULL 2017 n We are in a great place we have multiple partners on board and over 50% of our budget pledged n We are in great place our Trust is set up and registered as limited company and charity n We are in a great place we have a legacy team on board ready to support the new appointments n We are in a great place Coventry! We have secured significant funding already from Coventry City Council, West Midlands Combined Authority, trusts, philanthropy and the private sector and have funds earmarked in principle from national bodies such as Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England. With a planned budget of 38 million we are confident Coventry can deliver the largest and most diverse UK City of Culture to date but Hull is a hard act to follow and we need the best team possible. Our first appointment will be that of Creative Director. We are allowing 12 weeks for an extensive search for the right candidate. It is an amazing opportunity for a festival director, major event producer, cultural manager, Artistic Director or broadcaster to work in, and help grow, one of Britain s most diverse and youthful cities. The Coventry City of Culture Trust, established in 2015, wishes to appoint a CREATIVE DIRECTOR and EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR to move the project forward to the next stage. We already have a strong team on board from our bid period who will join the delivery team and provide legacy for the year. Our current Trust Manager Laura McMillan will transfer to Director of Operations. The Trust is anticipated to employ around 45 staff and will be based in offices in central Coventry. The terms and conditions of this post will include fun, excitement and challenge.

3 provide recruitment advice to the Trust along with our Bid Adviser Andrew Dixon and Trustee member Erica Whyman from the RSC. A copy of our summary bid is attached with a short document sketching out some key areas of programme along with a job description and person specification. Background information about Coventry is also provided. The bid process has generated some stunning programme ideas and we have a range of local and national cultural partners on-board. However we have also left space for our programme to be shaped and developed by an incoming creative team. There are some important principles behind our work. We are determined to build capacity and leave a strong legacy in the city. We are committed to delivering cultural activity in partnership with our communities to ensure maximum engagement, empowerment, capacity development and legacy. This is probably the most important thing to happen to Coventry in decades. We need to get it right. We have enlisted the support of Sue Hoyle, ex-director of the Clore Leadership Programme who will The city sits on the West Coast mainline just 15 minutes from Birmingham International Airport and 1 hour from London with 40 million people living within two hours. The city has two awardwinning universities, Coventry and Warwick, who are both active partners in the project. You ll be part of an arts community in the city that includes Warwick Arts Centre, the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry museums, Talking Birds, Shop Front Theatre, Coventry Cathedral, and wider regional partners such as the RSC, Motionhouse Dance and Birmingham Opera Company. The city has a good range of housing and an excellent range of schools and further education. Our Trust is chaired by businessman David Burbidge CBE who has driven successful fundraising campaigns for the RSC and the Belgrade Theatre. We have over 150 businesses on board already including our first headline sponsor. Coventry City Council is a key partner and is involved and supportive of our work at all levels from Leader and Chief Executive to Cabinet Member for Culture. They have committed 5 million to the project as well as in kind support and we will work closely with their tourism, arts and events team.

4 We are looking to recruit a Creative Director as soon as possible in 2018 to have their potential involvement in the appointment of an Executive Director and the rest of the team. Contracts will be for four years to April 2022 when the work of the Trust will handover to a planned legacy team grown in the city. If you d like further information please don t hesitate to contact our advisers. QUESTIONS ABOUT COVENTRY 2021 Andrew Dixon T E andrew@andrewdixon.org CONFIDENTIAL ADVICE ON THE POSTS AND RECRUITMENT Sue Hoyle T E suehoyle@mail.com TIMETABLE n Search and advertising from 11 December 2017 n Closing date 2 March 2018 n Creative Director Interviews - 22/23 March 2018 n Executive Director Interviews - Late April TBC

5 JOB DESCRIPTION - CREATIVE DIRECTOR SUMMARY: Overall management of UK City of Culture programming, co-curation, community engagement, capacity building and development of national and regional partnerships. SALARY: 100,000 to 125,000 + benefits subject to experience LOCATION: Coventry Fixed term contract to April 2022 BACKGROUND: Coventry has been working on UK City of Culture for 3 years and has laid strong foundations for a Creative Director to join and lead our existing team in delivering a world-class arts programme, to reach Coventry s diverse communities, and to drive a programme that positions Coventry as a major visitor destination. We need to change perceptions and build awareness about Coventry to grow our audiences and increase local engagement by tackling inequalities. Our population is 7 years younger than the UK average and we are a genuinely diverse city. As Hull s successful year winds up we have learnt so much about how to develop a thriving cultural city. We already have a 10-year cultural strategy in place, have a body of 3 years of research and are well advanced with our fundraising and partnerships. Our bid has had support from across the Midlands and nationally. Coventry City of Culture Trust is appointing an Executive Director to work alongside the Creative Director. We will advertise the two together but will recruit the Creative lead first. We are open to team applications. Your role will be to build on our strong partnerships to facilitate the delivery of an ambitious cultural programme establishing Coventry as a major cultural destination and a model for engagement and partnership with diverse communities of the UK. The Trust will determine whether one of the two senior posts will also assume the responsibility of CEO or whether this will be a shared responsibility.

6 DETAILED ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Specific responsibilities may be negotiated between the successful candidates but it is expected that as Creative Director you will have responsibility for the following: STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP: n Position the Trust as a leading presenter, commissioner and producer of new work, delivered in partnership with communities and with local and national organisations, providing collaborative cultural leadership for the city, the region and beyond. n Provide artistic vision and set the overall creative direction for Coventry n With the Executive Director, provide inspirational leadership for the Trust, ensuring the profile, reputation and success of the Trust continues to grow within the city and region, as well as nationally and internationally. PROGRAMMING: n Develop an ambitious, coherent, innovative and high-quality programme which builds on the character of the 2021 bid and includes events, education and participation, community engagement and digital programming. n Develop a nationally significant programme that attracts visitors, champions diversity and reaches new audiences and levels of engagement in Coventry and across the UK. n Develop strong relationships in a devolved delivery model with cultural producers and individual artists in Coventry and with national partners.

7 n Oversee the development and delivery of the Trust s co-producing and directly managed events. n Ensure that the ambition to reach all parts of the city and tackle inequalities are delivered. n Identify opportunities for work to broadcast and be made available online live streaming programme. n Collaborate with cultural partners across Warwickshire and the Midlands. PRODUCTION: n Take overall producer responsibility for the programme, ensuring its successful delivery to the highest standards. n Develop a comprehensive budget for the programme and ensure all partners and staff operate within and that appropriate levels of capacity and expertise are built into project plans and budgets. n Oversee the delivery of all technical and production aspects of the programme, ensuring that all events and productions are delivered to the highest standard and in a timely, cost-effective and safe manner within budget. ENGAGEMENT: n Have overall responsibility for how the Trust communicates and works with its audiences and communities to deliver; engagement, learning and volunteering programmes, ensuring comprehensive and high quality opportunities for people of all ages to contribute, shape, participate, learn from and enjoy the work delivered. n Establish and build upon relationships with providers of other strategic services such as health and education (within and outside of the formal education sector) ensuring that the Trust s work is integrated into relevant strategies and plans. n Liaise with research programmes fundraising and marketing teams to maximise partner engagement with programme.

8 CAPACITY BUILDING & SKILLS DEVELOPMENT: n Support the implementation of strategies with Coventry City Council and partners for inclusive growth of the city and region through creative development of artists, practitioners and the creative sector. n Develop a programme which maximises the opportunity to build capacity with local cultural organisations, artists, practitioners, young people, teachers, residents and local businesses. n Identify, nurture and mentor new talent, including a focus on youth and diversity. n Support the mentoring and development of the Coventry 2021 team. n Develop structure for co-producing and co-programming work with local communities including Streets of Cultures. n Act as a spokesperson for the organisation and develop good, productive relations with the press and other media. OTHER: n Undertake any other duties commensurate with the post as directed by the Chair of Trustees. COMMUNICATIONS & EXTERNAL RELATIONS: n Build and maintain effective working relationships with the Chair and Board of Trustees, partners and stakeholders including Coventry City Council, Arts Council England, HLF, the University of Warwick, Coventry University, West Midlands Combined Authority, adjacent councils, CWLEP, local businesses, local artists, cultural organisations and resident groups. n Support the development of a clear communications strategy and framework for effective PR, media, government and stakeholder relations. n Advocate for, and promote, the Trust and the city, representing the organisation and communicating its aims to key opinion-formers and decision-makers and within government, industry, community and business sectors.

9 PERSON SPECIFICATION The successful candidate will be an inspiring leader and programmer or curator of arts festivals and events with at least 5 years experience gained in a similar role of similar responsibility and complexity. They will command credibility within the cultural sector and possess a well-developed network of contacts locally, nationally and internationally. The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate evidence of the following experience, knowledge and skills: ESSENTIAL SKILLS & EXPERIENCE: n A strong artistic vision and sensibility. n Commitment to the principles of the Coventry bid and our engagement with diverse communities. n Excellent leadership skills with the ability to motivate, persuade and enthuse. n Demonstrable experience of commissioning and successfully delivering large-scale inclusive cultural events. n Ability to successfully manage and monitor large scale budgets. n Knowledge of a broad range of disciplines, including theatre, dance, music, comedy, literature, digital, visual arts and outdoor arts. n Proven commitment to talent and audience development and a commitment to maximising cultural engagement and learning for everyone. n A good understanding of marketing, in relation to campaigns, branding and partnership/sponsorship. n Experience in managing and motivating a team, and in influencing senior stakeholders at Board level. n An effective communicator able to sell a vision with enthusiasm and credibility to stakeholders, press and media. DESIRABLE SKILLS & EXPERIENCE: n Knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, Coventry. n Knowledge of UK arts funding. n Experience in operating effectively in a political environment. n Proven experience of developing effective partnerships and funding with Local Authorities, and other agencies such as Universities and the media. PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES: n A strong commitment to equality and diversity. n Ambitious. n Enthusiastic, energetic, committed. n Resilient, with the ability to cope with pressure and high expectations. n Passionate for arts, culture and community engagement. n Tactful and diplomatic. n Collaborative with the ability to manage and bring out the best in a team. n High level of integrity.

10 TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT The Creative Director position is a 4-year contract. The role will involve national and occasionally international travel. The position has an entitlement of 25 days holiday pro rata, in addition to 8 days public holidays. SALARY: circa 100, ,000 competitive, commensurate with experience + benefits and retention bonuses. Relocation package available. HOW TO APPLY Please send the following to recruitment@coventry2021.co.uk n Curriculum Vitae n Covering letter or supporting statement (no more than two sides of A4) n Current salary and any salary expectations n Completed equal opportunities monitoring form. CLOSING DATE: 2 March 2018 INTERVIEW DATE: 22/23 March 2018 For further information and information about our partners and sponsors visit Coventry City of Culture Trust is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We would like to thank Hull2017 for their inspiration and input to these recruitment packs.