Area Director, Midlands (AD2)

This vacancy is being managed by Green Park recruitment. Do not apply via the Arts Council website. Please follow the link below to apply via the Green Park website.

Contract: Permanent and Full Time (Arts Council recognises the benefit of flexible working as a valued part of the way we work, and welcome applications from individuals who require flexibility)

Salary: £94,467 per annum, plus excellent benefits including a final salary pension scheme, generous annual leave, and flexible and hybrid working.

Location: Birmingham or Nottingham

The Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. They champion creativity and culture across the country, develop talent in every corner of the nation, and support artists, practitioners and cultural organisations to work in partnership and to be world-leading.

Their ambitious Strategy for 2020-2030, Let’s Create, is an invitation to those who share their beliefs to come together and create new opportunities for every person in England to get creative and enjoy brilliant culture.

At the heart of their new Strategy is the belief that creativity and culture make lives better, empowering people to realise their potential. On the public stage, they advocate for the value of creativity for all adults and children, raising awareness of how the work of arts organisations, museums and libraries is intrinsic to the happiness, wellbeing and the shared life of our communities. They also champion the remarkable contribution of the arts and creative industries to our economy.

While much remains to be done, Arts Council England is in a good position to move forward and has enjoyed significant success in recent years - increasing the resilience and diversity of the sector and helping the arts to lead regeneration in towns and cities across England.

The Role

As part of their continued evolution, Arts Council England are seeking a new Midlands Area Director.

Across the Midlands, the Arts Council invests in 169 National Portfolio Organisations including museums, libraries and Investment Principles Support Organisations (IPSOs). Between 2023-27, they will receive a combined investment of £83.64 million each year.

The Midlands, which comprises some of the UK’s most culturally and economically significant and ambitious cities together with vibrant rural landscapes and communities, has a vital and exciting role to play in delivering Arts Council England’s vision. It is a place of creativity, industry and innovation, with a rich artistic and cultural heritage. It’s home to a mix of ambitious art and cultural organisations, from internationally acclaimed companies to grass-roots organisations inspiring creativity in local communities. As the Area Director for the Midlands you will be part of the Arts Council’s national leadership team, ensuring culture thrives for the benefit of all the communities of the Midlands and for the country as a whole.

Leading a dedicated team of staff who support activities across the whole of the cultural sector you will be responsible for managing a substantial budget, and building and maintaining constructive and collaborative relationships with the senior leadership of key local partners; e.g. MP’s, Combined Authorities, Local Authorities, Universities, key cultural organisations and National Lottery distributors

Locally you will work in partnership on initiatives to ensure that local investment in creativity and culture has the greatest impact on local ecologies, such as the economy, jobs, education, community cohesion and health and wellbeing.

As part of the national leadership team, you will, on occasion, be leading on national projects, or external relationships which will require you to work with Government Departments and national agencies.

Equality Diversity and Inclusion Statement: Arts Council are committed to being an inclusive employer, building an inclusive workplace and recruiting a workforce that is as diverse as the communities we serve. However, you identify, and whatever background you bring with you, we welcome you to apply for a role at Arts Council. Disabled, D/deaf and/or neurodivergent people and those from Black, Asian and Ethnically Diverse backgrounds are underrepresented in our workforce so we particularly encourage applications from people in these groups.

Please note that, in order to avoid conflicts of interest, employees of the Arts Council cannot receive an Arts Council grant, investment or loan funding - either in person, as a member of a partnership, or for any organisation they own. There are also limitations on board or CEO positions employees can hold in organisations we fund.

To find out more, please visit our microsite

For an informal conversation about the role or process please contact Lucy Kythreotis or Jon Morrison from our Executive Search Partners, Green Park, on lucy.kythreotis@green-park.co.uk or jon.morrison@green-park.co.uk

Closing date: Sunday, 11th May at 11:59pm

Please apply via the Green Park website

Do not apply via the Arts Council website. The vacancy is being managed by Green Park. Please visit the link above to apply