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Turner Contemporary Trustee

Employer
Turner Contemporary
Location
Margate, Kent (GB)
Closing date
1 Jul 2022

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At Turner Contemporary www.turnercontemporary.org, we believe in the power of art to transform people and places and doing things differently to achieve our vision; to be internationally recognised for ground-breaking artistic, social and sustainability programmes connecting art, people and place, in Kent and around the world.

Since opening in 2011, Turner Contemporary has become one of the most successful galleries in the UK.  We’ve achieved more than 3.5 million visits and put over £70 million back into the Kent economy.  The gallery has been a catalyst for the social and economic regeneration of Margate, connecting with thousands of people from the local community through our ambitious artistic and learning programmes.

By 2030, Turner Contemporary’s reputation and impact will have grown. We want to celebrate the art of the past and present in all its complexity and diversity, supporting artistic risk taking and deep scholarship, shared with all our audiences in the gallery, in exhibitions we tour, through our learning programme and across our digital spaces. We will be relevant and representative of our diverse audiences and particularly those in our immediate vicinity. Securing the trust and respect of our community is a priority. At the heart of our work is a commitment to artistic excellence through working with artists and audiences. Developing the creativity of others is vital for the health and well-being of our audiences and Turner Contemporary’s resilience.

Turner Contemporary is a charity governed by a Board of Trustees, chaired by Clive Stevens FCA.  The organisation receives revenue funding from Arts Council England and Kent County Council and the whole team works creatively to generate additional income.  To deliver our ambitious vision and to develop our resilience and sustainability for the future, we need to increase and diversify earned income from our trading activities and secure significant annual fundraising targets, particularly given the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the gallery, Margate and the wider cultural sector.

Turner Contemporary’s values are :

  • Enquiring – we champion the energy and ideas of an ever expanding artistic community and the importance of creative learning Welcoming – we consciously channel diversity, inclusion equality and access in everything we do Caring – we embrace our role of civic responsibility and are a good neighbour and employer Partnering – we actively seek to be a positive partner, locally and nationally Sustainable – we use data and evidence to inform decisions and our practice; we champion environmental sustainability through our programme and our actions Advocacy – we promote culture as integral to health and wellbeing and as vital to place.

All our trustees must understand our commitment to diversity and be able to build our profile, fundraise effectively and consolidate our financial position. We are particularly keen to hear from candidates from all backgrounds currently under-represented in the cultural sector due to barriers linked to ethnicity, class, disability or gender.

 

Context

JMW Turner (1775-1851) was a regular visitor to Margate both as a child and later in life. The gallery was established to celebrate his links to the town and the north Kent coast.  Turner Contemporary is based in an area known as Thanet, comprising the towns of Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Margate and surrounding villages.  Within easy reach of London and continental Europe, it has outstanding environmental assets, including “Blue Flag” beaches and the UK’s longest stretch of coastal chalk. The investment in and development of Turner Contemporary has been the catalyst for significant transformation.  However, although Margate is now experiencing considerable development and regeneration, the economy within Thanet is still extremely fragile.

 

Recruitment

We are currently recruiting a new Trustee with commercial and accounting skills, who is able to advise the Trustee Board on all aspects of charity accounting, A broad range of business experience would also be useful in guiding the charity in its future commercial activities.

By joining the Board of Turner Contemporary, you can:

  • Make a difference to local communities by supporting and contributing to the structure of a vibrant arts organisation that connects people with creative experiences, promoting creativity, improved health & well-being, personal growth and community cohesion;
  • Help us to attract a more diverse audience to the gallery, bringing your skills to enable us to diversify our audience;
  • Shape and oversee the continued development of Turner Contemporary;
  • Engage with the challenges of running an arts organisation and offer support to the Executive team;
  • Support the organisation in achieving its fundraising targets;
  • Gain knowledge and a deeper understanding of the arts and cultural sector by being a part of Turner Contemporary’s team;
  • Meet and work with other talented, motivated and inspiring people, sharing and expanding your networks and connections;

 

The Role of the Board

  1. Financial

The Board has three main roles in relation to financial monitoring and management of the organisation:

 

  • Planning Monitoring Decision-making
  • Oversight
  • The Board’s responsibilities are to oversee the following:

     

    • Vision and Mission: the Board approves and supports the vision, mission and values which guides the organisation’s direction; Business Planning: the Board approves the organisation’s Business Plan and ensures it is a working document to guide Turner Contemporary’s development and growth; Risk Management: the Board monitors the Risk Register and determines the level of risk the organisation can take; Performance: the Board identifies the key performance indicators by which progress will be measured.
  • Time commitment
  • We expect trustees to attend four board meetings per annum, which are held in Margate or virtually on a weekday morning or afternoon.  We also expect trustees to sit on at least one subcommittee that also meets quarterly and to attend events at the gallery.  We organise an annual Away Day for trustees and there are opportunities to attend workshops and facilitated sessions from time to time.

     

    We expect trustees to actively contribute in meetings. This includes:

     

    • Preparation and punctuality: reading Board and subcommittee papers which are sent out in advance and trying to resolve points of clarification before the meeting, wherever possible; Listening and questioning: be willing to question and challenge yet be supportive of other people’s views and contributions. Maintaining confidentiality; Supporting decisions: support the decisions of the Board, even when you may not have agreed with the decision. Agreeing to fulfil actions between meetings; Engaging with Turner Contemporary: developing a knowledge of the organisation to support the Director and senior team.  Attend events and activities that Turner Contemporary organises.
  • Fundraising and Networking
  • Turner Contemporary is a small charity which requires significant financial support. We receive some public investment from Kent County Council and Arts Council England but as this continues to decrease, the Board has a role in securing additional fundraised income. This can take many different forms including introductions, attending cultivation events and donating or becoming a patron.

     

    How to Apply

    Being a trustee is a voluntary unpaid role, although some expenses can be covered where appropriate. If you would like to find out more please contact Clive Stevens FCA, Chair of Turner Contemporary via info@turnercontemporary.org

    For more information about what being a charity trustee involves, please visit

    www.gov.uk/guidance/charity-trustee-whats-involved

    To apply please send a CV and covering letter of no more than two sides of A4 telling us about yourself and why you would like to become a trustee at Turner Contemporary.

    Please send your application to:  applications@turnercontemporary.org

    Closing date for applications:  1 July 2022

    Interviews will be held w/c 13 July 2022.

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