148 Community development team members volunteer volunteer roles

This is a rare opportunity to join an organisation at a defining moment in its development and to provide strategic leadership as it enters a new chapter that will shape its future. 

Our vision is to reimagine The Grand in Folkestone as a home for arts, culture, community and hospitality to promote creativity, connection and wellbeing. Our plans have been referred to by press as a ‘Barbican-by-the-Sea’.

About the role as Chair:

• Provide strategic leadership to the Board in pursuit of Grand Arts CIC’s mission and charitable objectives
• Ensure the Board operates effectively, with appropriate governance, oversight and accountability
• Support the organisation’s fundraising efforts and promote its offer to potential funders, donors and sponsors
• Work closely with the Executive Director to support, challenge and appraise their performance
• Chair board meetings, setting agendas that enable robust discussion and sound decision-making
• Ensure the board fulfil their legal duties and responsibilities under charity and company law
• Lead the Board in reviewing organisational strategy, priorities and risk management
• Act as an ambassador for Grand Arts CIC, strengthening relationships with funders, partners, policymakers and stakeholders
• Oversee effective financial stewardship, including budgets, reserves and long-term sustainability
• Lead Board development, including recruitment, induction and performance of the board
• Ensure strong governance arrangements, including committees, policies and compliance
• Act as a sounding board for the Executive Director and provide regular support, particularly during this period of organisational development.

We are seeking a Chair with:

• Senior leadership or non-executive / trustee experience
• Strong strategic and governance skills
• Ability to support fundraising and experience cultivating and securing donors for arts projects and / or capital campaigns
• A good understanding of finance and knowledge of charitable regulation either in the arts sector or the wider charity sector
• Knowledge and experience of property development (desirable but not essential)

We are looking for people who can demonstrate they:

• Are passionate about The Grand’s potential as a landmark cultural venue
• Have a commitment to Grand Arts CIC’s vision, mission and values and a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion
• Are personally interested in the arts
• Exhibit strong interpersonal and relationship building abilities, enjoy and are comfortable with playing an advocacy and promotional role
• Have enough time to conduct the role effectively, with a clear understanding of the duties and responsibilities of a charity trustee (once the charity is formed).

Grand Arts CIC seeks to establish a diverse and inclusive board, reflecting our work as a Community Interest Company / charity and the beneficiaries we serve. We strive to be an inclusive space where we can all be ourselves. We strongly encourage applications from people who are underrepresented in governance roles in the arts and cultural sector, global majority candidates*, people with lived experience of disability and women.

Successful applicants will be required to undergo a DBS check.

* Global majority in this context refers to people who identify as Black, Asian, mixed and/or have been racialised as ‘ethnic minorities’; these groups represent over 80% of the world’s population.