Activate Performing Arts Board Members (voluntary position)

Are you passionate about performance?

Activate Performing Arts Ltd (Activate) is looking for a diverse range of people to join its Board as Charity Trustees and Directors. We are looking for people as passionate about performance as we are.

At Activate we believe that: extraordinary moments connect and uplift us all.

Our Mission is: to create opportunities for everyone through the performing arts.

We are particularly interested in increasing representation on our Board of people who have experienced barriers or prejudice relating to their ethnicity and/or due to having a disability, long-term health condition or from a low socio-economic background. This is because we want to better reflect the people we serve in our communities.

We exist to promote, support, and produce performing arts projects in our communities. Bringing world-class events to unexpected places, like town centres, village squares, beaches, and hilltops. And we’ve been doing it for 30 years. Our aim is to break down barriers and reach the widest possible audiences, while celebrating our natural landscape and sense of place. In everything we do there are just two rules: anything is possible, and everyone is invited.

Supporting our performing arts community is at the heart of everything we do. We bring people together, offer advice, and provide access to learning and resources. We’re here to help creatives at all levels on their journey towards creating outstanding, inspiring work.

We offer one-to-one free advice sessions and run CPD programmes for creatives working in the performing arts.
We run an inclusive performance group for children and young people called The Remix, and our Dorset Youth Dance company offers contemporary classes for 7–25-year-olds wanting to pursue their passion.

Our Inside Out Dorset festival presents extraordinary events in extraordinary locations. It is free to attend and takes place outdoors with some site-specific performances and a community engagement programme that takes place year-round. Each festival includes international outdoor theatre and dance events across Dorset, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, in a mix of rural, coastal and urban locations, and attracts audiences of 15-20,000 each festival.

In the past few years, we have begun to tour and produce work by companies locally and nationally. We are a partner in a number of European programmes, and we produce large scale ‘signature events’. For example, in 2019 we produced Dorset Moon with the Dorset Festival Consortium to mark the 50th Anniversary of the first Moon Landing. This presented Luke Jerram’s Museum of the Moon to over 41,000 people in 3 locations across the county. In 2022 we produced the Dorset edition of Walk The Plank’s Green Space Dark Skies with Dorset National Landscape.

A committed Board of Trustees/Directors is crucial to our success, and we are looking for people who have a shared passion for the arts to help Activate to realise the next phase in our company’s evolution.

Main Areas of Accountability
The Board of Trustees has full legal responsibility under the Charities Act 2011 and the Companies
Act 2006 and is also accountable to a variety of other stakeholders including the Information
Commissioner, Fundraising Regulator, and our core funders. The executive staff team carry out the
majority of the legal duties on behalf of the Board members.
Strategy
The Board work with the staff to help to determine/help sustain Activate’s mission and purpose.
Board members may help represent Activate strategically at a local, regional and national level.
The organisation will provide the tools and information you need.

Management
Board Members attend and participate in all Board Meetings, workshops and occasional meetings as
required, and all Board members have shared responsibility for collective decision making. Board
Members work with our Executive Director to achieve and develop Activate’s vision and keep us on
track.
‘Being a trustee of Activate has been an eye-opening experience and helped me gain a fuller picture
of the landscape of arts and performance across Dorset. The opportunities as a board member have
ranged from learning and honing skills to providing perspectives context which may not otherwise
have been thought to be considered.
The team of fellow board members and staff are incredibly supportive. From the papers for each
meeting to the activities at away days, our meetings are always interesting, often insightful, and
evidence of our positive impact on the strategy of Activate is clear throughout all the great work
of the operational team.’

Communication and Advocacy 
Board members help to grow Activate’s reputation by sharing our ambition with the wider community.
Fundraising and Finance Strategy

Board members ensure there are appropriate resources for us to fulfil our ambitions. Board members
occasionally support and help in our fund-raising by attending stakeholder events. Board Members
ensure that we operate within the law and in line with its financial responsibilities. There is a
finance sub-group that supports the staff and the wider Board. Board members approve our annual
budget and make sure appropriate financial controls are in place. Board members have limited
financial liability of £1.

Recruitment and Induction
The Board are responsible, with the Chair, for the recruitment of the Executive Director. The Board
are responsible with the Chair and staff for the recruitment and induction of new Board members.

Monitoring and Policy Development
The Board makes sure Activate has policies that are up to date and ethical. They monitor how we
plan and deliver our ambitions – measuring achievements against aims and objectives and make sure
we stick to our vision.
Diversity

The Board embraces diversity, supports and creates a welcoming environment where difference is
embraced, and everyone is treated with respect and dignity.
Health and Safety

The Board makes sure our staff are overseeing the management of health and safety, following in law
and in line with our policies and procedures.

Qualities

These are some of the qualities we welcome in our Board members:
• a dynamic and collaborative approach;
• a positive ‘can do’ attitude;
• the ability to think strategically;
• an inclusive thinker;
• a respected leader or emerging leader;
• an interest in the performing and outdoor arts.

Skills, experience and abilities – some or all of these skills would be ideal:
• *Management experience – within the arts or related to a skills area below;
• Analytical skills;
• We are looking for a finance non-executive with strong financial skills but we don’t expect this
of everyone;
• Excellent people skills.
Activate Board Details 2024 5

*This could be self-management as a freelancer.

One or more specific skills/experience or interest in the following areas: Theatre / Dance / Outdoor Arts / Diversity / Youth / Environment / Finance / Fundraising

Time commitment
4 Board Meetings a year including the AGM. Board Members are expected to attend and participate in
all Board Meetings. These are 2 hours, plus travel and time is required to read papers and other
documents in advance which can take between 2-3 hours. 4 Potential Sub-group meetings a year.

1-2 Away Days per year – Board and staff

Formal meetings with Stakeholders – approximately once a year.

Various public events, receptions and performances throughout the year.

The position is voluntary, but expenses will be reimbursed. Meeting expenses can be claimed and
access requirements will be supported, including travel and care costs.

How to apply:
Please send us a letter with your CV as a word or PDF file, or you can use other formats such as
video and audio. Your application should say what interests you have about this role with Activate,
your qualifications, skills and experience, and how these relate directly to the position of
Charity Trustee/Director at Activate.
Please also complete our Equality Of Opportunity form.
This will be treated anonymously and will not be used as part of the selection process.
If you have any access requirements or need any help with your application, please contact us below
and we will be happy to help.

Download the pack for more information : Activate Board Information Pack 2024.

If you would like this pack in another format such as BSL, Large Print or Audiofile, we will
happily arrange this for you or if you need further information, please contact
info@activateperformingarts.org.uk or call 07826514774
Send your application to: irene@activateperformingarts.org.uk We recommend using WeTransfer to send
large files.