Working with Artis

Artis Foundation trustee: voluntary positions

Artis is looking for trustees to join its board of trustees

About Artis

The Artis Foundation is a creative learning charity that exists to help people flourish through the performing arts. We do this by creating magical, high quality, learning opportunities that help develop vital skills for life and learning, and encourage an appreciation for the arts.

We firmly believe in the transformative power of the performing arts to change lives, and we want everyone to recognise the value of a society enriched by the arts.

Artis has been in operation since 2004, although the Artis Foundation charity is much younger, having been established in September 2017. We decided to transition to a charity in order to increase our reach and partnerships and focus our attention on those most in need of the charity’s work. The Artis Education company was the charity’s first donor, giving its assets (all its current contracts with schools, Specialists and employees) to the new charity in January 2018.

About the Artis Foundation Trustee Board

The Artis Foundation charity was established in September 2017. The trustees are:

• Rebecca Boyle Suh (buzz) – Chair
• Michael Bichard (wham)
• Mark Friend (parp)
• Jenny McIntosh (ting)
• Wendy Steatham (whirl)

The trustee board meets quarterly in the Artis office located between Old Street and Angel.

Role specification

Key responsibilities of Trustees include:

• Contribute to developing and overseeing the strategy for the charity
• Ensure decisions taken at board meetings are implemented and good governance prevails
• Act as an ambassador for Artis, promoting the charity at key meetings, events and functions, engaging with target stakeholders in the relevant sector communities and with relevant media
• Raise awareness of Artis’s activities and opportunities across the sectors it aims to engage with, and with other associated charities
• Develop supportive relationships with the Chief Executive and other trustees
• Maintain an overview of the charity’s activities and issues
• Ensure Artis applies its resources in a cost-effective and appropriate manner in the pursuit of its objectives
• Ensure the financial stability of Artis and the prudent and proper investment of the charity’s funds
• Support ongoing fundraising strategy and activities
• Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the charity, that the Chief Executive delivers to plan and that they are appropriately resourced
• Safeguard the good standing and reputation that Artis enjoys within the sectors it operates in, its beneficiaries and other charities
• Remain abreast of wider sector-related and political issues that could impact the work of Artis
• Ensure the charity is compliant with regulatory requirements regarding safeguarding and data protection

Person specification

Candidates for the role of trustee should have a strong interest in the performing arts and share the Artis vision for a world enriched through the arts. Trustees should have a willingness and ability to devote the necessary time and energy to the role, typically being asked to attend one or two events or Artis sessions in the year, as well as attending the quarterly trustee board meetings.

Specifically, we are currently looking for trustees who meet at least one of the following areas of experience:

• Our target children & young people: current or recent experience working with Artis’ current intended beneficiaries, children or young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly those who miss out on high quality arts opportunities
• Dance / movement:  professional experience as a dancer or in a related role in the dance or movement world
• Mental health / wellbeing: trustee or senior executive level experience of the mental health sector
• Fundraising or third sector: trustee or senior executive level experience of the third sector and/or fundraising for the third sector, ideally with strong knowledge of the arts sector and education and/or health sectors

Artis is committed to increasing the diversity of its board and recruiting trustees who are currently under-represented, especially people from a BAME background or people with a disability.