We are looking for people to join our Board from October 2021 to work collaboratively with SSW’s existing Board Members and staff team. Together, we will support our mission, of empowering artists and local communities through collective learning and skills development, from our site in Lumsden, Aberdeenshire.
Over the coming years we will be building on our work to date, to complete the transformative capital development of our workshop facilities. Alongside this, we are developing more collective ways of working and governing, together with artists and our local communities. This is underpinned by actively working to support artists and communities who are systemically and historically excluded from the arts, on their terms.
Board Members serve in a voluntary capacity. You don’t need to have previous experience as a Board Member / Trustee to join our Board. Training and support will be given through the induction process and regularly as part of the SSW team.
Please listen to, or read, the Information Pack for full details about the role and how to submit an expression of interest. If you have any technical difficulties or access requirements that we can support you with in submitting an expression of interest, please get in touch with Sara Gallie, Executive Director (maternity cover), on sara@ssw.org.uk.
Who are we looking for?
We are seeking individuals who are inspired by our vision for a collective future at SSW. We are looking for people who are down-to-earth, comfortable working collaboratively and open to mutual learning and exchange. We want to work with people who are committed to making the arts fairer, more accessible, equitable and environmentally just – and who recognise the role of collectivity and collaboration within this.
There are specific areas of knowledge and experience we are particularly interested in inviting onto our Board, spanning the arts, finance, legal, alternative governance and social/environmental justice. Please see the Information Pack for a full and detailed list.
At SSW we are working to address and dismantle the barriers many people experience to accessing the arts, particularly spaces of decision making and governance. We actively encourage people who are underrepresented on our Board of Trustees to submit an expression of interest. This could include people who experience racism, those who are disabled and/or neurodivergent, people who are trans, non-binary and/or queer, and people from working class/ lower socio-economic backgrounds among other underrepresented and oppressed identities. We are also keen to hear from people who have caregiving responsibilities.
What does the role involve?
As a Board Member you will be responsible for overseeing and safeguarding the legal, financial and strategic direction of SSW, as set out in the current and future business plans. SSW is a charity and not-for-profit company, so the Board governs SSW in line with our Articles of Association, OSCR and Companies House guidelines. Training is given in this area so it isn’t a problem if this is new to you.
The Board of Trustees meet formally 4 times per year. In between there are regular informal communications and discussions, opportunities to participate in training and attend events at SSW.
We are in the process of developing a more collective working model at SSW. New Board Members will be invited to join pilot ‘cluster groups’ over the coming years, to test this new way of working. Board Members involved in cluster groups will work together with SSW staff, artists, and members of our local community.
We estimate that the time commitment as a Board Member at SSW is around 2 days per month and ask potential Board Members to commit to one full term of three years on the Board.
Key dates
Open Information Sessions:
Saturday 4 September, 10am – 12pm (at SSW)
Monday 6 September, 12 – 1pm & 6 – 7pm (remote)
Deadline for expressions of interest: Friday 24 September 2021, 12pm GMT
Meetings with shortlisted prospective Board Members: Between 29 September – 6 October (flexible)
All prospective Board Members notified: Thursday 7 October 2021
AGM (observe and potentially join for new Board Members): Thursday 14 October 2021
Support available
There is a budget available for travel, accommodation and access needs, to support Board Members in their roles. For further information on this see the Board Member Information Pack below.
For information on SSW’s approach to accessibility, and the accessibility of our site, please contact Programme and Communications Manager, Jenny Salmean – jenny@ssw.org.uk.
Board Member Information Pack
The Board Member Information Pack is available in several formats. Click the links below to read or listen to the pack.
- Word document (with images)
- Text only (suitable for screen readers)
- Large print
- Audio
