Chair & Board of Directors

About Diverse Artists Network 

We are a development agency for diversity in the arts, promoting cultural competency and representation in the sector. Our organisation brings together artists, creatives, and musicians across Bristol and the South West region with the aim of building national and international networks that encompass the broadest spectrum of diversity and representation.

Our Vision is for an equitable and just arts industry in which diverse experiences inform a rich cultural landscape of opportunities that are relevant for a larger proportion of our city and its communities.

Our Mission is to achieve this vision through building a strong network, programming relevant events and showcasing and raising the profile of diverse artists.

Diverse Artists Network (DAN) is currently looking to appoint a new Chair and up to three passionate and dynamic board members to help our diverse charity navigate our next chapter. 

About Our Board

DAN’s Board currently consists of seven people, bringing together diverse experience, skills and knowledge to work collaboratively to provide governance. The Board is supported in this, by the designated interim Chair and the Executive team. We are currently looking to appoint up to three new members for the DAN board plus a Chair.

This is a three-year appointment, unremunerated, with access costs and reasonable expenses covered.

The Board members are responsible for ensuring that DAN meets our responsibilities as a Community Interest Company (CIC) through delivering our mission. Board members provide strategic oversight and governance across people, finance, delivery and compliance, overseeing and supporting the Executive and wider staff, freelance and volunteer team to deliver our vision and mission, ensuring our values are embedded in everything that we do.

In return, we provide the opportunity to be involved in a vibrant and growing Diverse  Network and ongoing training and development opportunities.

We are seeking interest from people with a commitment to and interest in our work and we welcome approaches from those experiences.

We welcome applications from individuals with skills in all areas of the arts and business sectors. Experience of the following would be particularly welcome to compliment our collective skillset:

• HR
• Business Development 
• Legal
• Fundraising 
• Marketing
• Membership development
• Agency Development
• IT

Diversity

Diversity is at the core of our organisation and everything we do.

DAN is committed to ensuring our governing body reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and actively seek to reflect a multitude of experiences and backgrounds and encourage applications from ethnically diverse backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ people, people with disabilities, other protected characteristics and those from working class backgrounds, currently underrepresented in high level arts roles.

For these appointments, we would particularly welcome applications from individuals from the global majority to maintain ethnic diversity on our Board to reflect our users, ethos, approach and lived experience.

Role of the Chair

The Chair will ensure DAN is fulfilling the CIC’s mission and vision, providing inclusive leadership to the Board, and ensuring that each Director fulfils their duties and responsibilities for the effective governance of the CIC.

The Chair will plan, with the support of the executive board, and run quarterly meetings, ensuring that matters are dealt with efficiently and impartially.

The Chair will represent the organisation’s vision and purpose, and advocate for the organisation at external events and meetings.

The Chair will conduct regular supervision sessions with the CEO to ensure alignment with strategic goals, provide support, and assess performance.

Board Members Role

DAN’s Board is legally responsible for;

• Ensuring DAN is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit and its communities.
• Complying with our governing document and the law.
• Acting in the organisation’s best interests.
• Ensuring our organisation is accountable.
• Managing resources responsibly.
• Acting with reasonable care and skill.

Duties

Board members have a collective responsibility, meaning (even when decision making is delegated), members act as a group and not as individuals. Within this, you are responsible to:

• Determine the overall direction and development of DAN, by setting the strategic direction and plan, organisational polices, budgets and ensuring targets are set and performance is monitored.
• Oversee financial plans and budgets and monitor and evaluate progress.
• Ensure that key risks are identified, monitored and controlled effectively.
• Review and approve DAN’s  financial statements.
• Provide support and challenge to the Executive team in the exercise of their delegated authority and affairs.
• Contribute to regular reviews of DAN’s  own governance.
• Attend Board and other meetings, adequately prepared to contribute to  discussions.
• Use independent judgement, acting legally and in good faith to promote and protect DAN’s  interests, to the exclusion of your own personal and/or any third party interests.
• Contribute to the broader promotion of DAN’s objects, aims and reputation by applying your skills, expertise, knowledge and contacts.

About You

• Commitment to our vision, mission and values.
• You bring enthusiasm, honesty and integrity to everything you do.
• Willingness and ability to understand and accept your responsibilities and liabilities as a director and to act in the best interests of the charity.
• A strong personal commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgement and work effectively as a board member.
• You encourage and support team working, problem solving, are confident to ask the difficult questions and able to be effective in collaborative decision making.
• Commitment to Nolan’s Seven Principles of Public Life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
• You understand the communities we serve.
• You will have experience, knowledge and skills in at least one of the following areas:
  • Lived experience relevant to our work (for example, as an artist/practitioner from a diverse cultural background, a person of the global majority, a business  entrepreneur).
  • Financial management (ideally with formal qualification).
  • Legal understanding of CIC’s Boards and Business.
  • People management.
  • CIC income generation.
  • CIC governance.

Time Commitment 

Board members are expected to attend the quarterly Board Meetings (usually 2 hours) and an annual Away Day. In addition,  they will be asked to serve on one of our Board subgroups which will be set up in the next year. You will need time to familiarise yourself with papers in advance of meetings, and where relevant, contribute to governing documents such as strategic plans, frameworks and policies. There is also the opportunity to be involved in other bespoke projects including events and recruitment.

This is a three-year appointment, unremunerated (voluntary), with access costs and reasonable expenses covered. There is potential for another term. 

Application Dates

• Closing Date: Midnight, Friday 17th January 2025
• Interviews: To be completed by WC Feb 3rd 2025 
• Handover for new Chair: Tuesday, March 25th, 2025  
• Induction for new board members: Tuesday, March 25th, 2025
• Ist Quarterly Board meeting: Friday, April 4th, 2025 from 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm

How to Apply 

Please send the following to hello@diverseartistsnetwork.com  

• A cover letter detailing your relevant experience and motivation for the role.
• A CV or portfolio highlighting your skills and achievements.
• Please complete the online Equal Opportunities Monitoring form.
• Please put “DAN Board Application” in the subject line of your email.