Lewisham Arthouse’s (LAH) associated charity South East Arts London (SEAL) are currently looking to recruit a volunteer trustee who is an experienced and critically engaged curator and cultural practitioner to join the Board. The role will be an exceptional opportunity to shape the dynamic governance of a unique cultural asset in Lewisham. We are looking for somebody who is able to network and support the development of our cultural capital and programmes at Lewisham Art House in collaboration with the co-operative that manages the resources of studio and exhibition spaces. Ideally we are looking for experience in fundraising, educational outreach, stakeholder management and insights into the drivers of cultural transformation at a local and national level. The Borough of Lewisham has a complex social and political fabric and we are keen to appoint board members who understand the opportunity for high quality arts provision in this context.
This comes as the organisation finds itself at an exciting and dynamic stage – expanding our ambitions to ensure a secure future and committing to the development of our role in the local community.
LAH is a cooperatively run not-for-profit, well-established, artist-led organisation, located in an elegant historic building in Lewisham. LAH is currently based in a Carnegie library, formerly Deptford Central Library, Grade II listed, 1910 -1914 Designed by A. Brumwell Thomas (1868 -1948). You can read more about the architectural history here and a timeline of the organisation, founded in 1992 is here
Our main activity is studio provision, and we have over 40 artist studio holder ‘members’. Besides renting space, each studio member commits at least 5 hours per month, meaning that the organisation is largely self-run and managed. As a place where artists and communities can learn, share, and collaborate, Lewisham Arthouse activities include educational and community workshops, public events and exhibitions, as well as offsite outreach education work across the borough.
The current SEAL board includes:
• John Drewitt (Chair), Retired Consultant at Forsters Solicitors
• Amanda Francis, University Lecturer (UEL) and long-term artist-member of LAH studios
• Nick Haseltine, Architect
• Mark Waugh, Director of Business Development at Design and Artist Copyright Society.
LAH is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or age. If you have an access requirement/s upon application we will do our best to accommodate you and use it as an opportunity to develop our inclusivity standards.
For more information about the role description, person specification and the current organisational affairs, please contact Reuben Thurnhill, General Manager: reuben.thurnhill@lewishamarthouse.org.uk Deadline: 30th September 2022, 5pm
Role description:
The trustee position is voluntary. The board meets 3 times a year for 1.5-2 hours. Whilst expertise of a particular trustee might be called upon between meetings this is generally only in an advisory capacity, with consultants and contractors employed to undertake major tasks. Trustees’ responsibilities are covered by Charity Commission guidelines found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/charity-trustee-whats-involved
Person specification:
• Network and support the development of our cultural capital and programmes at Lewisham Art House in collaboration with the Co-operative that manages the resources of studio and exhibition spaces
• Ideally we are looking for experience in fundraising, educational outreach, stakeholder management and insights into the drivers of cultural transformation at a local and national level.
• Understand the opportunity for high quality arts provision in this context.
Current organisational affairs:
• The affordable rates of studios are made possible through a no-rent license agreement between LAH co-op and Lewisham Council.
• The council requested that the co-op adopt a clearly accountable
organisational structure and as part of this process LAH applied and
successfully set up the charity South East Arts London (SEAL) in 2015 (Registered Charity No: 28058R).
• The trustees, appointed to manage SEAL, are currently supporting a business plan to transfer responsibility for the upkeep of the building from Lewisham Council to SEAL, who would like to take on a long-term lease.
• LAH currently has healthy finances, with a robust amount of cash in the accounts ready for reinvestment and further responsibilities when the lease is taken on. The key source of revenue is studio rent. The organisations’ operations are run by one paid administrator and the members through working groups.
• A recent building survey concludes there is no major structural work required and the building (insurable rebuild cost) is valued at £6.5m.
• The trustees recently secured LAH’s Asset of Community Value status, protecting the building from redevelopment for 5 years.
• Planned investment over the next five years includes further opening up the building to the public with some cosmetic work done to the front-of-house area to create a more welcoming environment and increased accessibility, including additional facilities based on the ground floor.
• LAH are looking at ways to improve access and inclusion for all. Last year members established an access and inclusion committee, appointed an inclusion consultant and have agreed to dedicate a percentage of profits towards training and programming in this area.
Application info:
Please send a cover letter (max 1 page) and a brief CV to LAH General Manager: reuben.thurnhill@lewishamarthouse.org.uk
Deadline: 30th September 2022, 5pm