Director - Yorkshire Artspace

Yorkshire Artspace is looking for a driven and visionary Director with a flair for inspiring and engaging others. This is an exciting opportunity to become the driving force behind a new chapter for this unrivalled Sheffield artistic institution with a national reputation. You will offer creative leadership as well as being responsible for the overall successful running of the organisation. You will be supported by a small but dedicated team of staff in supporting the interests and ambitions of a diverse group of over 170 Studio Holders and an active gallery programme.

Building on the success of the previous long-standing director who facilitated the acquisition of two stunning city-centre studio buildings to consolidate and guarantee Yorkshire Artspace’s position as a provider of excellent studio spaces in Sheffield, you will provide artistic leadership for a new era of the organisation. Working closely with the Board of Trustees and Studio Holders, you will develop the creative and strategic vision for the years ahead whilst protecting the organisation’s core values.

They are looking for someone who will actively capitalise on the existing strengths of Yorkshire Artspace, whilst creating room for change and development to drive the organisation forward as a centre of artistic excellence in the North and beyond; someone who is an excellent communicator and networker who is able to engage meaningfully with artists, local partners and the public; and who will represent Yorkshire Artspace and everything that makes it special and unique locally and nationally. You may come from an artistic or curatorial background, or a different background entirely; either way we are looking for someone with a genuine love for arts and crafts and the community that surrounds it. You should also have a clear understanding of the importance of artistic organisations like ours to the wider community. We are looking for someone with the dynamism and ambition to develop all that Yorkshire Artspace is, and could be, for its many stakeholders.

You will have experience in leading teams successfully and supportively, and have a good strategic mind with sound business acumen that you will apply to all areas of development at Yorkshire Artspace. You will have experience in applying for, and successfully securing, funding from the public and private sectors together with a sound understanding of other funding opportunities. Above all, this role is about passionate leadership, and having a nurturing creative vision that will take Yorkshire Artspace forward and allow us to grow over the next decade.

To apply
To apply for this post, send us a statement detailing your personal vision for the future of Yorkshire Artspace to info@artspace.org.uk, marked “For the attention of the Chair of Trustees of Yorkshire Artspace”. This should be accompanied by an up-to-date CV, a cover letter outlining your suitability for the role and contact details for two relevant references.

Shortlisting will take place on 25 November, with selected candidates being invited to visit Yorkshire Artspace on 2 December for a familiarisation day ahead of the interview process. This is an opportunity to meet staff and studio holders and begin to build an understanding of what Yorkshire Artspace is all about.

Interviews will be held on 9 December 2019.

Additional resources including a detailed job description, programme information, comments from studio holders and our most recent annual report are available to download at artspace.org.uk.

For more information visit http://www.artspace.org.uk/articles/were-hiring-director/