Head of Arts Participation (30 month contract) Closing date for applications: 25 July 2007 This role offers an exciting opportunity to head a new team which will lead on delivering the Arts Council’s strategic objectives for Arts Participation. The team forms part of the new re-organised structure at the Arts Council and the post-holder will have the opportunity to develop the work of this team. The field of work currently managed by the Arts Participation team includes Participatory Arts; Amateur and Voluntary Arts; Spectacle; Cultural Diversity; Arts and Health; Arts and Disability. Role overview Manage all elements of the Arts Council’s policy formulation, development initiatives, grant and relationship management in the area of Arts Participation; manage and motivate the Arts Participation team; collaborate with the Arts Director, the departmental management team and other staff in the implementation of specific cross-organisational projects to deliver the objectives set out in the Arts Council’s Partnership for the Arts. Principal responsibilities POLICY Develop relevant policy and appropriate strategies for the development of Arts Participation in line with Partnership for the Arts Customise the Arts Council’s support programmes to meet the development needs of organisations and individuals central to the success of the Council’s policies on Arts Participation IMPLEMENTATION Develop and implement a work programme which realises the Arts Council’s overall strategic goals for Arts Participation Gather and maintain key intelligence on Arts Participation and maintain excellent communication with relevant key individuals and organisations Advise the Arts Council on the best use of funds and the optimum deployment of resources for grant and non-grant supports Lead and manage the on-going development of relationships with relevant funded organisations and the wider arts community Develop in collaboration with Arts Director an annual budget and manage performance against this budget with assistance from Finance as required Collaborate with other managers in the effective utilisation of all resources so that peaks and troughs are well managed Collaborate with the Information and Research manager to ensure that all relevant research projects are well designed and brought to fruition to the required quality Manage, through the relevant Advisers and Support Staff, the achievement of all of the objectives of the team, as set out in the Team Responsibilities Document attached Ensure that policy and development issues fully inform the grant-making and other activities GENERAL MANAGEMENT Lead, motivate and manage a team of Advisers and Support Staff to the delivery of excellent customer service and the delivery of Partnership for the Arts within a focused team environment Agree with all advisers and support staff key work priorities on an annual (and on-going) basis Manage the team’s input into the various decision making processes (Senior Management Team, Committees, Panels, Council) in liaison with the Operations Team Manage the records and information needs of the team Manage the inputting of Arts Council grant decisions onto the Management Information System Manage one’s own Health and Safety at work and ensure that one does not personally put at risk the Health and Safety of others Provide, as directed from time to time, appropriate assistance to other Sections/Departments where urgent and important work peaks occur Undertake other responsibilities and duties as may be agreed from time to time with management Person specification The post holder will have a third level qualification (or equivalent); a minimum of five years relevant experience, and: a proven track record in and demonstrable commitment to the development of Arts Participation across all the art forms a keen understanding of the policy environment for arts development, in particular for Arts Participation and its related areas an ability to think analytically and communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively good interpersonal skills, including an ability to listen and negotiate evidence of experience in strategy development and implementation evidence of experience in managing funding and other client relationships a detailed knowledge and understanding of the key strategic issues relevant to arts development in the current environment excellent standards of written and oral communication a commitment to high standards of public service experience in management and administration Responsibilities of Head of Arts Participation Team Focus area responsibilities Artists The Council’s policies and practices as they relate to the professional development needs of artists and practitioners of participatory arts practice and the conditions that affect their work Funding The Council’s funding programmes, including those externally managed, which are central to the arts participation policy incl. Artist in the Community Scheme. At present this also includes grants to individuals, project, annual, programme and regular funding The proposal of improvements and refinements to the Council’s funding programmes as they affect arts participation The maintenance of good quality relationships and being familiar with the work of a number of key funded organisations that are central to the delivery of the Council’s policies for arts participation Partnerships The encouragement and maintenance of partnerships with a range of stakeholders concerned with development of arts participation including key players in the voluntary arts sector The maintenance of relationships with the Department of Justice and other stakeholders toward the delivery of policy and programmes on cultural diversity Advocacy and initiatives Seek partners to advocate for greater recognition of the contribution that arts participation programmes can make to a wide range of public policy objectives The proposal of programmes and interventions that enable a sharing of information and experience from high quality participation practice Policy making and research The regular updating of the Council’s policies for arts participation The creation and maintenance of access to the best quality intelligence about current and future trends in literature The development of a policy on cultural diversity The development of a policy on amateur and voluntary arts Basis of employment This temporary post is offered as a project for a 30 month period.

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