The Work Room is seeking new Board Trustees

We are seeking 4 – 5 people to join our Board of Trustees to support The Work Room in its mission to empower artists in making thoughtful and pioneering dance for diverse contexts at home and internationally.

Our Trustees include artist-members of The Work Room as well as people who bring expertise and experience from other sectors to our governance.

"The support offered by The Work Room is vital in these precarious times. Whether it be through advocacy, one-on-one advice or international exchange; residencies, bursaries or yearlong peer-supported research; The Work Room ensures that artists continue their work and that the Scottish dance sector remains vibrant and relevant. The impact of The Work Room is inspiring. Yet equally inspiring is the deeply embedded ethos of the organisation and the meaningful engagement with members that shapes how decisions are made and programmes are developed." - Kirsty Alexander, Co-Chair & TWR Member

Who we are looking for?

As a registered charity, The Work Room’s board of trustees are legally and ethically responsible for governing the organisation. The board includes artists from our membership as well as people who bring their experience from other areas of work. Collectively they support the strategic vision and leadership of the charity and ensure The Work Room remains true to its values, relevant to our artist communities, is well managed and financially sustainable.

The Work Room operates with a small, efficient and experienced staff team. We practice an alternative leadership model in the performing arts; one that embraces multiplicity rather than being focused on a singular artistic vision. Our approach leans into the collective; actively distributing power, shared agency & collegiate decision-making. A commitment to this, rather than traditional hierarchical dynamics, is critical for staff & trustees.

We’d love to hear from you if you share our values and are:

• Keen to generously share your experience and skills to support our work with independent dance artists;
• Committed to working inclusively to ensure our work is accessible and relevant;
• Interested in experimentation and new ideas as we respond to current and future challenges.

Some of the skills and knowledge that would be useful include:

• Organisational culture and HR;
• Research and Higher Education;
• Ethical and fair working practices;
• Experience and knowledge in dance, across different styles & genres;
• Communications
• Digital working and new technologies.

You don’t need to have previous experience of being on a board and for many of our existing trustees, this has been their first experience in such a role. The Trustees work collectively and you will be provided a full induction to help you understand the role and responsibilities of being a charity trustee. We also encourage trustees to undertake training opportunities which guide on best practice in governance.

These are voluntary roles with travel and access costs covered. We are committed to putting in place any access support required to enable full participation in board meetings, including childcare costs, providing BSL interpretation for meetings or providing information in different formats. We also want to make sure our board is made up of a diverse range of intersectional identities and experiences.

What the role involves

The role of the Board of Trustees is to support the work of The Work Room and provide leadership and strategic governance, in line with the core purpose and policies of the company.

The Work Room is a charity, and our board of trustees are guided by the guidance and good practice provided by the Office of Scottish Charity Regulator. OSCR (Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator) The board usually meets four times a year online and at an annual in-person away day. In addition to this we have an AGM (Annual General Meeting) of all members, and board members may get involved in events, training or on sub-committees focused on specific areas of work.

In preparation for these meetings and to enable us to move decisions forward there is also in between work anticipated such as reviewing board papers including financial reports. A key aspect of the role is to build a collegiate working relationship with The Work Room staff team and other board members contributing to collective and considered decision making.

We consider key qualities of board member include:

• Asking questions and participating in discussions leading to collective decision making;
• The ability to act discreetly and to respect confidentiality;
• A genuine interest in and commitment to The Work Room’s work, dance and artists as leaders;
• A willingness to learn about the wider context in which The Work Room is situated.