Trustee Recruitment Pack

Trustee Recruitment Pack May 2018 AVAILABLE IN OTHER FORMATS INCLUDING LARGE PRINT

Cultural quarter, weekend events programme 2016 Contents Introduction 3 Background 4 The Role 10 Person Specification 11 Terms of Appointment 11 How to Apply 12 2 P a g e

Introduction The Cultural Trust Board and Charity was established in 2008 and is now celebrating its tenth year. Some of us have been around since the start and other Trustees have joined us on our exciting journey. We now seek applications to join the board of trustee team. This is such an exciting time to join the board as we have already launched our Hat District major capital project which will lead us to a sustainable future. We aim for independence, whilst still nurturing our incredibly strong partnerships with our funders Luton Borough Council, the London Luton Airport Limited and Arts Council England who awarded us NPO status this year. Things really are moving from strength to strength, but there are always new opportunities as well as challenges that a diligent team of trustees need to consider. Our Chief Executive Marie Kirbyshaw started with us in 2005 and we have a business plan with very clear priorities and a refined arts and cultural offer which focusses on three cultural heritage sites and our library and learning services. We have restructured our staff team to reflect this, and have rationalised the estate we lease from the Council. We have also purchased our first freehold properties by acquiring two empty hat factories in Luton s cultural quarter for a new creative business venture, for which we have secured over 7m in 18 months. Our executive team are good at raising funds and developing partnerships. 2016/17 we secured 375K from Arts Council England to deliver a public realm arts project in the town centre, and 3.9m from the Local Growth Fund through the South East Midlands LEP for our Hat District creative cluster. With funding from Luton Borough Council, Heritage Lottery Fund and many other funders and partners we re-opened Wardown House, Museum & Gallery in April 2017 after a 3.5m refurbishment. Being a trustee in this dynamic cultural organisation and working with such a committed and skilled team it s an incredible honour and extremely rewarding. I hope you find this pack of interest and that you begin to get a feel about our work, values and the role of trustee here. I welcome your application to come join our team. Nick Gibson Chair of Trustees 3 P a g e

Background Stockwood Discovery Centre, collection and gardens, Luton Luton Culture Trust is an independent charity and company limited by guarantee established in 2008. We produce and present year-round programmes of activity across our two theatres, museums, arts centre, gardens, historic hat factories and network of libraries. We deliver and develop library services for Luton Borough Council and we also manage the town s heritage collections and archives. We have a collection of over 2 million artefacts, and we hold the most extensive and complete hat and headwear collection in the UK and the Mossman carriage collection at Stockwood Discovery Centre is the largest in Europe. We have an incredible resource of over 1.5m local photographs and maps and provide access to over 6m books through the London Libraries Consortia. We are proud to be based in Luton and we welcome thousands of regular local and regional users to our venues. We also invite the wider international community to engage with this incredibly diverse and stimulating town through our cultural offer. Our purpose Our Vision Our Strategic Aim Our values We are a vibrant and progressive cultural Trust focusing on arts and culture and our purpose is to widen reach and develop talent through high quality arts and culture is to be recognized as a national arts and cultural exemplar is to be financially sustainable by 2025 by generating over 50% of costs through our activity, facilities and trading drive our choices, approach and organizational culture we are; Passionate Relevant Inspirational Distinctive Ethical 4 P a g e

1. Hat District, Luton Cultural Quarter Luton Cultural Quarter We are developing a Creative Cluster of inspiring work, study and show spaces in the Luton Cultural Quarter. The Trust is building on its expertise in bringing creative and talented people together so that they can innovate and collaborate. Learning from the town s important history of hat making and manufacturing, the creative cluster will once again contribute to the local economy by increasing job opportunities, visitors and spend whilst regenerating the area and boosting pride of place. The Hat District Creative Cluster now consists of: Hat Factory Arts Centre, Hat Works (47 Guildford Street), Hat House (32 Guildford Street), Hat Studios (various). Two of these sites are vacant historic hat factories, which will be brought back into new use. The Hat District buildings are within the Plaiters Lea Conservation Area, also known as the Luton Cultural Quarter (LCQ), which is a key location for the future development of Luton. Luton Culture Trust is well placed to inject new life and vibrancy in this run-down area and protect the heritage of these old hat factories which are currently falling into disrepair. The Trust has developed a business model that shows how the Hat District will be self-funding by 2022. This project will strengthen the Trust s position, pay for itself and return a surplus for further investment. The Hat District cluster project is the first step towards stabilising and sustaining the Trust s long-term position. For more information please visit www.hatdistrict.co.uk The Hat District project will: Develop 25,832sqft of new and bespoke creative business workspace in the quarter Support, develop and enable 133 additional Creative and Digital Industries jobs by 2021 Have an economic impact of 29m Boost the local economy by attracting 135,000 more visits to the four sites by 2022 Grow a vibrant creative ecology and life-style brand 5 P a g e

2. Hat Factory Arts Centre The Hat Factory Arts Centre, Luton The Hat Factory Arts Centre is one of Luton's leading arts and entertainment venues, featuring live music, club nights, theatre, dance, films, children's activities, workshops, talks, networks and exhibitions. The Hat Factory is a centre of artistic excellence set within a vibrant urban environment. We specifically target young and diverse audiences to engage in our programmes, but welcome everyone to be inspired by the UK s leading arts practitioners and to develop artistic skills and talents. Complementing our own programming, we welcome local/regional promoters to the venue, broadening our music offer and at the same time supporting young promoters and their businesses. We programme contemporary theatre and dance with a focus on fresh, new and relevant stories from both established and emerging touring companies who are making high quality work in the UK. We work with companies such as Earthfall, Chickenshed, New International Encounter (NIE), Trestle, Menagerie, Eastern Angles, Atma, State of Emergency, 30 Bird, Tavaziva, Analogue and Jean Abreu Dance. The Hat Factory Arts Centre comprises of a 90 seat studio theatre, a basement venue, gallery and flat floor music venue, 13 workspaces, meeting rooms and offices. We attract over 30,000 visits a year. The Hat Factory Arts Centre also provides inspiring workspaces for creative, design and digital businesses and artists. We bring creative industries and talented people together so that they can innovate, collaborate and generate new businesses. Connors Café Bar at The Hat Factory is a vibrant, modern café which serves a fresh menu of homemade food and locally sourced produce. We are a fully licensed venue, serving a variety of beers, wines, ciders, ales, freshly blended milkshakes and a large variety of soft drinks, as well as fairly and sustainably sourced Grumpy Mule coffee. In April 2018, we are closing the hat Factory for a 12-month refurbishment. For more information on the Hat Factory, click here: http://www.lutonculture.com/hat-factory/ 6 P a g e

3. Library services and community centres Central Library, Luton We deliver library services for Luton Borough Council across Luton Central Library, five branch libraries, and the home library service. In addition there are three library access points in community centres across the town. These libraries serve around 700,000 visitors a year, issue 500,000 items and provide access to over 100 public computers. We are part of the London Libraries Consortium which is made up of 18 authorities; customers now have access to over six million items of stock. We offer access to a wide range of library services online and via an app, including online book renewal, reservations or requests; e-book downloads; online courses with Universal Class; online language courses with Transparent Languages; online newspapers with Press Display and online magazines with Zinio. The libraries also offer Homework Help, Bookstart activities, Rhyme Time sessions for under-fives, reading groups, Lego Club, Library Games, Yu-gi-oh groups and other seasonal activities like the Summer Reading Challenge. We manage a network of 5 community centres across the town, which provide hirable community spaces for groups, businesses, events and other activities. The community centers house Libraries or library access points. For further information on our libraries click here: http://www.lutonculture.com/luton-libraries/ 7 P a g e

4. Stockwood Discovery Centre Stockwood Discovery Centre, Luton Stockwood Discovery Centre is located in the Georgian Grade II listed stable block and walled garden of the former Stockwood House. It reopened in 2008 after a 6m investment programme and includes interactive displays exploring local history from prehistoric times to the present, a temporary exhibitions programme, an award-winning carriage display, a visitor centre with a shop and café, an outdoor children s discovery area and world, sensory, medicinal and wildlife gardens. Stockwood Discovery Centre includes walled gardens, woodland, historic greenhouses, beautifully designed formal gardens and an array of specialist plants, shrubs and trees. The garden is one of the few places in the country where the work of acclaimed artist Ian Hamilton Finlay can be seen on permanent display. The site is free to access as are the Museums and so the site is very popular with people of all ages throughout the year. The Garden Café is open every day and provides an exceptional variety of food and drinks to the many thousands of visitors every week. Our Museum galleries present local history, carriage and car collections and tell the stories of real people behind the collections, exploring the history of the region from prehistoric times to the modern day. Highlights include the Wenlok Jug - a rare medieval masterpiece with strong links to Luton s history and development, the town s last tram, and the famous Mossman collection of carriages - the largest collection of its kind on display in the UK. For further information on Stockwood Discovery Centre, click here: http://www.lutonculture.com/stockwood-discovery-centre/ 8 P a g e

5. Wardown House, Museum and Gallery Wardown House, Museum & Gallery, Luton Wardown House, Museum and Gallery is a mid-victorian, Grade II listed building situated in the beautiful landscaped Wardown Park on the outskirts of Luton town centre. Entry and parking is free and the House provides inspiring, eclectic and beautifully curated collections for people of all ages. The museum underwent a 3.5m redevelopment during 2016, reopening in April 2017 following a 1.8m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to conserve the historic building and transform the way its story is told. Wardown house now gives visitors an insight into a wealthy family home during the Victorian period as the original use of each room is communicated through the collections including the Billiard Room, Smoking Room, Library and Kitchen. With and exemplary hat collection, local and social historical collections, the displays chart the development of Luton and celebrate its diverse communities. Originally designed in 1872 as a private residence for Frank Scargill, a local solicitor, the house was bought by two local Councillors in 1903 who opened up the grounds as a public park. The house was used as a military hospital during the First World War before becoming a museum in 1931. A new café provides direct access to the park and the Morning Room is now an art gallery as well as venue for weddings and exhibitions, and extensive work has made the building fully accessible. The Dining Room at Wardown House, Museum & Gallery, Luton For further information on Wardown House, Museum & Gallery, click here: http://www.lutonculture.com/wardown-house/ 9 P a g e

6. The Board of Trustees role and responsibilities Trustees of the Board are charged with ensuring the Trust operates in accordance with company and charity law and is prudently financially managed. Trustees contribute their experience and expertise to the Board s role of determining the strategic direction, policies and planning of the Trust. 6.1 The Board: Under the leadership of the Chair and delegations to the Chief Executive, the Board shall develop the Trust s long-term strategic direction, ensuring the organisation keeps to its objectives. The Board sets policy, defines high-level goals, manages risk and evaluates performance against agreed targets. The Board is professional, decisive and collective in its approach to governance by discussing, understanding and agreeing strategic matters. The Board is responsible for ensuring they remain up-skilled, relevant and knowledgeable as a team about the Trust s work, charity law requirements and that they are clear about the role they play on the Board. 6.2 Trustees: All Trustees are advocates for the organisation and promote its purpose, attend arts and cultural activity and appropriate stakeholder events, meetings and networks. Trustees shall also use their expertise, knowledge, networks and contacts to promote the work of the Trust in a consistent and promotional way as agreed by the Board and Chief Executive. 6.3 Governance: Ensure that the organisation functions within the legal, charitable and financial requirements of a charitable company limited by guarantee with a trading company and strives to achieve best practice. To ensure the financial stability of the organisation and the proper investment of funds in protecting the future of the Trust and that reserves meet obligations. To ensure due diligence is applied to all Board decisions in relation to investments and longterm financial planning. 6.4 Employment and Personnel Duties: To appoint the Chief Executive, who reports to the Chair. To approve the organisation s staffing structure and employment policies. To ensure the safe and efficient use of premises for staff, contractors and public. 6.5 Board Sub-Committees: The Trust has three sub-committees, a nominations committee that responds to recruitment and one capital and special projects board. These groups have delegated responsibilities and report to quarterly trustee meetings. The sub-committees are: Finance & resources Trading Company Human Resources & Policies Membership requires relevant skills and experience from Trustees and who can co-opt other specialisms as and when required. It is expected that all Trustees contribute to at least one subcommittee. 10 P a g e

7. The Person Specification 7.1 Specialisms: The key areas we seek specific expertise is in: Commercial business/retail Human resources Property development and capital Public relations/marketing IT and digital 7.2 Diversity: We aim for our Board to reflect the diversity of our customers and geography. We welcome applications from Young People; Women; Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and people with disabilities. 7.3 Skills & Experience: Trustees require the following skills and experience: Enthusiasm for arts and culture and a passion of the Trust s work and values Strong communication skills including ability to contribute effectively at meetings Ability to understand and influence local, regional and national cultural agendas Experience in understanding and resolving complex management information Qualities that inspire confidence in staff, trustees, customers and stakeholders Ability to share and embrace knowledge and specialisms in order to work as a team Skills to support the CEO and leadership team in delivering the Trusts objectives Good understanding of legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship 8. Terms 8.1 Time Commitment: Trustees are required to commit time to attend all of the following: Quarterly Board meetings (normally Thursdays 4pm-7pm) and annual AGM Annual Away-day One specialist role on a project or sub-committee (minimum 4 x 2 hour meetings per year) One staff meeting/social/networks per annum Key events and activities (2 per annum minimum) 8.2 Remuneration: The voluntary position is unpaid but all appropriate travel, hospitality and administrative expenditure is reimbursed. 8.3 Benefits: We value the input of Trustees and encourage enjoyable engagement, so we provide free tickets to events and high quality hospitality at all our meetings. We also provide training and development, look and see visits and visiting speakers to expand Trustees knowledge and update on context. 8.4 Duration: The appointment is for three years and expected to start during 2018. Successful Candidates will be co-opted for an induction period of 6-months (two meetings). Upon mutual satisfaction between the Chair and the co-optee, a decision shall be made to become a full Trustee. The appointment can be renewed for a second term of three years. 11 P a g e

9. Who can be a Trustee? The Charity Commission publication The Essential Trustee What You Need to Know provides further information regarding the responsibilities of charity trustees. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-essential-trustee-what-you-need-to-know-cc3 10. How to Apply To apply please provide the following: A letter of application outlining how you meet the person specification (section 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3). A comprehensive CV and biography outlining your roles, responsibilities and achievements. Please include details of any service as a Board Trustee or any other voluntary/community work. Contact details and address. Name of two referees. Please e-mail your application to: LCSTEAtoCE@luton.gov.uk Naailah Tourabaly Executive Assistant Luton Culture The Hat Factory Arts Centre 65-67 Bute Street Luton LU1 2EY If you would like an informal conversation about the role prior to submitting an application please call Marie Kirbyshaw, Chief Executive on 01582 878121. Equal Opportunities Policy The Cultural Trust is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to fair and open competition. Applications from under-represented groups are particularly welcome. Under the Equality Act (2010), we are legally required to consider making reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled people are not disadvantaged in the recruitment and selection process. We are therefore committed to meeting, wherever possible, any needs you specify in your application. We will also consider any reasonable adjustments under the terms of the Act to enable any applicant with a disability (as defined under the Act) to meet the requirements of the post. 12 P a g e