Create London commissions architecture and art that is ambitious, purposeful and useful. It works over the long-term, and in ways that can bring agency and positive impacts for local residents, partners and artists, architects and other creative practitioners. Having worked with more than 400 artists and reaching audiences of over 400,000, the organisation’s work exists on different scales and timeframes encompassing policy and planning, buildings and infrastructure, residencies and public programmes.

Over its ten-year history, the charity's focus has shifted from temporary projects in east London to establishing long-term artist-and-community-led initiatives across the UK. Since 2011, it has helped to set up ten new organisations which include an adventure playground, a community-minded art school, and London’s leading employability programme for young people in the creative sector. At the centre of its current programme is a year-long, multi-disciplinary programme marking the centenary of Britain’s largest social housing estate, a home for artist’s residencies and community-led programmes at The White House, and a new model for long-secure housing for creative professionals, A House for Artists.

The charity's previous support in policy underpins its practice and it has collaborated with the Universities of Edinburgh, Goldsmiths and Sheffield to commission, and make public, pioneering research on inequalities in the UK cultural industry. Create London is part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio.

Chair

The Chair and the Board of Trustees have the same general responsibilities and are collectively responsible for the success of Create London. The Chair will provide leadership and direction to the Board of Trustees, ensuring that they work effectively, independently and fairly. They will support the Artistic Director and Executive Director, review their performance, as well as work together in partnership to support the staff to achieve the goals of the organisation. They will be instrumental in steering the relationship between the Executive and the Board and act as a sounding board to the Senior Management Team in between board meetings

Furthermore, the Chair must ensure that the Board fulfils its responsibilities of overall governance and strategic direction for the organisation, including all legal responsibilities; plan and chair the meetings of the Board and ensure that decisions are documented and implemented; and represent the organisation at appropriate events and meetings.

The Chair will act as an ambassador for Create London, promoting and advocating the charity’s work and taking positive action to promote equality, inclusion and diversity, and be the spokesperson for the Board where appropriate.

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Trustees

As part of Create London's exciting new strategic direction entering its second decade, it is now looking to expand its Board of Trustees. The new Trustees will use their specific skill set and relevant experience to help the Board make strategic decisions and expand its reach in order to have a positive impact in local communities and their audiences.  

The Trustees will have a strong alignment with the vision and mission of Create London and will proactively help to work towards its success and ambition. In addition to the formal Board meetings, Trustees will be willing to undertake informal engagement with the charity, including providing advice on an ad hoc basis to the management team. Trustees will be expected to use their specific knowledge and experience to help the Board reach sound decisions, assist the senior leadership team with advice as required, and keep informed about, and support as appropriate, the activities of the organisation.

Chair

Create London is seeking a visionary, strategic and committed leader to become Chair of the Board of Trustees.

The successful candidate could come from any sector and prior board experience is desirable, as well as an interest in the arts. Direct experience in education/arts/architecture is welcomed, although not essential; all candidates must have an understanding and awareness of the challenges and opportunities facing a small but ambitious cultural charity. They will need to be able to balance a commercial approach with a broader perspective and world-view needed to influence and guide a charitable organisation.

Create London is highly committed to being an inclusive and diverse organisation and so particularly welcomes applications from individuals from under-represented groups in the arts, especially at board level. The new Chair must be passionate and committed to Create London's aims and values and will be a strong advocate and ambassador for the arts. Further, the new Chair will also support the charity in its fundraising efforts and work to enhance Create London’s reputation and extend its contacts.

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Trustees

Create London is seeking five new Trustees who are aligned to its mission and have the relevant knowledge to specialise in one of the following areas to support the charity with its success. If candidates do not satisfy any of the specific skills mentioned below, those who can contribute to Create London's creative strategy are encouraged to apply as well. The charity especially welcomes applications from candidates who are looking to take on their first non-executive role.

Learning and engagement: This Trustee will have experience of research and / or delivery of learning practice, ideally within community settings to co-produce or collaborate on commissions. It is desirable that they bring experience working with underrepresented groups, children or young people, with knowledge from the higher education or museum sector. They will strategise to enrich the charity's engagement, assess and expand its current practice.

Digital expertise: This Trustee will help maximise digital capacity and profile. This area extends to the improvement / creation of new digital infrastructure to support the organisation’s reach locally, nationally and internationally, as well as income-generating opportunities. This reflects the need for a strong ‘digital home’ for a non-venue arts organisation.  

Sustainability and climate change: The Board is interested in candidates who bring a professional background in sustainability or environmental issues; candidates could come from an architecture, research, engineering, planning or consultancy background. They will have experience of advising organisations on how they improve their contribution to the environment and will be interested in the potential for a charity who builds towards having longer term sustainable impact.

Fundraising: This candidate would have demonstrated a track record of successful generating funding for a charitable organisation, including donor engagement and development.

Public planning, development and infrastructure: Since much of Create London’s work is based in the space of architectural policy and planning, buildings and infrastructure, it seeks a Trustee who can provide an advisory voice and strategic direction in these matters.

Social value and artistic practice: This Trustees represents an interest in socially-engaged artistic practice or expertise in measuring the social value of community-embedded art and architecture programmes. The candidate could come from a curatorial, artist or higher education background. 

This role is unremunerated but reasonable, pre-agreed travel expenses will be reimbursed. There are four Board meetings per year, as well as monthly meetings and communication as and when required for the Chair. The appointment is for three years, and may be extended for a second term. Travelling for in-person events is encouraged and would be greatly appreciated but is not mandatory. The charity is looking to appoint the new Chair by mid-April.