Paintings in Hospitals is the UK's leading national arts in health charity; the charity has 60 years' experience using art to improve wellbeing for over 300 healthcare and social care organisations. Paintings in Hospitals aims to transform the UK's wellbeing by using world-class art to inspire better health for patients, carers, and communities.

Studies show that art can help us stay well, aid our recovery from illness and injury, and support us to live longer, more fulfilling lives. Paintings in Hospitals believes that everyone should have the opportunity to experience these benefits. Its work is founded on Cultural Democracy: a democratic approach to arts and culture which actively engages everyone in determining what is classed as culture, where it happens, who makes it, and who accesses it. Paintings in Hospitals is committed to bringing art to everybody by providing artwork loans and art activities to all types of healthcare and social care.

The Board of Trustees play a vital role, overseeing major decisions about the charity. The Chair will provide guidance and appropriate support to the Board and Committees whilst contributing towards shaping Painting in Hospital's future strategy, demonstrating strategic leadership as well as overseeing governance and board development. In addition to their requirements as a Board member, the Chair will be expected to:

• Provide leadership to the Board, enabling the Board to discuss and agree on the policies, plans and priorities 
• Facilitate discussion during meetings, ensuring that appropriate time is spent on substantive items and encouraging all members to participate fully and contribute towards collective decision making
• Work closely with, and develop an open and collaborative relationship with the CEO
• Support the charity to raise its profile and spread more awareness of it by leveraging their networks and connections for charity fundraising purposes when required 
• Be willing, when required, to act as a spokesperson for the Board and the charity 

Paintings in Hospitals seeks an outstanding individual with a passion for art and wellbeing to join its Board as Chair and guide its organisational strategy forward. The successful candidate must have previous board experience as a Trustee of a charity, but Chair experience is not required. Previous board experience could be either for an arts organisation, non-profit, or both, but anyone with board experience as a Trustee is welcome to apply.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate strategic leadership experience as well as an understanding of governance and board development, differentiating between governance and management. A good knowledge of the art world including funding is desired. Above all, the candidate will be passionate about the use of art in health and wellbeing spaces, and will have the capacity and desire to give their time, share their skills and experience and contribute actively as a member of the Board.

Andrew Hochhauser QC - Chair

Stephen Crampton-Hayward FRSA - Deputy Chair and Treasurer

Dr Mary Black

David Cleaton-Roberts

Jeanette Grose

Professor Marion Lynch

Robert Milburn

Krishna Omkar

Farha Quadri

Tim Reeve

You can find out more about the Board composition here.  

Paintings in Hospitals actively encourages equality and diversity and it looks to recruit across age, gender, ethnicity and background. It is keen to improve the diversity of the Board and ensure that it is representative of the communities it supports. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.

This is a voluntary position with allowable expenses being paid. The Chair will serve a four-year term, which can be renewed once. The charity has a Finance & General Purpose Committee, Strategic Engagement Committee and an EDI Committee. The Chair will sit on the Finance & General Purposes Committee as a member. The role will start February 1st 2023, with observation beforehand at the Board meeting on October 26th 2022.

There are four Board meetings per year, with an additional four Committee meetings and one away day. Board meetings take place in London (although this is flexible), on weekdays in the early evening.