ARC is one of the UK’s leading multi-arts centres, closely connected to its local community and with a national reputation for its artistic and audience development work.
Its mission is to enhance the well-being of the whole community of Stockton and the wider Tees Valley, through arts and creative activity, the widening of opportunities to experience and participate in the arts, and partnership with other organisations. Having achieved financial stability, ambitious plans for continued growth are now in place.
To this end, ARC is now looking for new Board members to act as charity trustees and share its values and aims.
Annabel Turpin, ARC’s Chief Executive, says:
“This is a really exciting time for anyone to be joining ARC, and we hope to attract people who are passionate about creating opportunities for everyone to access arts and culture, and recognise the important part our work can play in achieving social change in our local community.”
ARC’s current Board is represented by people from all walks of life, including financial professionals, doctors, university lecturers, writers, marketing executives, and more. After a number of years on the Board, Dr Paul Williams, MP for Stockton South, has recently stepped down to focus on his parliamentary duties but remains a valued supporter of the organisation.
ARC would welcome applications from people with an interest in the arts who have experience and expertise in community development, financial management, general business, health, running not for profit or commercial organisations, those with experience of the issues facing local people, as well as individuals with good local networks. ARC’s Board is currently under-represented by Black and minority ethnic, and disabled candidates so applications from people of these backgrounds would be especially welcome.
Board membership is voluntary and as well as quarterly meetings, there is an expectation that Board members will attend events at ARC throughout the year.
During 2016/17 ARC’s activity included:
- 239 professional performances, as well as 88 community-led performances, attracting audiences in excess of 42,500
- More than 540 film screenings and live performances on screen, with audiences of over 14,000
- Employing more than 100 artists to provide 1,200 creative learning opportunities, enjoyed by more than 16,000 children, young people, disabled people, adults and older people
- Providing professional development and training opportunities for more than 200 artists and practitioners
- Producing and touring five small-scale productions, leading to 70 performances in other venues reaching audiences of more than 2,500