The Opportunity

This exciting new post funded by Scottish Government aligns with WHALE Arts 5-year Strategic Plan.

The post-holder will have two connected key responsibilities: Enterprise & Facilities

At WHALE Arts we strive to create the conditions for our communities to work alongside artists and cultural practitioners to become creative agents for change who will proactively co-design, participate in, support or lead quality creative activity at all stages of their lives.

The WHALE Arts Centre is essential for supporting our broad and diverse activities and that of our tenants and the team pride themselves on creating an inclusive welcome community building and to create the conditions for ambitious and community embedded projects. You will bring a sensitive, flexible approach to work with visitors, volunteers and staff alike.

There is no typical day at WHALE Arts: you could be taking part in a team meeting, attending breakfast with our members, inputting into a funding application, covering a reception break and on to check the quality of a maintenance job. All while chatting with the diverse range of people who are part of the WHALE Arts community.

Facilities – Overseeing the day-to-day management, maintenance and improvement of the building as WHALE Arts key asset to ensure it continues to serve local residents, participants, tenants, staff, and room rental customers to the highest possible standards.

Enterprise - Developing and managing WHALE Arts as an economically sustainable community-led social enterprise maximising the income generation potential of the organisation through events, long-term and ad-hoc rentals. And to take the lead on exciting new social enterprise activity working alongside our members and local residents. There is vast unexplored potential and a wealth of local ambition for new community-led enterprise activity in Wester Hailes – the key focus for 2020 – 2022 will be establishing and testing a community cafe, a community making workshop, a crèche, a digital studio, and the development of community markets, creating new paid and voluntary work opportunities for local residents. The post-holder will also work closely with the Chief Executive and the Trustees on the process of purchasing the land of the land on which the WHALE Arts building sits (asset-transfer).

The Opportunity

This exciting new post funded by Scottish Government aligns with WHALE Arts 5-year Strategic Plan.

This part-time role will be responsible for raising both core and restricted income from charitable trusts, grants and statutory funders. Part of a small team, this varied role includes research, proposal writing, cultivation and stewardship and reporting. Comfortable writing for diverse audiences from small family trusts to lottery funders and government departments, the post-holder will be an experienced, results-driven fundraiser seeking an interesting and fulfilling role in a successful community arts charity and social enterprise.

A Job Description is available for download below.

WHALE Arts Agency, a thriving place-based and building-based cultural anchor organisation for Wester Hailes, is seeking to identify a new member of its Board of Directors with a background in accounting or financial management to support the organisation develop and deliver future aspirations in support of the Strategic Plan.

Our Mission:We create the conditions for our community in Wester Hailes to work alongside artists and cultural practitioners to become agents for change who will proactively co-design, participate in, support or lead quality creative activity at all stages of their lives.

Our Vision: Wester Hailes is a creative, thriving, resilient, fair community.

WHALE Arts 5-year Strategic Plan can be viewed here: issuu.com/whalearts/docs/strategic_plan_whale_2019_-_2024__web_version_

Our current Board members have expertise and experience at a senior level in marketing, education, arts and culture. Expertise and experience of financial management and financial good governance are seen as a core capability required to augment and compliment the current Board experience and this vacancy has arisen as Lorraine Johnston who has provided the accounting oversight and insight has recently stepped down after almost 7 years’ service.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone wishing to experience a role at Board level while providing financial acumen, support and oversight to the other Board members and support a vibrant arts organisation. Ideally the candidate would be a qualified accountant however candidates with equivalent experience and proven track record in financial management, or equivalent, would be considered. The successful candidate must be able to position and explain accounting and financial data in a way that the non-accountant board members would understand. The organisation has accounting, payroll management and management accounting & reporting in place at an operational level and it is not expected that the Board member be involved in the day to day accounting and control activities.

We invite expressions of interest from suitably experienced individuals. Previous experience of board membership, and a genuine interest in the transformative power of the art are essential. Candidates must be prepared to contribute their professional knowledge, strong business contacts, and a firm commitment to actively promoting and supporting WHALE Arts Agency at a National level.

Board meetings are held every 6 weeks, in WHALE’s purpose built building in Wester Hailes. In addition, the board member with financial expertise provides support and advice to the executive team as required and supports the executive team in managing the relationship with the organisations appointed external examiners.

This is a voluntary role and WHALE’S Board Members are highly valued for the vital role they fulfil in providing professional guidance and financial governance for our thriving organisation. The Board, like the organisation, is friendly and informal and maintains the highest possible standards in its duties of governance and oversight of the business.

For further information visit http://www.whalearts.co.uk/vacancies/vacancy-finance-board-member/