We are looking for an excellent communicator and creative thinker with experience in traditional and digital communications and an interest in the arts, to take up the freelance role of Communications Officer of StAnza, producer of Scotland’s annual international poetry festival and associated activities.

Held every year in St Andrews, StAnza celebrated its 25th festival last year, re-framed by the new Artistic Director as an ‘intervention’ in poetry, committed to exploring questions at the forefront of poetry and its role in the world, and delivered in hybrid form. At the same time, two new outreach programmes were launched, aimed at engaging and encouraging new audiences.

Building on the successful delivery of this ambitious new direction, we are now undertaking an organisational restructure to ensure that StAnza has the capacity to develop our activities over the coming years. As part of this we are recruiting a Communications Officer, who will support the Artistic Director and Operations Manager with spreading the word about StAnza’s activities and initiatives, (re)engaging existing attendees and developing new audiences.

StAnza, Scotland’s unique international poetry festival, is looking for new members to join the Board of Trustees. Having delivered a hugely stimulating hybrid festival this year, StAnza is at an exciting time in its development, entering a changed and challenging arts environment under its Festival Director, Lucy Burnett.

We are aiming for inclusivity, richness of experience and diversity to ensure a StAnza Board of Trustees that reflects the diversity of contemporary society. We would expect most applicants to have an active interest in poetry, whether as writers or readers, and we value knowledge of and contacts in the Scottish poetry scene within its broader UK & international contexts

Specifically, we seek new trustees who can complement our existing board of trustees in these fields:

• Financial management
• Fundraising, audience development & commercial partnerships / opportunities
• Working with young people & schools
• Environmental issues in an arts context
• Digital arts.

We are looking for people to fill two posts in particular:

• Treasurer
• Secretary.

The Board meets 4/5 times a year, generally alternating between St Andrews and Edinburgh, although at present meeting by Zoom. It is currently chaired by Dr Robyn Marsack, who would welcome inquiries from those interested in joining the Board. (Marjorie Lotfi will become Chair from May 2022.)