Chair of the Board

INTRODUCTION

Rhiannon Faith Company is Artistic Director Rhiannon Faith, Executive Director Maddy Morgan, Producer Anna Dominian and our wonderful Board of Directors.

Rhiannon Faith Company is an ACE NPO 2023-2027; this is an exciting time of growth and development for the company. We are deepening our roots in Harlow, developing our flagship project The Care House Project into an annual offer for Harlow communities; and widening our reach with national and international audiences, developing and touring groundbreaking midscale work.

Rhiannon Faith Company has ambitious plans for growth, pushing against the tide of sector shrinkage to deliver greater impact with and for our communities and audiences. The Chair of the Board is an integral part of the company.

We are looking for an ambitious Chair who can lead the Board and work together with the Directors to grow the company and push the boundaries of what dance theatre can do and who it can be for.

ABOUT RHIANNON FAITH COMPANY

Olivier Award Nominated Rhiannon Faith Company makes radically tender dance theatre, working nationally on big stages and locally with communities on the margins, always with social change and care at its heart. We are brave, compassionate, and fearlessly push the boundaries of performance to make shows that speak to, reach and bring people together. Our daring and audacious spirit drives sector change by delivering socially engaged, unforgettable shows and legacy packages. We go to the heart of injustice, working collaboratively with local communities, participants, artists, third sector partners and arts organisations to ensure our work serves the people and promotes community belonging and empathy. Based in Harlow, Essex, with nation-wide impact, we are making bold, ambitious moves to secure a future as global leaders in original dance theatre with a social purpose, to champion community transformation and authentic belonging for all. Rhiannon Faith Company have been nominated for five National Dance Awards; ‘Best Independent Company’ 2021, 2022 & 2023, ‘Best Digital Choreography’ (DROWNTOWN LOCKDOWN) in 2021 and ‘Best Dance Film’ (DROWNTOWN live film) in 2022. In addition, Rhiannon Faith was nominated for an AWA Women In Dance Leadership Award 2022. New work Lay Down Your Burdens was nominated for a 2024 Olivier Award for ‘Outstanding Achievement in Dance’ and shortlisted for a 2024 One Dance UK Award for ‘Innovation in Dance’. For more information on the company’s work, please visit www.rhiannonfaith.com

OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE

We are looking for a Chair of the Board who can act as an inspirational and influential advocate to champion the company and help steer the organisation through the next phase of growth and development.

We are looking for someone with experience of cultural leadership and building cultural partnerships, who can offer support and challenge to the Directors, who can lead with care and integrity, and who can elevate the company by bringing new ideas and expertise.

Time commitment:

• 4 board meetings per year; We meet online for 2 hours at a time that works best for the Board of Directors (currently on a Tuesday evening)
• Sub-committee/working group meetings as required
• Individual meetings with the Artistic and Executive Director as required
• 1 in person board away day each year
• Attendance at Rhiannon Faith Company performance and events
• Background reading and preparation as required
• Board members are invited to identify and take part in training session to ensure they are well equipped for the role

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Our new Chair will contribute to the company’s drive for growth and development with their ambition, knowledge and experience, and the following qualities:

• Lead with care and integrity
• Share the company’s values and belief in the arts as an agent for social change
• A strong commitment to the mission of Rhiannon Faith Company
• A strong understanding of governance and good practice in the non-profit sector, including legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities
• An ability to think creatively, critically and strategically, and a willingness to speak their mind
• A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort

We believe greater diversity and a wider range of views and ideas within our Board is vital to making our work stronger, more relevant and more inclusive and we welcome applications from people that bring difference. We particularly welcome applications from people of the Global Majority, people with disabilities (including ‘invisible’ disabilities or neurodiversity such as autism and dyslexia), people with lived experience of social injustices, and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and any other groups that remain underrepresented in our sector.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please send a covering letter of no more than one side of A4, or a video or audio recording of no more than 5 minutes, explaining:

• Why you would like to be the Chair of RFC’s Board of Directors
• Key experience, skills and values you would like to tell us about relating to the role and person specification

Please also include your CV, or a separate video or audio recording detailing your previous employment experience and any qualifications.

Applications should be sent to Rosanna Milsom, Interim Chair of RFC, on [email protected] with the subject line “Full Name – Chair Application”.

Please also help us by completing an Equal Opportunities form using this link  – this data is anonymous and will be used to help us monitor who our opportunities are reaching.

Deadline: Monday 2 December, midnight

Initial Meetings: w/c 9 December by mutual arrangement

The Chair will have the opportunity to attend our December 2024 Board meeting as an observer.

Rhiannon Faith Company welcomes and encourages applications from everyone regardless of their age, sex, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, disability or nationality.

Rhiannon Faith Company strives to do everything we can to make sure that everyone we work with is offered the best possible working environment. This might look different for different people and might involve us making reasonable adjustments or other adaptations both at interview stage and during the engagement. Visit our website to read our Access Rider and Care Policy.

We are a PiPA (Parents and Carers in Performing Arts) partner. PiPA enables and empowers parents, carers and employers to achieve sustainable change in attitudes and practices in order to attract, support and retain a more diverse and flexible workforce.

If you have any questions about this role, would like to arrange an informal chat before applying, or have any specific access requirements, please contact: Maddy Morgan, Executive Director, on [email protected].

Thank you for your interest in Rhiannon Faith Company.