Job Description
Trustee Opportunities at Aberdeen Arts Centre
Seeking Senior Leaders to Shape the Future of a Cultural Institution
Aberdeen Arts Centre is inviting expressions of interest from accomplished professionals to join its Board of Directors. This is an opportunity to contribute your strategic expertise to one of the North-East’s most important creative organisations.
Our mission is driven by three core aims:
• Providing a vibrant venue for performance and visual arts
• Delivering high-quality arts education across performing and visual disciplines
• Championing the visibility and impact of the arts sector locally and regionally
Together, these aims support the cultural life and wellbeing of Aberdeen, the wider region, and its communities.
The Role of a Trustee
As a board member, you will play a central role in shaping the organisation’s long-term strategy, ensuring robust governance, and acting as an ambassador for Aberdeen Arts Centre and the wider creative sector. Trustees bring insight, challenge, and leadership—helping to secure a sustainable and ambitious future for the organisation.
Previous board experience is welcome but not essential. We provide guidance and support to help you contribute effectively. Trustees typically attend monthly or bi‑monthly board meetings and are encouraged to leverage their professional expertise and networks to advance our charitable objectives. Above all, a genuine passion for the arts is key.
Who We’re Looking For
We are particularly keen to hear from senior leaders and C‑suite professionals with expertise in:
• Marketing, Branding, or Advertising
• Fundraising, Philanthropy, or Income Generation
• Business Growth, Commercial Strategy, or Business Development
We also welcome interest from individuals with senior experience in:
• Hospitality
• Creative sector leadership (theatre, music, visual arts)
Desirable Attributes
• Previous board or committee experience (not essential)
• Understanding of the charity or cultural sector
• Experience of organisational transformation, change management, or scaling impact
Our Recent Journey: A Community That Stands Behind Its Arts Centre
In recent years, Aberdeen Arts Centre has benefited from an extraordinary outpouring of public support through the Save the Arts Centre campaign. This community‑led effort demonstrated just how deeply valued the organisation is across the city and region. Audiences, artists, local businesses, and supporters came together with a clear message: the Arts Centre matters.
The campaign was a powerful reminder of the role we play in the cultural life of Aberdeen - and of the strength of the community that stands behind us. It also marked the beginning of a new chapter. With renewed energy, a committed team, and a clear strategic focus, we are now building on that momentum to strengthen the organisation for the long term.
As we continue this work, the Board is playing an active role in guiding the organisation through a period of development and renewal. We are meeting more frequently at present to maintain close strategic alignment, with the intention of moving to a quarterly meeting cycle once we reach a more settled operating rhythm.
For prospective trustees, this is an opportunity to join an organisation with deep community backing, a clear sense of purpose, and a genuine appetite for positive change. Your expertise can help us build on the foundations laid by the campaign and ensure the Arts Centre continues to thrive for generations to come.If you are motivated by the opportunity to influence the strategic direction of a cultural organisation and support the creative life of the region, we would be delighted to hear from you.