Trustee arts charity - Volunteer

We’re particularly interested in people with experience in

• Chairing
• Arts and cultural leadership
• Being an independent artist or creative practitioner
• Charity finance
• Fundraising
• HR
• Heritage, cultural building management

It is an exciting time to join BPH, as we build on over 6 years of successful programming that meets the needs of artists and creatives in Bradford. Following a productive partnership with Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and becoming a charity in 2025, we are now looking forward to new challenges and opportunities.

A just and joyful cultural future - powered by people, rooted in place, and open to all.

We imagine a creative sector where equity is the norm, not the exception. A cultural ecology where artists and communities, especially those historically excluded, can lead, shape, and thrive. Born in Bradford, our vision reaches beyond the city, a movement for systemic change, showing that local leadership can drive national transformation.

To dismantle the barriers that limit who gets to make, lead, and belong in the arts, and build more equitable systems in their place. Ensuring there is space to play, create, test and showcase work across all artforms.

We challenge inequality and advocate for structural change. Through deep collaboration, artist‑led development, and bold experimentation, we support those who’ve been sidelined by the status quo.

Our mission is to grow a resilient, inclusive creative sector that reflects the people it serves, values all forms of knowledge, and centres care, courage, and community in everything it does. Established in 2019 as a pilot project funded by Arts Council England, BPH emerged as a bold, needs‑led response to deep‑rooted and long‑standing inequalities in the arts sector. In 2023, BPH became an independent organisation, and in March 2025, we formally registered as a charity.

• We are radical, challenging, and courageous. We speak truth to power, ask hard questions, and aren’t afraid to disrupt the norm when change is needed.
• We are kind, nurturing, and supportive. We show up for each other, our communities, and the artists we serve.
• We are needs‑led and equity‑driven. We listen first, centre underrepresented experiences, and create space for others to lead.
• We are community‑spirited, transparent, and approachable. We co‑create with purpose and foster trusting and equitable partnerships.
• We are driven, progressive, and playful. We imagine boldly, work hard, and believe in the transformative power of creativity.
• We are dedicated, determined, and strategic. We stay rooted in our mission and committed to making real, necessary change.

Having carried out an audit of our current board members’ skills and experience, and being mindful of stable succession, we particularly welcome applications from people with relevant knowledge and experience in

• Chairing – experience in chairing, or a strong interest in developing into a Chair role in the future.
• Arts and/or cultural leadership – working at a strategic level across the local or national arts sector (e.g. understanding place‑based or specialist cultural development and policy).
• Artistic or creative – being an independent artist (e.g. a creative freelancer or practitioner of any artform) with a good understanding of the Bradford arts scene and being actively engaged in networks and sector‑facing work.
• Financial – charity accounting (e.g. accountancy, budget management with a deep understanding of financial reporting – such as management and annual accounts).
• Fundraising and/or charitable giving – especially in the arts and culture sector (e.g. experience in developing successful strategies to encourage donor relationships, donations and grants).
• HR and/or Legal – such as people management, recruitment and employment best practice.
• Heritage or capital development/building management – and the utilisation and activation of spaces for the arts and creative sector (e.g. experience of exhibition or studio space development and operation).

Hybrid

Trustees shape our long‑term strategy, influence cultural policy, and hold…