Artistic director

Closing date: 28th March 2025 at 5pm

Salary: Up to £41,000 per annum

Contract: Permanent, full-time (37.5 hours per week) (5 days, with a flexible approach)

Start date: From June 2025, dependent on notice period

Location: Smethwick, B67 5RJ

Black Country Touring (BCT) is seeking an inspiring and visionary artistic director to lead the Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation into its next chapter.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the cultural landscape of the Black Country, building on BCT's reputation for bold, inclusive, and community-driven theatre, dance, and film. We are looking for a dynamic creative leader who will champion underrepresented voices, nurture artists, and collaborate with communities to bring captivating and meaningful work to local and national audiences.

A commitment to collaboration, openness, and inclusivity will be key as you develop innovative programmes that break down barriers to participation and engagement.

Responsibilities

As Artistic Director, you will...

• Shape our artistic vision, balancing the leadership of our acclaimed touring scheme with the creation of ambitious new productions that are born from it.
• Work closely with artists, community groups and local people to co-create work that resonates with the lived experiences of people across the Black Country.
• Lead BCT's artistic and strategic direction alongside the Executive Director, whilst ensuring our work continues to inspire, challenge and reflect the communities we serve.
• Contribute to the wider arts ecology of the region, forging partnerships, supporting talent development, and advocating for the transformative power of the arts.
• Create opportunities for creativity to thrive in the Black Country, whether through intimate performances in community spaces or groundbreaking new productions.

If you are passionate about championing marginalised voices, fostering artistic excellence, and making high-quality cultural experiences accessible to all, we would love to hear from you.

Additional information

We will consider applications from individuals/partnerships seeking part-time roles or job share arrangements to allow for diverse needs.

The role offers some flexibility in terms of location, but the Artistic Director will need to be present in person regularly, with a mix of on-site, office-based and home working, to engage with artists, audiences, and the creative community. The office is located at Black Country Touring, Thimblemill Library, Thimblemill Road, Smethwick, B67 5RJ.

If you have any access needs around applying for this role or would like to discuss further, please contact: Corinne Morris, General Manager: corinne@bctouring.co.uk. We understand that some candidates may find it easier to express themselves through alternative formats. If you would prefer to submit your application as an audio recording, please contact Corrine Morris for further guidance. Regardless of format, all applications will be assessed using the same criteria to ensure a fair and consistent process. We will not be accepting video applications due to our anonymised shortlisting process.

We actively encourage applications from people currently underrepresented in the cultural sector and represent the diverse communities of the Black Country, specifically people from Black, South Asian and Ethnically Diverse backgrounds, as well as people who identify as (d)Deaf, Disabled and/or LGBTQ+.

Please state in your application that you found this role through Creative Access.