Applications close 10 May, 2021. Applications are being considered for positions on Arts OutWest’s skills-based board.
Arts OutWest (AOW) undergoes an annual open and transparent process in which people in our region can apply to be on the Committee of Management – also known as the Board – of Arts OutWest. Each year around half the board positions are open for applications due to current members completing their two year term.
In 2021 three board positions are open for application. Several existing board members have expressed interest in re-applying for a second term, so any new applicants will be competing with them in an assessment process. You must live in the AOW area to be considered for these positions.
Arts OutWest can also choose to co-opt up to two other board members with specialist skills. AOW can consider co-opting board members who live outside the AOW area.
Arts OutWest is a not-for-profit incorporated association and the board positions are voluntary, unpaid positions with a two-year term. We are looking for some specific skills as well as ensuring that the board has diversity across gender, location, age and cultural background.
Board members are able to complete up to 3 terms before they are required to step down, but we are always open to new people coming into the organisation. Since moving to being a skill-based board in 2018, AOW has found that the process of selecting board members has been highly competitive.
Applications for board membership must be received by Monday 10 May 2021. Applicants are asked to:
- Address the skills listed at the end of this document by filling out a separate skills form (see more detail below)
- Provide a short CV showing any qualifications and a brief work history
| Time frame
Tuesday 27 April 2021 |
Applications for board positions open. 3 positions available (but applicants can also be considered for 2 optional co-opted positions) |
| Monday 10 May 2021 | Applications close |
| Friday 14 May 2021 (tbc) | Applications for board membership are assessed by the selection committee (online meeting). |
| Monday 17 May 2021 | Applicants are informed of outcome of assessment meeting |
| Sunday 30 May 2020 | The selected board members are confirmed at the Arts OutWest Annual General Meeting on Sunday 30 May 2021 and commence their 2 year term. |
Background
Arts OutWest is the organisation responsible for arts and cultural development in the communities of the NSW Central West, covering the council areas of Bathurst, Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra, Forbes, Lachlan, Lithgow, Oberon, Orange, Parkes and Weddin and from July 2021, Mid-Western Council. Arts OutWest is supported by Charles Sturt University who provide the organisation with office space and facilities on the Bathurst campus. Arts OutWest receives core funding from the NSW Government through Create NSW and through the Federal Government through the Department of Communication and the Arts and their Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support program as well as contributions from the contributing councils. Additional project funding is gained through a variety of sources and the organisation manages between $500K and $1M each year. The organisation was established in 1974. In 2021 we currently Arts OutWest have 10 staff members (5.2 FTE). The current AOW strategic plan names three priority areas: Arts and Health; Aboriginal art development; Cultural tourism. In response to Covid-19, we are also working on a fourth strategic area: music industry support.
The Arts OutWest Board
Arts OutWest is an incorporated association, which is a not-for-profit organisation and a registered charity. The board (or technically, committee of management) is responsible for overseeing the governance of the organisation and makes decisions about the strategic direction and ways of achieving the best outcomes for arts in the region. The Board meets four times a year in February, May, August and November, currently on the second Tuesday of the month at 5.30pm; once in Bathurst, twice online on Zoom and once in Orange. There is also an Annual General Meeting, usually held on a weekend in May or early June each year.
The skills based board model established in 2018 involves a two-tier structure consisting of a board and an advisory council.
The Advisory Council works on a representational basis, consisting of a member for each contributing council and one for CSU.
The Board is made up of:
- 7 members appointed on a skills and diversity basis, selected through an application and assessment process
- 1 Advisory Council member (the Chair of the Advisory Council)
- Up to 2 co-opted members (optional) if additional skills are required
Board members complete a 2 year term. At the end of the 2 year term the board member may either retire from the board or apply for another term. A board member may complete no more than 3 consecutive terms (6 years), but does have the right to re-apply after a break of two years.
Selection process
It is likely that some of the applicants may be existing board members. While the experience and knowledge of the existing board members will be highly regarded, Arts OutWest would like to make it clear that we are open to selecting new members as well.
Applications must show how the applicant is able to demonstrate strengths in at least one skill area. Applications will be assessed by a panel that will consist of 2 current board members, one Advisory Council member, the Executive Director of Arts OutWest and an external panel member.
Application process
Applicants are asked to submit two documents:
Document 1: Skills Form
You will need to download this separate Word document: Arts OutWest Individual Skills Form and fill the form out, self-assessing yourself on the skills listed. Below are the four sections from the Arts OutWest Skills Matrix. We will collate the information from existing board members and applicants to ensure that we are covering the range of skills needed.
Section 1 of the skills form: Below are the skills and competencies that you will be asked to address when you fill out the Arts OutWest Individual Skills Form. You only need to show strong competency in one of these areas, although you are welcome to demonstrate skills in more than one area.
- Accounting
- Finance
- Law
- Marketing
- Human resources
- Arts industry knowledge
- Management (CEO or similar) experience
- Strategy development
- Experience as an arts practitioner
- Experience as an arts manager
- Fundraising
- Community work
- Aboriginal cultural awareness
- Local government knowledge
Section 2 of the skills form: If you are new to going on a board you may not have some of these skills, while if you experienced you may be able to show expertise in all of them. It doesn’t matter if you can’t do all of these things, but you must show a willingness to develop skills in some of the areas that you are not experienced in.
- Experience as a board member on a not-for-profit
- Financial literacy – ability to read and understand a balance sheet
- Strategic thinking from a governance perspective
- Governance related risk management experience
- Staff performance management experience
- Profile / reputation in your field
Section 3 of the skills form: We are interested in attracting people to the board who have strengths in these fields.
- Team player / collaborative
- Ability / willingness to challenge and probe
- Common sense and sound judgement
- Integrity and high standards
- Mentoring abilities
- Interpersonal relations
- Listening skills
- Verbal communication skills
- Understanding of effective decision making skills
- Willingness and ability to devote time and energy to the role
Section 4 of the skills form: We need to understand who you are in relation to gender, location, age and background. You won’t be assessed on these points but it could affect the final decision because we want to ensure that the board does have diversity.
What gender do you identify as?
- Geographic location: which council area (LGA) are you located in?
- Geographic location: do you live in a regional city / town / village / country?
- Age range (20s / 30s / 40s / 50s/ 60+
- Cultural background: do you identify as being Aboriginal or from a particular CaLD (culturally and linguistically diverse) background?
Section 5: Select one strength from Table 1 and one from either Table 2 or Table 3 and provide a paragraph showing how you demonstrate skills and experience in each of those areas and how these skills would be of benefit to Arts OutWest.
Document 2: Short CV
We would prefer this to be only one or two pages and relevant to being on the board of an arts organisation.
Please submit by email to:
artsoutwest@csu.edu.au by Monday 11 May 2021
If you would like to discuss the process or have further questions, please contact the Executive Director, Tracey Callinan (tcallinan@csu.edu.au / 0418 618 688)