About the organisation
Southwark Park Galleries is the operating name of Bermondsey Artists’ Group, a registered UK charity (no. 1073851) and an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.
Southwark Park Galleries is a unique contemporary arts organisation set in Southwark Park, Bermondsey, London, across two distinctive venues (Lake Gallery & Dilston Gallery) including a Grade II Listed deconsecrated church and with a community garden. Established in 1984, our mission is to connect people, champion inclusion and nurture wellbeing through the transformative power of art.
Our location within the park is a cherished green communal space and we remain the only non-profit gallery in the highly deprived area of North-East Southwark. Artistic development is at the core of our free programme that catalyses social change within our communities by addressing socio-economic barriers to culture, isolation, mental health, climate change and underrepresentation.
Over 40 years we have built a thriving reputation as a test site for experimental practice by commissioning artists to make their most ambitious work and to platform new ideas. Our programme of exhibitions, performances and social engagement is locally relevant and internationally significant, welcoming everyone. Artists have included: Jonathan Baldock, Phyllida Barlow, Appau Jnr Boakye-Yiadom, Martin Creed, Marcus Coates, Marcia Farquhar, Derek Jarman, Joan Jonas, Hew Locke, Carrie Mae Weems, Florence Peake, Fani Parali, Grayson Perry, Bedwyr Williams, and Richard Wilson.
Our long term strategic focus is to support emerging artists and those at a crucial stage in their career, to strengthen our national partnerships, and amplify our purpose of using creativity to build an inclusive society.
About the role
The Treasurer will join our friendly Board of Trustees (of 9) and have oversight of the financial operations & decisions of the organisation to ensure that funds are managed responsibly and in accordance with our mission and key priorities. We are looking for someone with the experience to advise the other trustees on strategic financial matters, oversee the setting of an annual budget (c.£450k) and monitor performance against that budget, playing an active part in the decision making of the Board.
Main Responsibilities:
- Support The Director and Chair to formulate strategic financial plans and regular review of long-term strategic aims of the charity.
- Develop and adhere to organisational policies, define goals, targets and evaluate performance against our agreed targets.
- Approve the annual cycle of Accounts with the Chair
- Approve annual budgets and income generation plans to ensure financial stability.
- Liaise regularly with the Director to maintain a clear grasp of the charity’s financial position and to ensure full and timely financial transparency and information disclosure to the Board.
We are looking for:
- An active and passionate individual who cares about culture and the environment.
- Someone who shares our belief that culture is a basic human right and should be equally accessible as a corepart of our daily lives.
- Someone keen to promote Southwark Park Galleries within their personal and professional networks to help us to widen our reach and impact.
- Someone who has time to invest in the future of our organisation.
- A willingness to use your skills and experience to help the organisation flourish for the next 40+ years.
We are looking for someone living within commutable distance to Southwark, as this role will be hybrid but not 100% remote.
Our ideal candidate
Role Essentials:
- You are passionate about contemporary art
- You are an experienced financial expert
- You have some knowledge of charitable accounting, or an interest in developing this knowledge further
- You have the capacity to attend min. 3 of 4 Board Meetings p/a
- You have the capacity to meet informally with Director between board meetings
Desired Additional Skills:
- Prior experience of Board / Committee / Trustee work.
- Knowledge of / participation in the work of the organisation.
- A wider involvement with the Visual Arts / Culture Charitable sectors.
- Experience of or interest in the Charitable Sector
- Experience of chairing meetings, committee work
- Experience of charitable finance
- Fundraising experience
- Leadership skills
What’s in it for you
What Trusteeship Can Offer You
- Training on charity governance and fundraising
- Experience of being part of a team made up of people from different backgrounds, occupations and sectors
- An opportunity to use your skills, knowledge and lived experience within the culture and charitable sectors
- An opportunity to create positive futures for people of all backgrounds in Southwark and beyond
- An opportunity to build a network of contacts
- An opportunity for growth in skills, knowledge and networks
“It is always an inspiration to visit Southwark Park Galleries to see incredible new work like Florence Peake’s Factual Actual: Ensemble performed in the unique context of Dilston Gallery or the fantastical paintings of Lydia Blakeley’s High Life. It is made all the more enjoyable by being in my own small way part of the team that has enabled these shows and all of the other fantastic projects that Southwark Park Galleries undertakes. Being as we are a relatively small organisation, being a trustee here feels like being trusted with a critical role in the organisation. In some charities this might feel daunting, but the friendly and careful culture of the charity and the people that make it up makes this a joy.” – Giles Smith, previous Co-Chair & Secretary, August 2023
Apply for the role
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