Department for Culture Media and Sport

national portrait gallery

Appointment of 3 trustees: creative industries, Government and public sector and writer

Time commitment
One day every other month on average.  Trustees must be able to attend Board meetings and such other sub-committee meetings as may be necessary.  Board meetings are normally held four times a year, with one additional review day. Some additional time will need to be devoted to studying papers, attending events at the Gallery and occasional visits to regional partnerships. 

Location of meetings
London.

Remuneration
Board appointments are not remunerated, but reasonable expenses are paid.

Term of appointment
All three appointments are expected to start on 15 October 2008.

Closing date for applications
Tuesday 3 June 2008

Background
The National Portrait Gallery holds the largest and most distinguished collection of portraits in the world.   The principal aim is to promote through the medium of portraits the appreciation and understanding of the men and women who have made and are making British history and culture, and to promote the appreciation and understanding of portraiture in all media.  As an institution it fulfils a number of roles relating to the historic and contemporary aspects of this collection: a research and academic role, an educational role, and a wider role within public life.

Following the launch of the Ondaatje wing in 2000, the Gallery has increased its level of visitors despite the unfavourable economic climate and difficulties with international tourism and travel.  There are now 1.6 million visits each year to the St Martin’s Place site.  The Gallery has also demonstrated its ability to make acquisitions of national importance, such as the portraits of John Donne, to revitalise its regional work at Bodelwyddan, Montacute and Beningbrough, to complete the buildings at St Martin's Place with the opening of the Regency display in the Weldon Galleries, to establish new sponsorship partnerships, and to collaborate on major projects. 

To continue with such successes, while coping with limited staff and resources, requires a determined sense of direction, clear planning and continued efficiency across the institution as a whole.

The role
The chief role of Trustees is to assist the Chair in meeting the Board’s overall responsibilities in accordance with the policies of the Secretary of State.  Trustees offer guidance and expertise on the Gallery’s strategy and its practical implementation.  They must be positive advocates for the Gallery, representing it to ministers, officials at DCMS, and others.  They must also assist the Chair in ensuring that the Gallery’s affairs are conducted with probity.

The Gallery’s six strategic objectives remain:

  1. To extend and broaden the range of audiences for the National Portrait Gallery and its work.

  2. To develop the Collection, creating opportunities for acquisition and commission, while improving its care and conservation.

  3. To increase the understanding of and engagement with the Collection and its subjects through bringing more of the reference collections into use, and through outstanding research, displays and exhibition, education, access, publishing, information, regional and digital programmes, and a higher national and public profile.

  4. To maximize the financial resources available through both public and private sector support, trading and licensing and through the effective management of the Gallery’s assets and resources.

  5. To develop staff as an essential resource through the extension of staff diversity, training, development and learning programmes.

  6. To bring the buildings, technical and managerial infrastructure of the Gallery to the highest standards, including processes, systems, collection storage and staff accommodation.


The person
Ministers are looking for particular skills to complement the current balance of the Board.  The Gallery is looking for three Trustees who are predominantly based in the United Kingdom: one with extensive experience within the creative industries; one with extensive experience or understanding of Government and the public sector and one who is a published writer who has a strong interest in the Gallery’s collection.  

All candidates should be able to demonstrate:

  • An ability to contribute to the acquisitions process; providing advice and opinions on the development of the National Portrait Gallery Collection.

  • Candidates should have the ability to contribute to future policy and strategy developments with freshness of approach and independence of thought.

  • A strong interest in the work of the National Portrait Gallery.

  • Excellent communication and representational skills.

Candidates for the creative industries post should additionally be able to demonstrate:

  • Experience at a senior level, either as a manager or creative practitioner within the creative industries.  Examples include (but are not restricted to): design; fashion; film; the visual arts; photography and advertising.

Candidates for the Government and public sector post should additionally be able to demonstrate:

  • Experience at a senior management level in the public or private sector;

  • An understanding of the operation of Government and the wider public sector.


Candidates for the writer post should additionally be able to demonstrate:

  • A national or international reputation as a writer in at least one of the following areas: literary fiction; non-fiction; literary criticism or biography.

  • An interest in the place of literature within national life in Britain.


Supporting information
Trustees are appointed by the Prime Minister, and the Chair is decided amongst themselves.  Further information on the National Portrait Gallery website.

DCMS promotes an equal opportunities policy.  Applications are welcome from women, people from ethnic minority backgrounds and disabled people.  Appointments are made on merit, and are regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

To apply
An application pack for these posts can be obtained from Sean Kenny, Public Engagement and Recognition Unit, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London SW1Y 5DH.  Tel: 020 7211 2304.  E-mail: Sean.Kenny@culture.gsi.gov.uk 

Closing date for applications is Tuesday 3 June 2008.

 

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