Door in the Wall Arts Access CIC looking to recruit 2-4 interim board members (1 year) to support and guide us as we expand our work. We are especially looking for board members who identify as disabled.
About Us
Door in the Wall Arts Access CIC is a disabled-led social enterprise that works for a more inclusive creative sector in Scotland. Our business model is to support organisations to work more inclusively, by providing disabled-led access training and consultancy and creating Easy Read translations and tailored visual aids. We then reinvest the income generated into projects that promote a positive view of disability, such as exhibitions and resources, and services that empower disabled and neurodivergent artists and creatives to advocate for themselves and others. These include mentoring, access rider writing, professional development workshops, and small grants. We are also the parent CIC of Neuk Collective, which exists to advocate and provide opportunities for Scottish neurodivergent artists.
Our vision: For the arts in Scotland to be a place where disabled and neurodivergent people can thrive, both as artists and audiences.
Our beliefs:
We believe that:
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- Disabled and neurodivergent people are the experts in our own experiences.
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- Disabled and neurodivergent artists’ careers are unfairly held back by a lack of accessibility.
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- The arts can, should and must be made more inclusive for both artists and audiences.
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- That inclusivity is for the whole sector, not just “disability arts”.
Our mission:
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- To support, champion and empower disabled and neurodivergent creatives.
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- To support organisations to raise standards of access across the arts sector.
Our values:
We are:
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- Practical – We want to do work that is of practical use to disabled and neurodivergent creatives.
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- Positive – We take an open, positive approach towards the work of disabled and neurodivergent artists and when engaging with other organisations.
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- Focused – We are focused on the issue of disability and neurodiversity in the arts, and particularly the needs of disabled and neurodivergent people within the creative industries.
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- Artist-led – We are artist-led and respond to the concerns of artists. We are not a parliament – we don’t claim to represent every single disabled or neurodivergent artist in Scotland and we can’t possibly – no one can. But we do undertake research to underpin our projects and we do prioritise work on issues that affect Scottish disabled and neurodivergent artists.
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- Committed to the Social Model of Disability – Without denying the reality of impairment, we believe that many, if not most, of the issues that disabled and neurodivergent people face are due to the barriers put up by a world that is not designed for our needs. We believe that it is the world that needs to change, not disabled people.
What does it mean to be a member of our Board?
Our board is a group of people who offer their time to help guide and support the CIC. Our board are champions, advisors and critical friends. We always want our board to feel connected, informed and appreciated.
Why should you join our board?
Volunteering to be a board member for a Community Interest Company can be a rewarding experience that allows you to make a positive impact on your community while also gaining valuable skills and connections. By joining our board, you’ll have the opportunity to help steer the organisation and will contribute to projects that directly benefit disabled and neurodivergent artists and make Scotland a better place.
What are we looking for?
We are looking for individuals who really believe in our vision, mission and values and will support and champion our work. As we enter our crucial second year we want to establish good governance that will make sure our work is sustainable.
We are particularly seeking people with knowledge and expertise in any of these areas:
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- Producing
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- Governance
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- General management, especially of an arts organisation
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- Financial planning and accounting
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- HR & Law
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- PR and marketing
We are proudly disabled-led and are looking for at least 50% of board members to be people who identify as disabled. So we are particularly interested in hearing from disabled people with expertise in any of the areas listed.
We also particularly welcome applications from people from historically marginalised groups.
What is the Commitment?
Our board meets quarterly, for 2 hours, on Zoom. We try to make our meetings friendly and efficient.
We ask that board members try to be at all meetings, as we need to maintain a quorum to make decisions.
We send out board papers before each meeting. We try to make sure you have plenty of time to read them before you arrive. These papers include an agenda, minutes of the last meeting and finance documents.
Sometimes we also send you other documents we want you to look at or comment on. It’s great if you can spend some time reading these papers before the meeting.
We may also approach you for advice about your specific area of expertise, outside of regular meetings.
Being a board member is a voluntary position. As you’re giving your time for free, we try not to ask too much of you – we appreciate that everyone is very busy. If we ask you to do something and you feel like you can’t or don’t have time, then just let us know.
We are aware that disabled people in particular may face financial barriers to serving on a board and will cover expenses incurred by directors in the course of their work, including access costs.
We are initially looking for board members who can dedicate one year to helping us establish our governance. After that time, you may wish to step down, or be voted back onto the board (we anticipate the permanent board will have a three-year term).
New board members will be elected at our Annual General Meeting (held in the autumn). If you wish to step down, we ask that you give as much notice as possible to help us plan for recruiting new members. At least three months’ notice would be ideal.
If for any reason it doesn’t work out and you’re unable to commit to fulfilling your duties, the board may ask you to step down or you can step down at any point.
Legal and Moral Obligations
CIC board members become company directors and have some important legal responsibilities for the CIC and its management. These include: upholding company governing documents; acting in good faith; acting independently and in the best interests of the CIC; using due diligence, skill and care; avoiding conflicts of interest; not accepting benefits (money, gifts or favours) from outside parties; and declaring any interests transparently. These are listed in more detail here: Directors’ Legal Obligations.
We expect the people on our board to be honest, to act with integrity, and to be kind and respectful to one another. We expect you to tell us if things that you do outside of being a board member might conflict with what we do. For example, if you are working in an organisation that we are partnering with. We also ask that you respect that some things we discuss might be confidential.
How to apply
Stage 1:
Please apply by email to [email protected], answering the following questions:
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- What experience would you bring to your role on the board?
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- Why do you want to join our board?
You can answer these questions in writing (up to 100 words per question) or send us a video or audio recording (up to one minute per question).
If you have a CV you can also send it to us.
Stage 2:
If you meet the basic criteria we will invite you to an online meeting with the current directors (at a time convenient for you).
If you have any questions or need support to apply please email us at [email protected]
Closing date:
Please make your application by 5pm on Friday 6th October, 2023