The Groningen Arts Council, founded in 2006, is the independent advisory body for both the municipality and the province of Groningen in the field of art and culture. This makes it unique in the Netherlands. The Arts Council aims to strengthen the cultural climate in Groningen. It does this, on the one hand, by providing solicited and unsolicited advice to the municipality and the province on arts and culture policy, and on the other hand, by awarding grants on behalf of both governments. The Groningen Arts Council is an independent organization with a small permanent staff and a broad network of subject-matter advisors surrounding it.
The Groningen Arts Council is seeking a Director (for 24–32 hours per week)
A director who, with a forward-looking and proactive approach, positions the Kunstraad Groningen as the advisory body that provides cross-sectoral and strategic advice on how to further strengthen Groningen’s arts and culture sector. Independently yet working in close collaboration with the sector, government agencies, and other advisory bodies and knowledge centers in the region, throughout the Netherlands, and beyond.
The position
We are looking for an inspiring and strategic director who can effectively raise the profile of the Kunstraad Groningen. A visionary with a broad perspective on arts and culture policy, who is visible and engaged in the cultural field. Someone who listens to and acts on behalf of artists, institutions, and other stakeholders, who navigates administrative and policy environments with ease, and who firmly positions the Kunstraad as an independent advisory body.
As director, you are the face of the organization. You build and maintain a strong network with local, regional, and national government agencies, funding organizations, and arts and culture education institutions. You serve as the linchpin between government bodies on the one hand and Groningen’s highly diverse arts and culture sector on the other. Together with the team and independent advisors, you translate information from the cultural sector—as well as from national politics, national advisory bodies, and knowledge centers—into both solicited and unsolicited policy recommendations.
In doing so, you will provide important input for government policy documents, as well as for the broader arts community and related sectors. The next two to three years will focus primarily on preparing for the new, more regionally oriented national policy set to take effect in 2029, cross-sectoral collaboration within the region, and the strategic positioning of the Arts Council.
As director, you are responsible for the day-to-day management of the agency (a permanent staff of three) and report to the board of the Kunstraad Groningen Foundation.
Duties and Responsibilities
- helping to develop future strategic and policy objectives and working to ensure their achievement
- actively gathering insights from the cultural sector and related fields and translating these into strategic policy recommendations, both within individual disciplines and across disciplines and even across sectors
- coordinating the advisory process regarding the cultural policy documents of the municipality and the province of Groningen (once every four years) and implementing the regulations governing project grants, amateur arts, programs, and pilot projects.
- building and maintaining a professional network of contacts with politicians, government officials, cultural institutions, fellow advisory bodies, and knowledge centers, both within Groningen and beyond
- has final responsibility for the Art Council’s activities vis-à-vis the board and serves as the primary point of contact for government agencies.
Requirements
- a broad vision of cultural policy and the strategic ability to implement it
- be able to use an analytical approach to form objective and independent judgments and provide resulting recommendations
- relevant experience in the cultural sector and/or the public sector
- experience with complex administrative relationships
- leadership skills
- strong writing and communication skills
- an outward focus, strong networking skills, and the ability to initiate and lead discussions
- residing in Groningen or the northern Netherlands
At Kunstraad Groningen, we value diversity of thought and experience, and we believe that every unique background can contribute to our success. If you are motivated to contribute to Kunstraad Groningen’s mission, we would love to hear from you.
What do we offer you?
Salary ranges from €4,450 to €7,544 gross per month, depending on experience, based on a 36-hour workweek (scale 12, Social Work Collective Bargaining Agreement 2025). A position of 24 or 32 hours per week, to be agreed upon. Furthermore, the Kunstraad offers a pension plan based on a 2/3 employer and 1/3 employee contribution, as well as an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
Procedure
The organization is being assisted in this process by the executive search firm Colourful People. For more information about this position, please contact Winfred Voordendag at Colourful People. He can be reached at 06-28284706 or by email w.voordendag@colourfulpeople.nlWinfred welcomes applications via the link on the Colourful People website
(cover letter and resume) by Friday, January 31 using the application form on the
website. The first round of talks will be held on Friday, February 21, in
Groningen. A reference study is part of the procedure.
Start date as soon as possible, but no later than May 1, 2025.
