Member of the Supervisory Board

What will you be doing?

The Supervisory Board is the body established in the articles of incorporation that is responsible for the internal oversight of the managing director’s policies and the general conduct of business within Cool. The Supervisory Board’s duties include: acting as the employer of the managing director, supervising the managing director, reviewing decision-making, and providing solicited and unsolicited advice to the managing director, all in accordance with the articles of incorporation. In addition, the Supervisory Board has a number of statutory powers, including the approval of the annual financial statements and the appointment of the auditor. Members of the Supervisory Board are appointed by the Municipal Executive of the municipality of Dijk en Waard. The procedures of the Supervisory Board are laid out in the articles of incorporation.

There are six plenary meetings per year; in principle, the executive director attends these meetings. The relationship of trust between the Supervisory Board and the executive director serves as the foundation for effectively implementing the governance model (balance between oversight and engagement). In addition to its supervisory role, the Supervisory Board must possess the capacity and basic attitude to serve as a sounding board for the Executive Director.

The following aspects of professional supervision are important in this regard:

• Assessment: The Supervisory Board must conduct a critical assessment of the organization’s quality based on an evaluation of its policies and, consequently, the decisions made by the executive director
• Critical distance: oversight is fundamentally different from governance
• Active oversight: To ensure effective oversight, the Supervisory Board must be open not only to information provided by the executive director but also to feedback from the municipality, the auditor, external parties, and other partners in the region
• Independence: An independent, critical stance on the part of the Supervisory Board is central
• Recommendation: As part of its proactive oversight, the Supervisory Board provides both solicited and unsolicited advice to the Executive Director.

Where will you be working?

About Cool Art and Culture

Cool Art and Culture is the premier venue in the city of Heerhugowaard. A team of enthusiastic professionals works every day to bring hundreds of theater performances, inspiring classes and courses, concerts, films, festivals, and (corporate) events to life. Over the 15 years of its existence, Cool has evolved into a cultural hotspot with an ever-growing number of visitors.

We believe that art and culture play an indispensable role in the personal development of people of all ages. Guided by this belief, we aim to make cultural participation accessible to everyone and to share our knowledge and expertise. In doing so, we contribute to an inspiring, innovative, and connected community in the Dijk en Waard region.

Vision

Art and culture move people and enrich our lives. They are essential and fundamental building blocks of our society. Cool is a place where you can engage with art and culture in an accessible way, where you can enjoy yourself, where you can discover and nurture your talents, and where you can immerse yourself in inspiring experiences. Everyone is welcome at Cool. Here, you can be yourself, whether alone or with others. We show you a world where positivity thrives.

Mission

Cool Art and Culture enriches the lives of all residents of Dijk en Waard and the surrounding area. We do this by collaborating with people and organizations, schools and businesses, performers and artists, as well as amateurs and professionals. Everything we do revolves around the connections and creations we bring to life together. We adapt to the times and are always on the lookout for new opportunities and possibilities.

Supervisory Board

According to the Articles of Association, the Supervisory Board determines the number of its members. The aim is to have a Supervisory Board consisting of five members, including the chairperson. The Supervisory Board appoints a chairperson from among its members. Members of the Supervisory Board are appointed for a term of four years. Members may be reappointed once for a four-year term. The Supervisory Board evaluates its own performance once a year. The cycle of the Governance Code for Culture (including the functioning of the Supervisory Board, interaction with the director/manager, internal information provision, and internal and social accountability) serves as the guiding principle for governance, supervision, and accountability within Cool.

Relevant strategic themes
Relevant strategic themes and developments for the coming years that the Supervisory Board and the Executive Director wish to discuss concern the strategic direction in relation to the product offering, further developing cultural entrepreneurship, improving control over resources and financial management, and regional cooperation with other arts and cultural institutions.

All of this takes place within a context in which the government expects cultural organizations to be deeply embedded in society, to act as cultural entrepreneurs, and to focus on collaborations with, among others, the education sector and organizations in the social sector.

Who are you?

The guiding principle for the composition of the Supervisory Board is the formation of a multidisciplinary team. To adequately perform its duties, the Supervisory Board must be broadly informed about societal issues. Cool explicitly opts for a socially engaged Supervisory Board; an engagement that takes shape through active participation in social networks, with the objective that members maintain contact with parties and stakeholders relevant to the Foundation. Each member of the Supervisory Board must be a generalist with the necessary qualities to comprehensively weigh various aspects, focused on the interests of Cool as a whole. In addition to these qualities, each member possesses specific expertise that is utilized to enhance the quality of the Supervisory Board as a whole.

The Council’s effectiveness depends on a well-balanced team; individual members should complement one another in terms of areas of expertise and skills and should work together in harmony. In addition, great importance is attached to ensuring adequate representation across sectors and industries relevant to Cool. Examples include:

• For-profit sector (customer-driven service organizations);
• Social enterprises, including the arts and culture sector;
• Public administration.

General Profile Requirements for Members of the Supervisory Board

General profile requirements for each member of the Supervisory Board include the following experience, qualities, and competencies:

• Academic level of work and thinking;
• Experience in a leadership and/or management role, combined with supervisory skills;
• A clear understanding of the responsibilities and roles of the Supervisory Board and the Executive Director; familiarity with the issues addressed in the Cultural Governance Code, as well as the Fair Practice Code and the Diversity & Inclusion Code;
• Demonstrable experience in the arts and culture sector in a position of ultimate responsibility or supervision;
• Strategic orientation;
• Knowledge of and experience with administrative decision-making processes;
• Has an active professional network; socially active;
• Striking the right balance between involvement and administrative detachment;
• Ability to perform advisory and supervisory roles as part of a team;
• Integrity, a sense of responsibility, and an independent mindset;
• Political and administrative sensitivity;
• Broad social engagement;
• Sufficient availability to commit to performing the job effectively;

The aim is to ensure a balanced composition of the Supervisory Board in terms of gender, cultural background, and age, among other factors.

What does Cool have to offer you?

Cool Kunst en Cultuur is offering an exciting role on the Board of Trustees of a 15-year-old cultural organization with a strong reputation in the region and beyond.
Members of the Board of Trustees are eligible for a stipend.

Interested?

Are you interested, or do you have any questions? Feel free to contact Jeroen Veerman at 06-46 24 15 26 orjeroen@regiotalent.nl. He’d be happy to tell you more about Cool Art and Culture and the role of Supervisory Board Member. Clickhere to apply now.

The application process consists of an introductory interview with two members of the Board of Trustees. If both you and we are enthusiastic, you may be appointed for a four-year term.