Treasurer and Secretary of the Supervisory Board

About BredaPhoto

BredaPhoto presents stories that inspire, move, challenge, raise new questions, and demonstrate that photography is the artistic medium at the heart of society. Every two years, BredaPhoto organizes the Benelux’s leading international photography festival, which always focuses on a socially relevant theme: the BredaPhoto Festival. For seven weeks, the city of Breda becomes a life-size canvas that adds an extra dimension to the photographs. In 2022, we celebrated the^10th edition of Theatre of Dreams. But BredaPhoto is more than just a festival. In the years between editions, various exhibitions are organized, educational programs are created, and special collaborations take place, such as the exhibition Vrije Vogels, which BredaPhoto is organizing this fall in collaboration with the Grote Kerk Breda.

Education

Through a comprehensive educational program for elementary and secondary schools, we inspire children and young people to take an interest in contemporary photography and make a significant contribution to the development of their visual literacy.

A springboard for young, international photography talent

The BredaPhoto International Talent Programme (ITP) is a European platform created by photography and art academies in collaboration with BredaPhoto. Its goal is to identify and support emerging photographic talent in Europe. In recent years, the ITP has proven itself to be an important part of the festival. It is an excellent opportunity for talented young photographers to showcase their work alongside internationally renowned photographers. We are therefore proud of our long-standing collaborations with art academies in Belgium, Germany, Finland, Hungary, and the Netherlands.

From the Board of Directors to the Supervisory Board

Over the past two decades, BredaPhoto has grown from a volunteer-led initiative, through a hands-on board, into an organization with a remote board and a director who leads a permanent team of six professionals (four full-time equivalents), a flexible network of curators and freelancers, and more than 150 volunteers.

The organization’s growth and the impact the festival has on cultural life in Breda and beyond have led us to seek to further strengthen and professionalize the organization. That is why we now want to transition from a board of directors with an executive director to a supervisory board with an executive director.

The board of the BredaPhoto Foundation is therefore seeking a new treasurer and secretary for the newly established Supervisory Board.

The Supervisory Board (RvT) of BredaPhoto will consist of at least five members and is responsible for overseeing the policies of the Executive Director and the general affairs of the organization. The Supervisory Board supports the Executive Director by offering advice, asking insightful questions, and providing constructive criticism. In fulfilling its duties, the SB acts in the best interests of the organization. In doing so, the board endorses the organization’s mission and vision. The SB endorses the Cultural Governance Code, the Fair Practice Code, and the Diversity & Inclusion Code. 

Members of the Board serve in an unpaid capacity.

BredaPhoto is committed to ensuring that the following areas of expertise (in no particular order) are well represented:

• Administrative and political experience at the national level;
• Expertise in the arts and/or knowledge of (international) visual arts;
• Knowledge of social trends and developments, both nationally and internationally;
• Financial and business management expertise;
• Understanding of social relationships;
• Intercultural communication;
• Connection to the city of Breda and the province of North Brabant.

General profile characteristics:

• An affinity with BredaPhoto’s vision and mission;
• Independent judgment, the ability to view the festival from a broader perspective and ask “tough” questions;
• Specific expertise in one of the above areas of expertise, which contributes to the overall work of the Board of Trustees;
• An active and leading role in community life and in (volunteer) work;
• An international focus;
• Relevant, preferably new, network for BredaPhoto and a willingness to utilize it;
• An interest in issues related to diversity and inclusion, and sufficient experience to serve as a sounding board for the Board of Trustees and the Executive Director in addressing these issues within BredaPhoto;
• An understanding of the dynamics of collaboration with local and provincial government and the political and administrative context in which BredaPhoto operates;
• An approachable person who is able to build strong relationships with the other members of the Supervisory Board and the CEO.

We strive to be a diverse and inclusive organization—both in the composition of our team and on our Board of Trustees. We believe our organization will achieve the most when as many people as possible, with diverse backgrounds, knowledge, and expertise, feel a sense of belonging and are willing to contribute to BredaPhoto.

Treasurer

The board as a whole bears ultimate responsibility for the finances. Within the board, one person prepares the financial decisions: the treasurer. Together with the executive director, you translate the substantive policy into a financial overview. In practice, the treasurer outsources the bookkeeping to the management team, and an external audit is conducted annually. It is important that you have sufficient financial and strategic insight to be able to assess the quality of these reports.

The treasurer’s duties and responsibilities are as follows:

• Developing (or having developed) a multi-year financial plan;
• Reviewing and evaluating financial data;
• Supporting the management team and reviewing the annual budget and financial annual report;
• Informing the board and other stakeholders about the financial situation;
• Is involved in financial reporting and regularly, but at least once a year, advises the other members of the Supervisory Board on forecasts, financial statements, budgets, and similar matters.
• Signing payment orders above a certain threshold amount.

Job Requirements:

• Has experience with the financial policies of nonprofit organizations;
• Has experience with risk management;
• Has a good understanding of government grants;
• Has knowledge and insight into financial processes and is able to advise other board members on financial statements, budgets, etc. Knows what information is needed to monitor and oversee financial policy;
• Plays an active role in the various processes within the board and in the development of board policy;
• Has administrative experience or is interested in gaining it;
• Has an affinity for the cultural sector.

Skills:

• Has a good understanding of finance and accounting, even though accounting responsibilities have been delegated to management;
• Has sufficient insight to assess the quality of others' work;
• Organizational skills;
• A structured approach.

We are looking for candidates who identify with at least three of the following profile characteristics to complement the skills and experience already present on the Board:

• Knowledge of and/or an affinity for the cultural sector
• Knowledge, experience, and a network in the field of sponsors and donors;
• Knowledge and experience in the field of new revenue models;
• Knowledge of and experience in the business world;
• Knowledge, experience, and a network in the field of national and/or European government and/or politics.
• Sharp financial insight

Secretary

The secretary of the board serves as the organization’s memory. The secretary maintains an overall view of the handling of procedural matters within the board and the foundation. A large part of the secretary’s duties has been delegated within the foundation.

The duties and responsibilities of the secretary are as follows:

• An active role in the various processes within the Board of Trustees and in policy development;
• Organizing the minutes of Board of Trustees meetings;
• Organizing the distribution of meeting materials to the members of the Board of Trustees;
• Overseeing the collection, organization, and provision of access to all relevant information in a (digital) archive;
• Assuming the (technical) chair in the absence of the chair;
• Monitoring registrations with the Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to the general requirements for board members mentioned above, the following additional requirements and skills apply to the secretary:

• Service provider;
• Organizational skills;
• Have administrative experience or wish to gain it;
• Knowledge of and affinity with the organization.

Skills:

• Structured approach;
• Ability to work as part of a team;
• Good contact properties;
• Strong verbal and written communication skills;
• Has an affinity for the cultural sector.

Qualifications and skills:

• Experience in a similar role within a nonprofit organization;
• Knowledge of and understanding of corporate governance, laws and regulations, and compliance;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Dutch and English;
• Excellent organizational skills, with an eye for detail and a commitment to accuracy;
• Able to work in a complex environment and set priorities;
• Analytical and problem-solving skills.

We are looking for candidates who identify with at least three of the following profile characteristics to complement the skills and experience already present on the Board:

• Knowledge of and an interest in photography festivals;
• Knowledge, experience, and a network in the field of sponsors and donors;
• Knowledge and experience in the field of new revenue models;
• Knowledge of and experience in the business world;
• Experience managing a (small) organization;
• Knowledge, experience, and a network in the field of national and/or European government and/or politics.

General

The term of office is four years, with the possibility of renewal for a second four-year term. We meet six times a year (and more often when necessary) at the BredaPhoto office in Breda.

The current board members are: Hilda Vliegenthart (Chair), Michel Wesseling (Secretary), Marcia van den Wildenberg (Treasurer), Arnold Birkhoff, and Iskander Khairoutdinov.

On July 1, 2023, our new director, Friso Wijnen, joined the organization; he is also the designated managing director.

Apply

For more information about the treasurer position, please contact the board’s treasurer, Marcia van den Wildenberg, at marciawildenberg@gmail.com or 0655696850.

For more information about the secretary position, please contact the board secretary, Michel Wesseling, at m.g.wesseling@gmail.com or 0653362067.

Please email your cover letter to the board secretary, Michel Wesseling, by August 23: m.g.wesseling@gmail.com. Interviews will take place on August 30, 2023, between 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM.