Two members for the supervisory board

About the Holland Festival 

Artistic renewal, innovation, and experimentation have been the core values of the Holland Festival since its founding in 1947. Every June, the festival presents groundbreaking performances by artists from around the world, as well as new developments in the performing arts. These range from theater, dance, music, musical theater, and opera to multidisciplinary forms and crossovers with visual art, digital art, photography, and film. Thanks to the reputation the Holland Festival has built over more than 75 years, it is able to present—and sometimes even help bring to fruition—performances that would otherwise never be seen here. These often lead to unique, overwhelming experiences and reflections. 

The regular offering of performing arts in Amsterdam and the rest of the Netherlands is extensive and of high quality. The Holland Festival adds to this repertoire works that might otherwise be overlooked in the Netherlands and/or works that broaden the audience’s perspective and offer a unique view of today’s world. In addition, the festival facilitates international co-productions and, through them, new works by internationally active artists. The festival is able to present works that others cannot produce or showcase; works that are complex, require extensive production knowledge, expertise, and manpower, and are therefore often costly. 

A new four-year arts plan took effect in 2021. The festival is part of the basic cultural infrastructure and receives annual grants from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the City of Amsterdam. These grants, which account for approximately 60% of total revenue, form the foundation of the Holland Festival’s financial stability and make it a reliable partner. Since its founding in 1947, the festival has also been made possible by contributions from private funding sources. Actively recruiting and engaging private partners is of increasing importance. The Holland Festival’s international, artistic, and forward-thinking program can only be realized with the support of grantors, private foundations, corporate sponsors, and individual donors. 

Since 2018, the governance structure of the Holland Festival Foundation has been reorganized into a single-person board. The executive director has overall artistic and operational responsibility. In addition, the foundation operates under a model in which, for each festival edition, one or two associate artists are appointed upon the recommendation of the executive director and the program managers; these associate artists commit to the festival for the duration of that single edition. 

The Holland Festival is a foundation that has been led by Executive Director Emily Ansenk since September 1, 2019. The Supervisory Board, chaired by Carolien Gehrels, provides the Board of Directors with advice and support, oversees the broad outlines of the Holland Festival’s policy, and approves the budget, financial statements, and strategic plan. 

The Supervisory Board is seeking two new members. The Supervisory Board has a broad membership and strives for a balanced composition that ensures a range of skills and a high degree of diversity. 

All members of the supervisory board possess the following competencies:

• have a solid understanding of and affinity for the cultural sector in general, and the national and international performing arts and leading cultural festivals in particular;
• are capable of (overseeing) the foundation’s strategy and policies, or of preparing and implementing them, as well as of achieving the foundation’s objectives and being accountable for them;
• have supervisory and/or administrative experience;
• have access to relevant networks, including public administration, culture, media, the business community, foundations, and civil society organizations;
• have a good understanding of administrative relationships and issues;
• are able, including in terms of the time available, to monitor and promote the director’s policies and the general course of affairs within the foundation in a timely and appropriate manner, and to advise the management in the preparation and implementation of those policies;
• are able to act independently and critically with respect to the other members of the supervisory board and the board of directors, and, in the absence of the director, to take measures to ensure that the foundation is led;
• have no conflict of interest at the time of appointment; from a governance perspective, they are not employed by or affiliated with a partner institution;
• have sufficient time to carry out their supervisory duties throughout the year and to regularly attend receptions, events, talks, performances, and concerts in the run-up to and during the Holland Festival in June. 

Specific requirements for new members of the performing arts profile

• The new member is active in one or more of the festival’s performing arts disciplines and has demonstrable knowledge of and experience with the national and international performing arts;
• Has a vision of the role that art and culture in general—and the Holland Festival in particular—play or should play in (Dutch) society and the Dutch cultural landscape;
• Is able to provide substantive feedback on the festival program.

Specific requirements for new legal staff members

• The new member has knowledge and experience in the areas of law and governance.

Given the composition of the board, one of the two members must be a woman, and one of the members must have a diverse or bicultural background or otherwise contribute to the team’s diversity. The Holland Festival embraces the wealth of perspectives that people from different backgrounds bring together, and strives as an organization to reflect society. People from all backgrounds are welcome and encouraged to apply.

Meetings

The Holland Festival’s supervisory board meets as often as necessary and at least four times a year. Meetings are held during the day. The board meets at least once during the Holland Festival for a joint visit and, in addition, at least once a year for a strategy session, with the long-term vision, organization, and governance as topics on the agenda. The chairperson prepares the meetings in consultation with the director/executive. 

Compensation

This is an unpaid position.

Procedure

If you are interested in this position and meet the required qualifications, please apply by submitting your cover letter and resume via thislink. Your application will be treated confidentially. The deadline for applications is Friday, January 13, 2023. Interviews will take place in weeks 5 and 6. If you have any questions, please contact Rianne Meehan atrianne.meehan@hollandfestival.nl

Interviews with candidates will be conducted by a selection committee consisting of several members of the Supervisory Board. The interviews will take place at the Holland Festival office, in the presence of the director.

Recruitment agencies are asked to refrain from contacting us regarding this job opening.