Chairperson

About the organization

The Amsterdam Arts Council is the independent advisory body to the municipal government (the City Council and the Mayor and Aldermen) of Amsterdam. The Arts Council provides advice, both upon request and on its own initiative, regarding the arts and culture policy of the City of Amsterdam and developments in the arts. In doing so, the Arts Council focuses on the relationship to Amsterdam’s urban development, the (international) context in which this policy must take shape, and on art and culture that are not part of the subsidized sector.

One of the Arts Council’s key tasks is to provide advice in preparation for the Arts Plan. This advice helps form the basis for arts and culture policy for a four-year period. Key recommendations from the Arts Council include the quadrennial Survey (sector analyses of the entire arts and culture sector), the Cultural Investment Account, the advice on the Arts Plan Guidelines, and recommendations regarding applications from cultural institutions within the Arts Plan that fall under the direct responsibility of the municipality.

The Arts Council consists of a board of generalists working in the arts, supported by an office and a group of advisors (cultural experts and artists). The Arts Council endorses the importance of the cultural codes that apply in the cultural sector. 

About the role

The chair of the Amsterdam Arts Council:

• has knowledge of the local, national, and international arts and culture sectors and keeps abreast of current developments;
• has a vision for the changing and inclusive city (including with regard to creators, talent, and the public) and the impact this has on the cultural sector;
• understands the connection between art, culture, and the creative industries, and can relate this to an urban context;
• is able to link art and culture to other social challenges;
• has strong communication skills, has administrative experience, and engages in open dialogue with the cultural sector and policymakers in order to fulfill the required advisory role;
• endorses, has experience with, and promotes an inclusive and open organizational culture;
• As the person ultimately responsible for the Arts Council, he can ensure that decision-making is transparent.

The board of the Amsterdam Arts Council meets on average once a month. The chair works closely with the Arts Council’s executive secretary and holds regular administrative consultations with the alderman for Arts and Culture. The chairperson should preferably reside in Amsterdam and be available an average of 30 hours per month for the aforementioned duties. The chairperson is appointed for a term of four years and may be reappointed once for the same term. The chairperson receives compensation determined by the municipal executive.

Interested?

The City of Amsterdam and the Amsterdam Arts Council are working with Colourful People to fill this position. For more information about the role or the application process, please contact Jantien Plooij, a partner at Colourful People. (06-17703534) or via j.plooij@colourfulpeople.nl.

You can express your interest by uploading a cover letter and resume (in PDF format) via the Colourful People website by February 16, 2025. Once your application has been successfully uploaded, you will receive a confirmation email. If you do not receive it, please contact Jantien Plooij. Rest assured that your information will be treated confidentially.

Schedule

The interviews will be held in the second half of March 2025.