The Portland Inn Project
We believe in the power of art: as a tool in communicating our story; representing our needs and creating space for communities to learn. We advocate for people-led change, and champion the importance of art in leading that change, and in cooperation with public services.
We are looking for two board members via this callout who will fulfil a role on our board that responds to the following needs for our growing organisation with an ambitious arts programme and imminent capital programme.
Ø A person with expert knowledge and experience of capital projects, who can advise on financial aspects of the build, helping to ensure we get the best value for money on this project with a great quality output. They will also be able to identify relevant funding streams for our organisation.
Ø A person with experience (from an arts organisation perspective) of managing a building and creative programme. They will be able to advise us on how to manage these responsibilities and continue to deliver a community led programme of excellent quality and responsive arts activity.
The appointment of these individuals is happening via invitation and callout. In the recruitment of our board, we will be continuing our approach to representation and inclusion.
Get in touch via email to Rebecca (co-director) [email protected] for any questions you might have or to organise a phone conversation about the organisation. If you are interested, please email an explanation of your knowledge and experience and why you would like to be on our board, by FRIDAY 25 NOVEMBER. THIS OPPORTUNITY IS OPEN TO PEOPLE ACROSS THE UK! We look forward to hearing from you.
You can find out more about the building and our intentions for its use here > https://www.theportlandinnproject.com/programme/the-building/ and if you have any further questions that our website is unable to answer, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Rebecca > [email protected]
Founded by two artists, Anna Francis & Rebecca Davies, in 2016, The Portland Inn Project CIC’s mission is to create an arts-led community-based organisation that makes vital change in our area. We aim to galvanise and deliver community cohesion, economic, social and cultural development in the streets where we live.
We are located in Hanley, Stoke On Trent, in a neighbourhood that experiences severe deprivation (top 10% most deprived LSOAS 814th of 32844). People here experience poor quality of life, poverty and exclusion from mainstream cultural provision, in a city where cultural engagement is extremely low. We have proven that our work can be both catalyst and support for culture to thrive in this challenging environment. Working in collaboration with other artists, arts organisations, designers and residents, we practice collaborative approaches to production and community action, involving the community in the growth of our arts organisation and development of a pioneering community space, the first of its kind in Stoke-on-Trent – offering a workshop space, a residency programme and community hub.
We hope to begin the capital programme next year, which means that we will be working closely with our architect and project manager Godson Egbo, to deliver an ambitious redevelopment of the derelict pub. With this development comes an increased responsibility for our organisation, as we oversee the build and continue to deliver an ambitious programme of activity for the community.
The purpose of the CIC is to provide opportunities, skills, and creative activities to improve quality of life in the local community, to manage a community building, increase active citizenship, combat social isolation and improve health and well-being via culture. A CIC is an accountable, flexible and appropriate form for the organisation’s current activities and immediate plans allowing the future option of applying for charitable status and/or developing co-operative social enterprise models that spin off from our core activities as our work and assets develop. The CIC currently has 2 named Executive Directors, founders Anna Francis and Rebecca Davies, and a third Non-Executive Director Nana Lyamgohn, a resident from the neighbourhood who brings experience in community leadership, to this role.
We have taken great care in designing and developing the structure and form of the organisation, intending it to be representative and responsive to the neighbourhood we are based in, and importantly, for organisation and programme to operate with a flexible, accessible and open approach to decision-making. A core concept underpinning this is our Community Decision-Making Panel. The Panel meets bi-monthly to support decision-making in critical areas of our work, and is made up of residents, team members, partners and representatives from local services including Stoke-On-Trent City Council’s Community, Anti-social Behaviour, Environmental and Housing teams.
The Advisory/Oversight board will be joined by the executive team for quarterly meetings at which finance, strategy, plans and risks are reviewed in line with our programme and funding aims and outputs.
Community Decision-Making Panel Meetings will continue to take place once every two months, online or as physical meetings on Portland Street. Going forward they will be convened by a newly appointed Chair - a new paid post which will co-ordinate the meetings, community intelligence, and lead on liaison with public service providers. 2 Community Decision-Making Panel members will attend Advisory Board meetings, serving in this capacity for a year at a time.
Once a year and in person, the CDMP, Advisory Board and executive meetings will coincide as a space to share ideas and plans - supporting the transparency of decision making and governance for our organisation.
Please see our website for more information about our wider programme
WWW.THEPORTLANDINNPROJECT.COM