Centre Director, Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre

Centre Director, Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre

Job Description

Purpose of the Job

Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre is a thriving community theatreand arts centre and a crucial part of the local community and arts ecology.The Centre Director is instrumental in ensuring sustainability, growth and development of the arts centreand curating a diverse programme that responds to the community within which we work. Key working relationships within this will be with the school and college – ensuring programming responds to the needs and interests of students and compliments their work. The Centre Director will demonstrate strong leadership and interpersonal skills, business and problem solving acumen, and the capacity to carefully balance programmes and creative community input. The core purpose of the Centre Director’s role is to provide a vibrant, creative, well managed and effective arts provision for the whole community within Taunton and beyond, ensuring that all visitors to the centre receive the best possible experience.

Vision and Strategic Direction and Management

In agreement with the Management Committee and in compliance with the aims and objectives of the TMAC Trust to set the strategic vision for the Centre.
Monitor and where necessary revise the Tacchi-Morris Business Plan
Produce reports for the Management Committee and Heathfield Community School governors on the key activities of the Centre and the artistic programme offered.
Line manage and lead a team of full-time and part time staff.

Finance

Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre is funded in a variety of ways through various funding streams including the Tacchi-Morris Trust’s Endowment Fund.

The Centre Director will be responsible for managing and monitoring budgets and finance generally, including an understanding of maximizing the revenue and diversifying income streams.

Monitor the annual Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre budget.
Fundraise from trusts and foundations
Explore ways of building the economic resilience of the organisation and diversifying funding through partnership working / sponsorship etc.
Ensure productions and projects are realistically costed and are feasible within the available budgets & to set ticket prices within the general Tacchi-Morris principles of accessibility to all.
Monitor revenue from live productions and forecasts in a pro-active way to ensure all Tacchi-Morris activity works within a balanced budget on an annual basis.
Regularly offer reports on financial updates and forecasts to the Management Committee.

Health and Safety and Building Management

Ensure standards of Health and Safety are maintained and that the Terms and Conditions of the Entertainments License is strictly adhered to.
To act as the named person (licensee) for Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre’s Public Entertainment License.
Report any building defects, or items in need of maintenance, to the Director of Operations, Deputy Head and Chair of the Tacchi-Morris Trust.

Programming and Event Management

Programme TMAC’s artistic programme– ensuring a balanced programme of events that tie into the Centre’s aims and ambitions.
Programme a series of professional Theatre and Dance events as part of the Arts College Status targets. Many of these will be linked to workshops and residencies for schools, colleges and the general public.
Maintain a variety of community classes, companies and outreach initiative, and develop and nurture new initiatives.
In conjunction with the Coordinator for theTeaching School Alliance and Director of Operations programme a range of conferences.
Ensure, on a day to day basis that the programming of all events complements and works in conjunction with the Performing Arts curriculum delivery for all 11-19 students both in TMAC and The SPACE.
Facilitate events by giving support, advice and guidance to our resident company, local artists, visiting groups and companies, especially where, for example, an organisation, school, college or Youth Group wants to organise an event with young people at Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre.
Manage and lead on the centre’s own programme of in-house events: The Page is Printed, Page to Stage, Dance Festivals, Creative Speed Networking, Outreach Cream Teas, Inspired By… Schools Festival and other Community Events.
Organise the termly Duty Management Rota and Duty Manage on a rota basis, approximately one evening a week during term time (also an opportunity to see work and access it.)
Oversee programming for the new exhibition space and all arrangements for this in conjunction with the Exhibitions Volunteer.
Work with Heathfield Community School ensuring school events are run smoothly.

Commission certain projects at The SPACE and give talks and introductions to students in aspects of arts management such as marketing.
Liaise with Community Class Coordinator on the programming, requirements, contracting and budgetary efficiency of community classes.
Organise and co-ordinate bi-annual Open Day event and bi-annual Community class day.

Marketing

Write and edit the termly brochure in liaison with the Marketing and Communications Coordinator.
Oversee all marketing and provide the vision for new opportunities and keep abreast of the latest developments and trends.
Act as the lead for press communications and publicising shows.
Act as an ambassador and spokesperson at conferences, events and on local radio to promote the centre.
Write press releases and copy on a regular basis for a variety of local and regional publications.
Lead on new developments for the website.
Design posters, publicity materials, flyers, logos, programmes and other content as required.
Support marketing through the website, Facebook, Twitter.
Analyse programme trends and report on data collated through Spektrix.

Networking/Meetings

The post-holder will keep in touch with local networks and agencies, in particular convening termly dance and drama meetings for local secondary teachers; Taunton Deane Borough Council and Town Centre meetings; Taunton Community Learning Partnership; Arts Taunton; Taunton Events Group; Somerset Arts and Promoters; Arts and Health Networks; Future Arts Centres and other local bodies and networks.
Assist with Education Business Partnership Meetings.

Contracts

Finalise all ticketing and financial information and negotiate contracts with companies.
To oversee the preparation of contracts for each season on an event by event basis.
To support the Marketing and Communications Coordinator who is responsible for contract administration.

General

To oversee all aspects of the Centre’s activities and to ensure that it runs smoothly and efficiently on a day to day basis.

Conditions of Service

All members of staff at Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre are employed by Somerset County Council and enjoy the same terms and conditions of service as any other employee on the school staff.

Line management responsibility for this post is that of the Head of Heathfield Community School.

One of the unique featuresof the post is that the Centre’s seasons only run through term times. There are week-long ‘Play in a Week’ schemes run at Easter and in the summer. Holidays are therefore taken during the school holiday period. Full-time members of staff accrue additional hours during term time, for example, by doing Duty Management of shows on a rota basis. This time can then be taken off during the periods in which the Centre is ‘dark’. This arrangement works well and benefits both the Centre and the staff because of the flexibility it builds into staffing arrangements.