Strictly Private & Confidential
Metroland Cultures
Appointment of Trustees of the Charitable Trust January 2021
The Opportunity
Metroland Cultures has been established as a legacy of Brent 2020, London Borough of Culture and builds on projects and relationships nurtured over the year. Its mission is to platform Brent history, heritage, stories and artists to local, national and international audiences through arts and culture and bring in partnership and collaborations to Brent.
Despite Covid-19, Brent 2020 has stewarded and celebrated artistic talent across the borough to deliver an unforgettable year. So far, highlights across the programme include generating a new podcast (VENT) with a reach of over 7.6 Million, generating over 200 paid opportunities for young people, 100+ reviews of Brent’s (and London’s) first Biennial, paid support of 300+ local artists and organisation, a new residency programme and scheme for visual artists and over 100,000 watching the No Bass Like Home performance. We have now secured seed funding and are looking towards securing the next 5 financial years for the charity.
The legacy will be continued through a Visual Arts (Brent Biennial) and Music Biennial which will happen over the summer of each year. Alongside this we deliver Metroland University- a 2-month development programme for young people from Brent wanting to work in the arts and the creative industries.
This is a pivotal time for Brent’s cultural future, our year as London Borough of Culture has given us a platform to tell our story and embed our cultural agenda for years to come. We have generated an active audience, and a suite of partners who want to support us in the next stage of our journey.
Metroland Cultures has been established and governed under the leadership small Board of Trustees and as we come to the end of the year, we are now looking for additional Board Members to work with us steward us on the next stage of our journey. We are particularly looking for Board Members with expertise in Visual Arts, Finance, Fundraising and Human Resources. We hope that the opportunity to join us will be of interest to you and we look forward to discussing this further.
About Brent The Borough of Brent is a London borough located in North West London, and forms part of Outer London. The major areas are Wembley, Kilburn, Willesden, Harlesden and Neasden.
Today, Brent is one of the UK's most culturally diverse boroughs, with people from BAME backgrounds comprising 64% of the total population. There are 149 languages spoken in Brent and in 2016 55% of Brent residents were born outside of the UK.
Brent is also proud of its younger population: a quarter of the population are under the age of 18. Being London Borough of Culture gives Brent an opportunity to celebrate Brent’s heritage and discover Brent's future cultural identity through a programme which has been developed with the community and aims to target Brent’s unique demographics.
Brent is the home of Zadie Smith, reggae, Wembley Stadium, the Grunwick Strikes, the Kiln Theatre, and the largest Hindu Temple in Europe.
About Metroland Cultures
At bid stage to be the London Borough of Culture Brent committed to establish a trust - Metroland Cultures- to deliver the year and be a mechanism to create a sustainable cultural offer in the borough for the foreseeable future. The Brent 2020 programme, Metroland has delivered has been the first step in a systemic change to culture for the council and borough by establishing culture as a viable approach for Community Engagement, Regeneration, Placemaking and a method to engage and challenge young people from across the borough. Metroland has built new relationships across the council and with the community, giving voice and opportunity to share their stories. Going into 2021 a key objective of the legacy will be to maintain these and grow these relationships.
Metroland Cultures role going into 2021 and beyond will be to secure a successful legacy of Brent’s year by building on the projects and relationships built over 2020. It will work in partnership with the community and Council to celebrate Brent’s cultural heritage and grow its creative future. Through a Visual Arts and Music Biennial to present stories and artists to local, national and international audiences. Each year, around the Music programme or Visual Arts programme, Metroland University will offer a 2-month development programme to young people from Brent who want to work in the arts and the creative industries.
About Brent 2020’s shared legacy A central pillar of Brent’s bid to be the Borough of Cultures focused on building a legacy for the borough- we wanted to ensure culture, arts and the creative industries continue to thrive and establish Brent a key cultural destination in London after 2020. As we move into 2021 Metroland, the Council, the Voluntary Community Sector (VCS) and the Blueprint Collective will work together on one legacy, delivering different elements. Our approach to the legacy reflects our year of culture, it will be planned and delivered with the community.
1. The Council will continue to ensure every Child in Brent has a right to access arts and culture through establishing a Local Cultural Education Partnership incubated in the CYP team for the initial 18 months 2. The Council will continue to ensure Brent is a place and a borough which welcomes artists and creativity. It will do this through establishing a pipeline of free space, both meanwhile and permanent for arts and culture across its building programme 3. Metroland Cultures which will continue to develop the Brent Biennial and in addition will deliver a Music Biennial. These will establish Brent as a key place to visit in London elevating its Night-time Economy, Visitor Economy and Creative Industries. The Biennial’s will platform Brent Creatives to London-wide, National and International Audience. 4. The Voluntary Community Sector will build on Brent 2020 programmes for Young People. Supporting young people to access the arts and supporting the VCS to build capacity to ensure a substantive cultural offer for all young people in the borough. Priorities are to hand Seen & Heard to a local organisation, signpost the Collective to other young people’s offers across the borough and to embed the Artist network back into the community.
4 Year Programme Plan for Metroland Cultures
Theory of Change for Metroland Cultures
About the Charitable Trust
Metroland Culture Ltd is established as a Company Limited by Guarantee and Charity.
Over 2020 it has managed and delivered the 4.6Million budget for the London Borough of Culture programme and has been funded through a range of contributed and earned income sources, including a service level agreement with Brent Council. It has also raised significant voluntary income to support both the London Borough of Culture activities and the legacy programme.
By March 2021 it will have one set of audited accounts and will have completed the London Borough of Culture programme.
Metroland Cultures is currently governed by a small group of Trustees that is looking to grow:
ERROL DONALD. Errol is a pioneer of UK graffiti art and qualified creative wellbeing practitioner. He is also the CEO of Mindspray, a creative platform connecting globally to celebrate the art of cultural storytelling. In celebrating creative approaches to health and wellbeing, Mindspray aims to unite and inspire the next generation of creative leaders to create new approaches to mental health and emotional wellbeing. With a unique blend of experiences that include everything from brand strategy and cultural heritage, to leadership coaching, Errol advises clients on the planning of initiatives that meet at the intersection of arts, culture and healthcare.
DIGBY HALSBY. Digby is an award-winning communications professional whose promotional experience spans public relations, marketing and publishing. At the Paris-based advertising agency Iceberg-Bozell he developed pan-European advertising campaigns for market-leading consumer brands. In agency and in-house roles within the publishing sector he developed the brands of breakthrough literary talents, media managed leading literary awards and publishing events and directed promotional campaigns for internationally bestselling authors, thought-leaders and cultural figures. In 2009 Digby co-founded Flint Culture, a specialist cultural consultancy that has gone on to provide cultural advisory and communications services to brands, businesses and organisations ranging from the 2012 Cultural Olympiad, the British Library, Christie’s and the London Art Fair, to BT, Time Out and the National Trust. Based in London and working across Flint’s international offices, Digby offers expertise in brand management, audience engagement, business development and corporate, consumer and cultural partnerships.
CLLR KRUPESH HIRANI. Krupesh graduated with a Politics degree from the University of Nottingham in 2007 and has developed strong hands-on experience in the political sector, working for Barry Gardiner MP in the House of Commons and being on the Parliament and Government Programme at the Hansard Society. He then went on to work as a Policy and Business Development Officer for a new public affairs think tank and was mentored through the Operation Black Vote shadowing scheme by the Rt Hon David Lammy MP. In 2008 he was awarded with a Youth Gold Achievement Award during his tenure at the British Youth Council. He stood as a Labour Party candidate in the 2010 local elections and was elected as Councillor to the London Borough of Brent, representing Dudden Hill Ward. In 2012, he joined the Council’s leading Executive Group after becoming the Lead Member for Adults and Health, making him the youngest person in the country to hold this portfolio. He is the current Cabinet member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing at the London Borough of Brent. He works part-time for the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
JESSICA MENSAH. Jessica is a Young Theatre Director and Producer. She is a recent graduate in BA Theatre and Performance from the University of Surrey, Guildford School of Acting. She is also a member of the Blueprint Collective and performed a spoken word piece for Brent’s winning video called This is Brent. Jessica is currently on the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme; on a three- month placement at tiata fahodzi as part of the Artistic Director Leadership Programme. Previously, Jessica completed a year-long placement at Kiln Theatre and took part in the Young Vic’s Introduction to Directing course and the Young Producer’s programme at Battersea Arts Centre.
RADEN ANANDRA NATALEGAWA. Raden is a designer and documentary film-maker from Kingsbury who believes in the power of art and design to promote legal and social change. He recently finished a creative placement with Pentagram / Do The Green Thing, using design to raise awareness of the gender gap in climate action. Raden has made films for, and exhibited work with, The Photographer’s Gallery, the Institute of Contemporary Arts and Somerset House, exploring race, religion and sexuality. He studied Law and Politics (LLB) before transferring to study Graphic Communication Design (FAD) at Central St. Martins. Raden loves dancing, skating and Indomie noodles.
JOHN NEWBIGIN OBE. John is the Chair and Co-Founder of Creative England. As Special Advisor to the Minister for Culture, Rt Hon Chris Smith MP, he was closely involved in developing the UK government's first policies for the creative industries in the 1990s. He was Head of Corporate Relations for Channel 4 Television and Executive Assistant to Lord Puttnam at the film company Enigma Productions. As a policy advisor to the Rt Hon Neil Kinnock MP, he had responsibility for environmental and cultural issues, amongst others.
INDHU RUBASINGHAM MBE. Indhu is the Artistic Director of Kiln Theatre. Productions as Artistic Director include: Red Velvet (Evening Standard Award and Critics’ Circle Award, also at St Ann’s Warehouse, NYC and West End), A Wolf in Snakeskin Shoes, Multitudes, The House That Will Not Stand, Handbagged (Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre, also West End transfer and UK tour), Paper Dolls, The Invisible Hand, Holy Sh!t, White Teeth, and Wife. Other selected directing credits include: The Great Wave, Ugly Lies the Bone, The Motherf**ker With The Hat, The Waiting Room, The Ramayana (National Theatre); Women, Power and Politics, Stones in His Pockets, Detaining Justice, The Great Game: Afghanistan, Fabulation, Starstruck (Tricycle Theatre); Belong, Disconnect, Free Outgoing, Lift Off, Clubland, The Crutch, Sugar Mummies (Royal Court); Ruined (Almeida).
LOIS STONOCK. Lois is the Artistic Director of Brent 2020, London Borough of Culture and a consultant, writer, researcher and programmer working in the arts. She specializes in taking people and organisations through change and development with new approaches and strategic thinking. Lois’ work in areas of cultural strategy with Associates is in collaboration with other academics, policy experts, curators and sector experts. Over 2018 she developed a cultural think tank, The Jennie Lee Institute, to imagine new cultural futures for the UK, engaging the voices of young people, artists and policymakers to extend the value of culture to all areas of the everyday. In addition to this Lois develops curatorial and research projects which are always artist and idea-led, working with artists to realise ambitious projects. This work also informs her strategic thinking in other areas, as she is increasingly working at the intersection of art and society.
ANDRIA ZAFIRAKOU MBE . Andria has been teaching art and design at the Alperton Community School for 14 years. In 2018, she was awarded the Global Teacher Prize and has recently set up a charity called Artists in Residence to support the arts in education. Andria received an MBE in 2019 for her services to education.
About the Board of Trustees
Metroland Culture Ltd is governed by a Board of Trustees. The minimum number of Trustees is five. We have founding Trustees are now looking to grow the board over the following months to reach the ideal size and composition for an organisation of this type and scale. It is anticipated that the composition of the full-strength Board will be as follows:
• Chair • Deputy Chair • Treasurer • Communications / media expert • Arts leader • Arts fundraiser • Entrepreneur • Charity law expert • Education leader • Young local creative • Young local creative • Artistic Director of Brent 2020 • Artist
At its simplest, the role of the Board is to receive assets from donors, safeguard them, and apply them for the charitable purposes, as declared in the objectives of Metroland Culture Ltd. These are:
1. For the benefit of the public, the advancement of education by developing and delivering projects that build capacity and knowledge in the cultural sector and creative industries
2. For the benefit of the public, the advancement of citizenship and community development through the promotion of the voluntary cultural sector, the promotion of efficiency and effectiveness of cultural charities, and the promotion of community capacity, building in the cultural sector
3. For the benefit of the public, the advancement of the arts, culture and heritage by developing and delivering projects that develop the cultural infrastructure in Brent, increase the cultural offer in Brent and encourage participation in cultural activity
The Board must always act in the best interests of the charity, exercising the same duty of care that a prudent person of business would in looking after the affairs of someone for whom they had responsibility.
The Board must act as a group and not as individuals. Under Charity Law, the Trustees are the people responsible under the charity's governing document for controlling the administration and management of the charity. Trustees will also be Members and Directors of the Limited Company and have responsibilities under Company Law.
About the Board of Trustees (continued)
The Board of Trustees, collectively, requires skills and experience in:
• Financial management, income generation and enterprise • Fundraising • Local and regional cultural sector • Relevant statutory bodies • Trading subsidiaries and social enterprise • Community representation and development • Collaborative partnerships • Social impact
Board Members: Job Description
The Board Members is to:
• Ensure that Metroland Culture Ltd complies with its governing document (its Articles of Association), charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
• Ensure that Metroland Culture Ltd pursues its objectives as defined in its governing document
• Ensure Metroland Culture Ltd applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objectives, ie. it must not spend money on activities which are not included in the objectives, however worthwhile they may be
• Contribute actively to the Board’s role in giving firm strategic direction to Metroland Culture Ltd: setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets
• Safeguard the good name and values of Metroland Culture Ltd
• Ensure the financial stability of Metroland Culture Ltd
• Provide leadership for Metroland Culture Ltd’s fundraising, by setting an example and contributing to the fundraising target through proportionate giving, facilitating giving from own contacts, and supporting Metroland Culture Ltd’s fundraising team, for example at cultivation and fundraising events. The Board will be responsible for raising £100,000 through proportionate giving and a further £100,000 through its contacts. This will realise a further £50,000 in Gift Aid for Metroland Culture Ltd
• Protect and manage the property of Metroland Culture Ltd and to ensure proper investment of Metroland Culture Ltd's funds
• Support Metroland Culture Ltd’s Artistic Director and monitor her performance. It should be noted that the Artistic Director will be one of the Trustees.
In addition to the above statutory duties, board members should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the Board of Trustees reach sound decisions.
Board Member: Job Description (continued)
Minimum Time Commitment
Trustees are expected to attend an induction session at Metroland Culture Ltd prior to their first Board meeting. Trustees are expected to attend all Board meetings. Board meetings are held six times a year during normal office hours. They will last c. three hours and will usually be held at Metroland Culture Ltd’s offices in Kilburn, Brent.
In addition, there will be one Board Away Day each year, allotted to strategic planning.
Papers are distributed one week in advance of meetings.
Trustees can claim out-of-pocket expenses incurred in travelling to meetings.
Person Specification
Board Members should be excited by the Brent 2020 legacy and bring energy and commitment to support the delivery of the Biennial’s and galvanize partners to form a shared vision for the future, with culture firmly at the heart of the borough.
The ideal candidate will have:
• A strong demonstrable commitment to the mission of Metroland Culture Ltd
• A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to the role, with the necessary capacity to take on such a role
• Integrity
• Good, independent judgement and a warm, collegiate and diplomatic style
• An ability to think creatively and a willingness to speak their mind
• An ability to act as a visible ambassador and advocate for Metroland Culture Ltd and be able to engage effectively with major partners, benefactors and supporters
• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
• Financial and commercial acuity
• A global outlook, forward-thinking approach, and appreciation for the swiftly-evolving needs of a new generation
• A willingness to undergo an enhanced DBS check, like the members of Metroland Culture Ltd’s team of staff
• A strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion – as well as a personal commitment to core principles of opportunity, openness, transparency and respect for others
Desirable skills:
• A connection to the Borough of Brent
Metroland Cultures values diversity and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
How to Apply
Application is by submission of a full curriculum vitae and a covering letter of application, addressing the job description and person specification, and including suitable daytime and evening telephone contact details.
Completed applications should be sent to [email protected]
The deadline for applications is February 19th 2021 @ 5pm
All telephone enquiries, in the first instance, should be directly to Lois Stonock on 07896 299 754
All applicants are requested to submit a completed version of an Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form with their application. The information provided will be handled in the strictest confidence and will only be used for statistical monitoring purposes.