We are recruiting for an Artistic Director to lead the Great North Run Culture programme working with artists, audiences, key stakeholders and partners. The Artistic Director will create, commission and deliver a cultural programme that celebrates sport and art through artistic commissioning, with an annual budget of £200k+. If you think this is a role you might be interested in applying for, read the details below.

Introduction - Great North Run Culture is an annual series of new artistic commissions that celebrate and respond to the world’s largest half-marathon, the Great North Run.   We commission high-quality work from artists with a proven track record that has a broad appeal to audiences both familiar and unfamiliar with contemporary arts, and our programme is based on excellence, accessibility, participation and innovation. We believe that art has the power to transform lives and create meaningful experiences and that everyone has the right to participate and enjoy culture.

Vision - All GNRC’s work is delivered in partnership which means that each year the programme benefits from a broad range of highly specialist skills. As a non-venue based organisation, GNRCs collaborative approach to commissioning and presenting is essential. All of our commissions tap into fundamentally human themes; encompassing feelings of solitude, pain, participation, achievement, and elation. GNRC commissions artwork about the things that affect and interest people everywhere.

Audience - Since 2010, we have tripled our annual target audience to 300,000+ drawn from across the region, the wider North and Scotland, and the UK, In addition, elements of GNRC’s programme are featured in the BBC’s annual coverage of the Great North Run ensuring GNRC reaches up to a further 2.1 million viewers.

GNRC Plans (from 2015 onwards)

• Commission and premiere new artistic work
• Create links between art and sport
• Develop and maintain regional partnerships and capacity for public engagement
• Present innovative work that would not otherwise be experienced in the region
• Grow new audiences or hard-to-reach audiences for contemporary art
• Develop regional, national and international partnerships
• Provide participatory and learning opportunities
• Create and maintain an ongoing legacy
• Provide employment opportunities
• Provide volunteering opportunities 

• The ability to create and deliver an outstanding artistic vision.
• A strong track record of delivery high quality cultural activity that appeals to a wide range of audiences, as well as achieve artistic excellent.
• An ability to deliver a programme and lead an organisation within budget, ensuring cost control.
• Financial and commercial confidence, with experience of managing large budgets.
• A good working knowledge of the UK‘s funding ecology and the current challenges faced.
• A track record of attracting and developing sponsorship and partnerships with private sector funders.
• An understanding of marketing and communications.
• Experience of leading a team of staff, consultants and volunteers with passion and commitment, inspiring and energising others.
• An ability to work collaboratively and in partnership with other organisations and stakeholders.
• A commitment to accessibility and engagement at every level.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with an ability to build and maintain relationships.
• Experience of managing a competitive commissioning process.
• Any international experience within the arts would be beneficial in building potential partnerships.