A Call-Out for Trustees -
g39 needs your help.
3 December 2021 - 28 January 2022
g39 needs your help.
Mae angen eich help ar g39
For-Real Board Doodling
g39 is home to Wales’ largest artist-run gallery and creative community for the visual arts. Established in Cardiff in 1998, g39 became a charity in 2019 and works as a bridge between communities, the public and artists. Artists are at the heart of g39’s activities. From residencies to training and mentoring, informal gatherings and realising the most ambitious of both Welsh and international exhibitions. Our aim is to encourage and enable every person whose ambition it is to pursue a visual art practice.
We are looking to recruit new Trustees to help steer g39 during the next part of its development. We are seeking a broad range of input from people with lived experience of different communities in Wales.
We are looking for input, skills or experience in the bits that help us run - accountancy, commercial property, charity governance, business development & HR - as well as the bits that make us tick - contemporary art in Wales, media, design and marketing and community development. We are keen to increase our bilingual working, felly, os ydych chi'n gweithio yn y Gymraeg neu'n dysgu, byddem wrth ein bodd yn clywed gennych!
We welcome applications from people irrespective of disability, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, family responsibility, age, race, ethnic origin, trade union membership and activity, political or religious beliefs.
We are committed to working with those whose background and/or identity is under-represented in the arts, and at g39. This includes, but is not limited to, those from Black, Asian and ethnically diverse backgrounds, from lower socio-economic backgrounds, d/Deaf, neurodiverse, disabled people or those with long-term health difficulties and those with LGBTQIA+ identities. We welcome applications from these individuals.
This is an opportunity to help us expand our reach and provide support for more of the artists we work with. If you feel your skills, knowledge or life experience are currently underrepresented in the arts and you'd like to do something about that, we'd particularly like to hear from you.
How to apply
Please email recruit@g39.org with up to 500 words or a short film / audio recording on why you would like to be a trustee and what experience or skills you could bring.
You’re welcome to send a CV (maximum 2 pages), any online links to you or your work, a biog or an outline of things you would like us to know about, but these are all optional.
Deadline for applications: Friday 28th January 2022
Application process
● Come and see us - we’re happy to meet you and show you around before applying.
● Chat to a Trustee - we can put you in touch with one of our current Trustees.
See FAQs for details on how to book a chat.
● Send us your application in your preferred format.
● The current Trustees will review everything sent in and respond to everyone who applies.
● Potential Trustees are then invited to observe a Board meeting in late spring 2022 before committing.
Accessible formats
If you would like this information in another format, or you would like to submit your application in another way, please email post@g39.org
FAQs
What is a Board of Trustees?
The Board of Trustees is a group of people who bring different experiences, knowledge and perspectives together, specifically. The Board of Trustees collectively have legal responsibility for the charity. From this group a Chair is elected. The Chair is someone with vision, determination and passion to help deliver our ambitions for the future. The Chair leads a Board of Trustees who work with a team of five staff who manage the g39 programme of arts activity.
There is also a Treasurer and a Secretary appointed from the Trustees. Key to our fiscal responsibility we require a Treasurer to oversee our finances. The Treasurer maintains a strategic focus on our financial resources and their management; working closely with the Chair, other Trustees and our auditors. The Treasurer ensures all monies for multiple projects are accounted for and annual reports submitted. The Secretary ensures clear communication and good practice is maintained.
What is the time commitment?
● The Board meets 4 times per year and we expect that Board members would attend a minimum of 3 meetings (in person at g39 in Cardiff or virtually). Meetings are usually no more than two hours long. Board papers are shared with Trustees before the meetings, which take 1-2 hours to read and review.
● Support our activities by attending events and exhibitions where possible.
● Act as an advocate for our organisation and its activities
● Be willing to commit to a three year term
● Although Trustee positions are voluntary we are committed to covering travel, access and any childcare/care costs incurred.
Why is this an unpaid role?
When you become a trustee, you volunteer your services and don’t receive payment for your work. Charities can’t pay their Trustees for simply being a trustee. At present, the Charities Commission supports the voluntary principle of Trusteeship, which is important to uphold public confidence and trust in charities.
Can I talk the role through with someone?
Yes, our current Board of Trustees are happy to have an informal conversation via phone or video call about what this voluntary role is all about. Email post@g39.org to arrange this.
What if I’ve never been a trustee before?
You don’t need any previous trustee experience. Training is available for Trustees about governance and how a charity is run and the Trustees and staff are there to answer questions and offer support.
If I become a trustee can I still apply for g39’s artists opportunities and call outs?
We try to be as transparent as possible about how artists are selected at g39. So that we avoid any conflicts of interest, Trustees are not eligible for g39 opportunities or callouts. We have the same rule for staff at g39. However, we don’t want the careers of the artists that we work with to be damaged.
We ask that the trustee/staff member declare any conflicts of interest as soon as they might present an issue. Where there has been a potential conflict of interest in the past, Trustees have been able to stand down from the Board in order to undertake opportunities, provided they haven’t been instrumental in shaping those opportunities during their time serving on the Board.
What if I find it’s not for me?
After attending the first meeting you might find it’s not the thing for you. It is no problem at that stage to opt out. This is also true if circumstances change in the future. As long as we have some time to plan you are not tied to the role forever!
Are there biscuits?
Wherever possible. We love biscuits. Tea, coffee and snacks keep us fuelled through in-person meetings. We do what we can to help the discussions flow.
g39 Board Callout - English
