Llenyddiaeth Cymru | Literature Wales: Chair and Trustee Recruitment
Voluntary initial 3 year service
Closing date: Wednesday 9 April 2025
Interviews: w/c 28 April 2025
A message from the Llenyddiaeth Cymru | Literature Wales Board of Trustees
Are you passionate about the arts and the transformative possibilities of literature? Are you committed to values of inclusion and fairness, and do you believe that culture in all its forms can bring about positive change to society? Do you have the knowledge and leadership skills to support good governance, develop strategy and inspire positive change? If so, we encourage you to consider applying to join the Llenyddiaeth Cymru | Literature Wales Board.
We are proud of the way in which Llenyddiaeth Cymru | Literature Wales has evolved over the years into an agile organisation that welcomes change. We ensure that our strategy evolves alongside the fast-paced sector within which we work, so that we can develop new opportunities for our writers and reflect the needs of our audiences. We are a sector facilitator working towards a transformation of Wales' literary scene by empowering writers and audiences through strategic and impactful partnerships.
As we look ahead to the future with confidence, we are mindful of the ongoing difficulties facing our sector and the deeper challenges of public funding for culture and the arts.
In the years to come we will need to be more creative, collaborative and more resilient than ever before, to mitigate against the challenges ahead.
After serving the maximum term on the Llenyddiaeth Cymru | Literature Wales Board our current Chair, the academic Cathryn Charnell-White, will retire in late 2025. We are therefore looking to appoint a visionary new Chair as well as up to three dynamic, committed, and creative new Trustees. Our Trustees all bring something unique to the organisation and are strong advocates for what we do. As Trustees we all take collective responsibility for running the charity, with specific additional responsibilities delegated to the Chair and Deputy Chair.
As Chair or Trustee, you will work closely with the Executive, and Artistic Directors and actively shape the organisation’s strategic direction; challenge, advise and guide the Senior Leadership Team; help to provide effective and constructive governance whilst remaining true to our mission and values.
Llenyddiaeth Cymru | Literature Wales’ Management Board represents a broad sector and seeks to include a range of expertise, experiences, and voices. We actively encourage applications from young people and individuals who are underrepresented in the literature sector. If you are new or stepping into the role of Chair for the first time we will support you with appropriate training.
We particularly welcome candidates who offer expertise in one or more of the following areas: the Welsh language and Welsh culture and literature in all its forms, sustainability, fundraising and stakeholder engagement, disability and discrimination, property management and hospitality, law, charity governance and finance.
We are looking for a strong leader, and advocates who share the vision and values of the organisation and who will work with fellow Trustees and staff to enable creativity and ensure high standards of governance, transparency, and accessibility. If this sounds like you, consider applying today or get in touch for an informal conversation. Thank you for your interest in this role, and we look forward to hearing from you.
You can find more about the role and responsibilities in the recruitment pack via the link below.
Recruitment Pledge
Llenyddiaeth Cymru | Literature Wales aims to be an inclusive organisation committed to welcoming candidates from a wide range of backgrounds. We assess applications on the strength of potential, and we will take positive action by guaranteeing an interview to every applicant who can demonstrate expertise in one or more of the desired skillsets and who identify as under-represented within the literary sector. Our aim is to develop literature as an art form that is representative and accessible for everyone in Wales. We believe that we can best deliver that aim by creating a diverse workforce with varied lived experiences.
We especially encourage applications from individuals who identify with one or more of the following statements to apply:
- I come from a Black, Asian or Minority ethnic background.
- I am disabled or suffer from long-term illness (mental or physical).
- I come from a low-income background.
Our recruitment framework has been developed as part of the Weston Jerwood Creative Bursaries Programme, which supports arts organisations to expand their approach to diverse recruitment and talent development. For more information, please see our Equality, Inclusion, Diversity Plan.
If you would like to apply for this role but are uncertain whether you have sufficient experience, or how this may affect your career or other/alternative opportunities to work with Llenyddiaeth Cymru | Literature Wales, please contact us for an informal chat.
Post@literaturewales.org / 029 20472266