Watermans Seeking New Members for Board of Trustees
Cultural work of arts continues despite closure of centre
Pyrodise by Firebirds at Bell Square. Picture: Vipul Sangoi
November 15, 2024
Local people with an interest in arts and culture are being sought to join Watermans’ board of trustees.
The independent charity and social enterprise which is run by the Hounslow Arts Trust is trying to identify people who have skills and expertise gained from professional or artistic experience.
Despite the closure of the arts centre on Brentford High Street and the stalling of plans to build a replacement, Watermans says it continues to have a mission to inspire communities through creativity and the arts.
It is currently involved in a number of projects in the borough including Bell Square, the outdoor arts venue in Hounslow Town Centre, now in its eleventh year, Creative People & Places Hounslow (CPP Hounslow) which has brought over £4m of external funding over 10 years, Short Breaks, the programme for children and young people with disabilities and their carers and Artcast4D, the EU-funded consortium combining art and immersive technology.
It says it currently has three key goals:
• To build an engaging and interactive programme with West London communities
• To bring communities together through cultural participation
• To promote engagement with innovative digital and new media arts practice
Any surplus Watermans generates is reinvested in the communities it serves across London Borough Hounslow.
Hounslow Council is adamant that issues with the housing provider which as stalled progress on the development of a new arts centre will be resolved soon and work on the project will begin next year. It is spending £1.45 million to allow for redesigns and site clearance. It is believed that, after running the centre on the High Street for nearly 40 years, Watermans would take over management of the new facility on Half Acre when it is complete.
In a statement Watermans says, “This is an exciting time to be joining Watermans’ board as we develop our vision and seek to grow in influence as the cultural hub of West London, supporting artistic excellence and opportunities across the borough and beyond. With the support of our major funders, we have recently transitioned to a new operating model which supports our funded programmes while reducing overhead costs as we prepare to relocate to a new building that can support our ambitions.
Potential skills that the current board of trustees would welcome include: fundraising and income generation; property and estates management; legal expertise; financial management; service performance and delivery of public service.”
Further details on the role of a trustee, and the work we do, can be downloaded here.
If you are interested in becoming a trustee, send your CV and covering letter to recruitment@watermans.org.uk
The closing date for receipt of applications is midday, Monday 25 November and interviews will be held in the evening of Monday 2 December.
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