Chair

About Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival

Summary and Invitation

Following a major capital refurbishment project of the Grade I and II listed Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre, Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival (BDBF) has just celebrated its first full year of programming in these spaces, which are more accessible and sustainable than ever. The refurbishment has restored and upgraded these venues, introduced a new creative space for artists, new public areas and a restaurant. Within the Charity is Create Music, the music hub for the whole of Sussex, reaching over 20,000 young people every year. In 2026, the Charity will be celebrating the 60th Brighton Festival, England’s largest multi-arts festival. 

Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival is looking to recruit a new Chair to join its Board and drive the governance of the organisation into the next decade.  In Autumn 2025, Danny Homan stands down after 11 years as Trustee and six years as a dedicated and brilliant Chair.

It’s a truly exciting time to consider joining the Board as Chair, as BDBF enters its next phase of growth and impact in a dynamic context. Lucy Davies,  previously Executive Director at the Young Vic, joined as Chief Executive in January 2025, and will be embarking on her vision for the organisation alongside the new Chair.  

“Please consider joining me as I lead this unique and vital organisation into a  sustainable, dynamic and radical future. I’m looking for a collaborative, inspiring Chair, to hold me accountable, offer me critical friendship, and to steward the mission of this flagship charity during extraordinary times for the city, the county of Sussex, and our nation.” Lucy Davies, CEO, March 2025.

About Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival

Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival is an arts charity responsible for the year-round operation of Brighton Dome, delivery of the annual Brighton Festival, and the hub for Create Music, music tuition and skills for children and young people across the whole of Sussex.  

Brighton Dome Concert Hall, Corn Exchange, Studio Theatre 

As the south coast’s premier multi-arts venue, each year it presents over 600 events spanning music, theatre, dance, comedy, literature, spoken word, visual arts, film, digital, community and participatory events. Its magnificent Grade I listed building situated in the heart of the city forms part of the Royal Pavilion Estate, and has been a beacon for the community for over 200 years. Starting as grandiose riding stables for Prince Regent, it has transformed into many guises thereafter - from a place of protest and solidarity for Suffragettes to a refuge for wartime dances and a temporary hospital in World War One, and even a roller-skating venue. In April last year, Brighton Dome celebrated 50 years since Abba won the Eurovision song contest with Waterloo. 

Brighton Dome is an extraordinary space in  which to bring the arts alive.  

Brighton Dome’s historic Grade I and Grade II listed Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre officially reopened for live performances in November 2023, following a six-year major capital refurbishment. The project included substantial restoration and upgrades to both venues, conserving vital heritage features for future generations and improving the visitor experience and facilities for artists and audiences alike.  

The refurbishment of the Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre is the first phase of a project by Brighton & Hove City Council, who lease us these buildings, in partnership with Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival and Brighton & Hove Museums, to cement the Royal Pavilion Estate as a landmark UK destination for heritage and  the arts. The circa £38m project has been realised with support from Brighton & Hove City Council, Arts Council England, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership, alongside trusts and foundations and many individual donors. Once all phases of the project are complete, the Royal Pavilion Estate is estimated to welcome over 1.5 million visitors, support over 1,200 jobs in the city centre and have an economic impact of £68m, making it a significant cultural landmark in the UK.  

These historic buildings now also include Anita’s Room, a brand-new dedicated creative space for artists to research, experiment and create bold and courageous new work. It is fully equipped with a lighting grid, mixing desk and the latest 5G technology. The space can  accommodate up to 40 people within its main  space, office and kitchen areas and is suitable for a range of activities, including: research,  development, writing, rehearsals, workshops,  retreats, experimentation, music making and  community group work. The space is named in memory of activist, entrepreneur and founder of The Body Shop, Dame Anita Roddick.  

Read more about: Brighton Dome

Brighton Festival

Each year, BDBF produces Brighton Festival, the largest curated annual arts festival in England. A celebration of music, theatre, dance, circus, art, film, literature, debate, outdoor and community events, Brighton Festival takes place in familiar and unusual locations across Brighton & Hove and further afield for three weeks every May. Renowned for its pioneering and experimental spirit and experimental reputation, our daring programming aims to make the most of the city’s distinctive cultural atmosphere and landscape and draws some of the most innovative artists and companies from the UK and around the world.

Read more about: Brighton Festival

Create Music

Teaching over 4000 children and young people each week, reaching 19,000 per year and engaging with 270 schools across the region, Create Music is the region’s leading provider of high-quality, inclusive music and arts education together with performance opportunities in the South East. Taking in Brighton & Hove, Eastbourne, Hastings, Lewes, Rother, Wealden and the surrounding areas, it offers children, young people and adults the chance to explore their passion for music through lessons, ensembles, projects, workshops, orchestras and summer schools.  

Brighton & Hove Music & Arts Service transferred from Brighton & Hove City Council  to Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival in 2017,  subsequently merging East Sussex Music Service with its operation in 2019. Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival is the accountable body to Arts Council England and the  Department for Education and facilitates Create  Music as the lead organisation for the Music  Hub, employing 32.44 FTE staff and 69 casual music teachers.  

Following a successful application, Create  Music, in partnership with West Sussex Music, have been appointed by Arts Council England to deliver music education across Sussex as part of the newly formed Sussex Music Hub.  

Its vision is for a future where children and  young people’s lives are forever transformed by  the power of music, the value of belonging and opportunities without barriers.  

Read more about: Create Music

Broader context

BDBF is an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation. In the summer of 2026, it will  apply for the next portfolio round (2028-2030). This application process will involve the new CEO setting out a strategic vision for this horizon and beyond, in collaboration with the Board and the staff team. 2030 is also an internal target to decarbonise the building and its operations.  

Cultural organisations are under increasing pressure to shore up more sustainable business models, in the face of standstill / reduced public and philanthropic funding, depleted reserves, an uncertain and competitive marketplace, and rising operating costs. The longstanding inability to meaningfully invest in the maintenance and renewal of the fabric of our buildings and equipment is also becoming a burning platform.  

Despite these pressures, BDBF holds huge potential to occupy a vital and powerful role as a “Big Tent” cultural hub, supporting wider social and economic strategies across the city and  region. Brighton and Hove and West and East Sussex have been granted priority devolution, which will mean a fast-changing political landscape through 2026. 

The filed accounts for year end March 2024 can be found here. 

Role specification

Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival is looking to appoint a new Chair to lead the Board of Trustees and support a relatively new CEO. BDBF is seeking a Chair who will advocate for, and drive, the strategic mission of the organisation, to guide it into the next decade. Candidates will be committed, enthusiastic individuals with a track record in leadership, governance, advocacy, philanthropy and knowledge of the cultural sector. Candidates will ideally be living in, or within commuting distance of, Brighton, with a keen interest in the arts and cultural ecology of the United Kingdom.

The Chair will be joining an engaged and experienced Board of Trustees, and will be asked to share skills, perspectives and experiences to support the charitable aims, strategic vision and rigorous governance of the organisation. This will be through formal meeting structures and the sub-committees and action groups. The Chair will work closely with a dynamic Executive Team and engage with key issues facing the cultural sector.

The Board’s principal role is to uphold vision, mission, policy and governance. This includes maintaining an overview of the organisation’s strategy and business planning activities, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements (particularly employment and health & safety), budget approval and monitoring of financial outcomes, recruitment and accountability of the Chief Executive and Trustees.

More specifically, the Chair is expected to:

• Oversee the Charity’s strategy, finances, operations and governance, working with the Executive team
• Oversee the integrity of financial information and assess risk management 
• Oversee organisation remuneration and succession planning for CEO and Trustees
• Share a common purpose and enthusiasm for the work of BDBF
• Embody and drive a culture that aligns with the values and aims of BDBF
• Act as an ambassador and advocate for the organisation and cultivate, and maintain, key strategic relationships
• Support fundraising activities and nurture relationships with key donors and patrons including Brighton & Hove City Council and Arts Council England
• Act as a critical friend of, the CEO and provide advice and expertise that the CEO can call upon
• Scrutinise the performance of the Executive team to meet agreed objectives and monitor reporting performance in key areas
• Draw on experience, knowledge and contacts to actively contribute to the setting of strategic direction
• Undertake roles on specific committees or working groups, as required
• Promote a progressive understanding of, and commitment to, diversity in all forms
• Attend events and performances regularly, especially for major artistic occasions

Person specification

Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival is looking to appoint a new Chair to lead the Board of Trustees and support a relatively new CEO. BDBF is seeking a Chair who will advocate for, and drive, the strategic mission of the organisation to guide it into the next decade. Candidates will be committed, enthusiastic individuals with a track record in leadership, governance, advocacy, philanthropy and knowledge of the cultural sector. Candidates will ideally be living in, or within commuting distance of, Brighton and Sussex, with a keen interest in the arts and cultural ecology of the United Kingdom.

Candidates will bring the following experience:

• A credible profile, gained through senior executive and non-executive leadership roles in the commercial, public or non-profit (including cultural) sectors 
• Ambassadorial and advocacy skills to promote the organisation and further its mission 
• Experience of developing strategic relationships at a senior level and, ideally, of fundraising 
• Prior experience of governance in the charitable sector, ideally in the cultural sector, or elsewhere

Skills and personal qualities:

• Leadership skills – creates and communicates a clear and compelling view for the future of BDBF and empowers others to deliver on it
• Communication and influencing skills – able to communicate with impact across a broad range of stakeholders and audiences
• Navigating, networking and effectively promoting BDBF to diverse stakeholders 
• Decision making and problem-solving skills - makes decisions in a timely and effective way
• Ability to resolve complex issues and balance arguments finely and expertly to reach decisions

Diversity

Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, belief or disability. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.

Terms of appointment

Board members are unremunerated but travel and out of-pocket expenses can be reimbursed. Trustees are entitled to 12 complimentary tickets (6 for Brighton Festival events and 6 for Brighton Dome events) per year.

Time commitment  

• Attendance at quarterly Board Meetings, which are held in person in March, June, September and December between 5pm–7pm  
• Attending an Away Day every year (or more frequent if required at key strategic times)
• Potentially joining or leading a sub-committee that focuses on a specific area
• Attending advocacy events, for example opening nights, Festival launches and events, cultivation and patron evenings

Trustees are appointed initially for three years and are then normally eligible for two consecutive terms of three years before retirement.    

Process

After we have closed the application window on the Nurole platform, our team of experts carefully assess your application against the criteria outlined in the role specification. We will select a group of the most suitable candidates to present to the organisation, who will then be able to view the full application. We will always get in touch to let you know the outcome of your application.

As the organisation will view the applications without edits, we therefore advise applicants to avoid using ‘see CV’ or ‘please call me to discuss further’ in your application as it may restrict your chances of progressing to the next round.

To read more about what to expect from the Nurole process, click here.

Take a look at Nurole guides on how to submit a strong application here.

Connected parties

This organisation has requested that candidates do not contact them directly. Instead, if you know someone at the organisation, please mention it in your Reason for Application. Nurole members who do not respect this may risk having their membership terminated. The organisation would be delighted to answer any questions of prospective candidates once they have submitted their application, and the first part of the process will be an informal conversation with the CEO.

Role timetable

Deadline for applications: Midnight on 21st July

Candidates can expect to be contacted by: 4th August