Amberside Trust

We are looking for a new Chair, and two new Trustees, to join the existing Board to help shape our vision and continue to develop and safeguard the unique legacy of the AmberSide photographic and film collection.

This is an exciting time to support our growth, as an ACE NPO and with other substantial funding support, but – like many other similar cultural organisations – facing challenges presented by the current pandemic.

About the organisation:

Amber came together as a film & photography collective in 1968 to document working class and marginalised lives and landscapes in North East England, and in 1977 opened the Side Gallery with a commitment to celebrate the best in the wider tradition of humanist documentary photography.

The AmberSide Collection continues to grow from work produced, supported and collected, and currently includes 20,000+ photographs, 100 films, 10,000 slides and a unique network of 400 stories. In 2011 Amber Films and collective member Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen’s photographs were inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World register as ‘of outstanding national value and importance to the United Kingdom’. In 2018, AmberSide became an ACE NPO.

The AmberSide Trust was set up in 2015 to secure the collection, support the work and safeguard the legacy.

Image: Sunday Morning © Harry Morrison

About the role:

Having led the Board of Trustees for 6 years, our current Chair Graeme Rigby is stepping down. This is an exceptional opportunity for someone who wants to play a pivotal role in the strategic direction and governance of this unique film and photographic resource of national and international acclaim, and guide it to securing the continued development and legacy of this living collection.

AmberSide is known and respected for its values-led approach, and AmberSide Trust shares that commitment. If you would like to be part of our next chapter we would be delighted to hear from you.

We welcome applications from individuals experienced in governance with the regional commitment, qualities and attributes to effectively lead our organisation and help shape the future of the Trust.

The role of Chair and of Trustee is a voluntary, unpaid, non-executive appointment.

Ideally, you will have skills and/or experience in all for a Chair, and at least one for a Trustee, of the following:

  • Strategic insight and leadership to guide the Trust’s development
  • Regional, national and possibly international connections in the wider cultural arena to enable advancement of AmberSide Collection
  • Ability to maintain and further develop the status of the Collection
  • Understanding of governance structures

As Chair, you will also be responsible for managing the practical running of the Trust with regard to meetings, reporting and Charity Commission compliance.

In addition to four Board Meetings per year, the Chair is expected to attend AmberSide exhibition openings (currently four per year) and other significant events.

All Trustees are required to represent the organisation locally, regionally and nationally, developing and maintaining excellent relationships with a range of key partners, funders and stakeholders, and attend Exhibition openings where possible.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and with a range of skills and will provide the appointed persons with the necessary support to fulfil their role.

How to Apply:

Please send an A4 sheet outlining why you would like to be part of the AmberSide Trust, plus a CV, and what you could contribute to the Chair, or the Trustee, role.

Deadline:                 Wednesday 24th February 2021

Email to:                  Judy Cowgill           judy.m.cowgill@gmail.com

Jennifer Hinves     jennifer@jenniferhinves.com

If you would like an informal discussion about these roles, please contact Laura Laffler of the AmberSide CIC Laura.laffler@amber-online.com to arrange a conversation.

 

 

Support Amber

Gallery • Archive • Education • Cinema • Production