Trustee (Arts and Creative Coordinator)

Trustees serve as the guardians of the Festival’s mission—to inspire, educate, and engage residents and visitors in the wonders of Orkney’s natural world. This involves ensuring that the Festival operates in line with its values, meets its charitable objectives, and remains financially and legally compliant. Trustees contribute their time, expertise, and networks to support the Festival’s success and its positive impact on the community.
Trustees are often assigned an area of expertise or operational responsibility to support the delivery of the Festival programme. This Trustee role has a particular focus on the coordination and development of the Festival’s arts and creative events programme, ensuring that creative activities complement and enhance the Festival’s environmental and community objectives.

What could a volunteer gain from the experience:
This role offers a unique opportunity to develop your creative, leadership and governance skills while helping shape the future of the Orkney Nature Festival. You’ll gain practical experience in arts and creative programme development, event coordination, artist and practitioner liaison, partnership building and community engagement, alongside valuable insight into the strategic running of a registered charity. Working with artists, cultural organisations, community groups and fellow trustees will allow you to expand your personal and professional networks across Orkney’s creative, environmental and community sectors. You’ll also develop experience in strategic decision-making, project management, fundraising and organisational governance. Whether you are looking to build experience, broaden your existing skills or simply put your creativity and enthusiasm to good use, this is an opportunity to make a tangible contribution to a growing festival while helping create memorable experiences that bring together nature, creativity, culture and community.

Experience required

• A deep commitment to promoting Orkney’s unique natural environment and a desire to connect people with nature.
• The highest standards of personal and professional conduct, reliability, and a willingness to take responsibility for decisions and actions.
• The ability to see the ‘big picture’, assess priorities, and make considered judgments on complex issues.
• A collaborative approach, open to differing viewpoints, and able to work constructively with others from varied backgrounds.
• Strong verbal and written communication, comfortable representing the Festival in public and engaging with diverse audiences.
• Experience with charities, boards, or governance.
• Knowledge of environmental conservation, education, or event management.
• Financial literacy and experience with budgeting or fundraising.
• Local knowledge of Orkney’s communities, wildlife, or heritage.
• Digital skills, including social media or website management.
• Connections with relevant networks.

Training details

New trustees will receive a comprehensive induction to the Orkney Nature Festival, including its history, charitable objectives, structure, finances, policies and current projects. You’ll receive a thorough introduction to the trustee role and the Festival’s arts and creative programme, with ongoing support from the Chair and existing trustees. Training opportunities may be available in areas such as charity governance, safeguarding, fundraising, event management and other areas relevant to the role. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn from fellow trustees, volunteers and creative partners, with guidance available as you develop the Festival’s arts programme. No previous experience as a charity trustee is essential — enthusiasm, commitment and a willingness to learn are just as important.

Restrictions

Minimum age: 18

Frequency & commitment

This role is flexible, however you will be expected to attend 1 board meeting per month and availability during the festival in May is beneficial.

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