Seeking a Freelance Governance and Leadership Development Consultant

Shallal is a very small charity, formed in 1985 as a community dance theatre company.

Over the past 40 years it has developed a diverse range of creative performance and artistic strands in a range of locations, and digitally, across Cornwall.

Shallal believes that everyone in society should have access to creativity, an equal voice and the opportunity to discover their potential. It encourages and supports people to explore and develop their creativity by working across a wide range of art mediums and collaborating with each other. Shallal is proud of the artistic excellence that characterises the work of its participants. Shallal’s members play an active part in developing ideas and plans for the future.

Stepping Stones Project Overview

Stepping Stones is a project which is intended to support Shallal to transition into a positive and creative future. It is supported by Arts Council England, Shallal has been on its creative journey for 40 years, from its beginnings in Newlyn, to today, when it operates in many locations across Cornwall. It remains substantially directed by the creative people who founded it and there remains an informal fluid structure with no permanent employees. Fundraising is done in an organic and often unplanned & reactive way, & secured in peaks and troughs, leading to breaks in provision, stress & uncertainty for facilitators & members, loss of talent & inhibition of artistic & organisational development.

We have now reached a point on our organisational journey where we are acutely aware of the need for reflection, renewal & transformation if we are to survive and thrive in the long-term. We need to preserve the ethos, values & creative output of Shallal but put them into a new supportive professional framework. The ‘Stepping Stones’ project will enable us to carry out research & put in place a clear plan for this major change, alongside new creative programming and promotional activities. The project has 3 interconnected strands with a common theme of ‘Journeys’.

1. Organisational Development – this strand will enable us to research & scope our longer-term journey to establish Shallal as a sustainable, resilient organisation.
2. Programme & Reach – we will expand our geographical coverage & explore diverse artforms, delivering 27 workshops on the theme of ‘journeys’ in new locations across Cornwall.
3. Communicating, Celebrating & Sharing Our Work – we will design & deliver an external communications strategy and e will also review our internal & member communications.

The Stepping Stones project has been made possible thanks to support from Arts Council England.

Shallal is seeking a consultant to support the trustees and current leadership in an exploration of options for future leadership and more diverse, inclusive governance.

Key Outcomes/Outputs:

The key outcomes and outputs of this consultancy will be:

• A shared understanding of Shallal’s future focus and priorities
• A practical written plan for succession, inclusive leadership and decision-making.
• A role description for a future leadership position
• Delivery of a recruitment campaign for new trustees.