Applied Arts Scotland is inviting applications to join our Board of Trustees. 

Applied Arts Scotland (AAS) are seeking new Board Members to help run our organisation at an exciting and adventurous time as a new Creative Scotland multi-year funded organisation.

You are eligible to join the board if:

1. You are a Professional Member of Applied Arts Scotland (or are eligible for professional membership). Eligibility criteria can be found here. In brief, you will be a professional maker predominantly working in Scotland.
2. You are (or are eligible to be) an Associate Member of Applied Arts Scotland. Eligibility criteria can be found here. In brief, you will be working in a role aligned to the craft sector in Scotland, whether en route to becoming a professional maker or working in an organisation/role that supports the craft sector.
3. You have relevant professional skills from another sector that the organisation would benefit from, such as financial management, fundraising and/or business development.

We are particularly keen to welcome Board Member applications from:

• makers with experience of navigating change in your practice;
• individuals with skills in financial management, fundraising, organisational development;
• individuals with experience in supporting and diversifying communities;
• current or recent students of craft practice; and/or
• individuals with lived experiences that are under-represented in the craft sector.

As part of our commitment to developing leadership and advocacy within the craft sector, you do not need any previous Board experience. In taking on this role you will be supported by the organisation to develop your skills, networks and experience of working as part of our team.

BOARD MEMBER ROLE PROFILE

AAS is run by a Board of up to ten volunteers, at least 7 of whom are professional makers living and working in Scotland and at various stages of their careers. The Board are collectively responsible for how AAS is run, and meet together every 3 months and more regularly in working groups to do this.

We want to ensure that the voices on the Board of AAS reflect the diversity of makers and their experiences across the craft sector in Scotland.

Benefits of being an AAS Board Member

AAS Board Members have the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects that support the maker community in Scotland and internationally. These include:

• Maker collaborations and working together at distance.
• Delivering opportunities for discussion and peer to peer skill and knowledge exchange.
• Creative and professional development activities for makers.
• Apprenticeships, skills development and activities to support varied types of career development in making. 
• Sustainability of materials and practice and the circular economy.
• Development of international maker projects and networks.

Board Members are also encouraged and supported to develop and lead their own projects to build on their own personal areas of interest. 

We draw on the collective knowledge of AAS Board Members to guide and inform our projects, so are looking for both experienced makers and those with less experience. We are also interested to hear from you if you have skills and expertise gained in other sectors that could help us. The main thing is that you are keen to learn, bring and expand your networks, and help build confidence within a supportive craft organisation.

Board Member Responsibilities

• Acting in the best interests of AAS at all times.
• Keeping up-to-date with the work of AAS and its mission.
• Keeping up-to-date with best practice from the national and international craft sector.
• Actively contributing to discussions about what we do, why and how.
• Regularly attending and taking a full part in meetings.
• Identifying training needs to help with running the organisation.
• Understanding the finances of AAS, making sure that we have enough funds to meet our obligations and that there are clear lines of accountability for financial management.
• Maintaining confidentiality about any sensitive information related to AAS.

To do this effectively, Board Members need to have or be willing to work towards achieving the following skills:

• Awareness of the needs of professional or professionalising makers.
• Willingness to share your knowledge of craft sector needs.
• Desire to use your awareness to help deliver tangible benefits to the maker community.
• Desire to actively take part in lively discussions enabling makers’ voices to be heard.
• Willingness to listen to and express differing viewpoints.
• Time and availability to attend Board meetings.
• Willingness to act in the best interests of AAS.
• Willingness and ability to learn, develop and examine own attitudes and those of the organisation.
• Ability or willingness to learn how to work effectively as a member of a team.
• Ability to understand and accept responsibilities and liabilities as Board members.

OTHER INFORMATION

This is a voluntary role and is not paid. However, Board Members are reimbursed for all reasonable out of pocket expenses (for example, travel to attend board meetings).

If you would like to find out more about becoming a Board Member, please email hello@appliedartsscotland.org.uk to arrange a chat with a current Board Member.

APPLICATIONS

Email a copy of your CV and a covering letter that explains why you are interested in becoming an AAS Board Member and what you would bring to it, or a short video outlining this information, to hello@appliedartsscotland.org.uk.

If you are a current Professional Member of AAS, you can also stand for election at our Annual General Meeting on Friday 25 April 2025 (online).