Upswing is looking for a new Chair (initially co-Chair) to join our board at a pivotal moment in our development. You don’t need a background in circus. You don’t need to know everything. You do need to bring strategic thinking, a genuine interest in the arts, and the kind of leadership that holds both creative vision and organisational accountability at once.
What does being Chair involve?
As a registered charity, we are governed by a board of trustees, and the Chair leads that board. You’ll work closely with our Artistic Director and Executive Director to support bold creative work, guide strategic development, and help steer Upswing through a significant growth phase. That means running effective board meetings, acting as an ambassador for the organisation, and helping develop a confident, inclusive board culture.
We’re entering this role as a Co-Chair transition: you’d join alongside our current Chair, stepping fully into the role in March 2027. The model is designed to give you time to build relationships, share knowledge, and find your footing before taking on full responsibility.
The board meets four times a year, plus an annual away day. The Chair role involves around ten to twelve days a year in total. Meetings are hybrid, with increasing activity in Staffordshire. Expenses are covered, and all new trustees receive a full induction including governance support and optional training. We’re happy to discuss any adjustments that would help you participate fully.
Who we want to hear from
We’re particularly interested in people who can help us deepen our presence in Staffordshire and the wider Midlands, whether through civic leadership, advocacy, regional development, or cultural sector experience, especially where that intersects with producing, touring or audience development. You may be, or have been, a senior leader in a public body, cultural organisation, university or mission-led setting.
Above all, we’re looking for someone excited by the chance to help root Upswing more firmly in place while supporting our continued national and international ambitions as a producing and touring company.
We especially welcome applications from the Global Majority, disabled people, neurodivergent people, and LGBTQIA+ communities.
You can read more about who we’re looking for in the recruitment pack below.
How to apply
Applications close 5pm, Tuesday 1 September 2026.
In-person interviews will take place in the week of 12 to 16 October 2026, in the West Midlands.
If you’d like an informal conversation before applying, contact Helga Henry at helga@helgahenry.com, who is supporting our search alongside Lara Ratnaraja.
We want to hear from you in a format that feels natural. We assess what you say, not how you present it. Apply with a written statement, a short video, or an audio message, up to two pages or five minutes. Include a brief CV and tell us: why Upswing, why now, and what you’d bring.
Send applications to camille@upswing.org.uk.
Photo courtesy of Deborah Clarke