WELCOME

FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND VICE CHAIR

JOIN US AT THE HEART OF DANCE

Thank you for your interest in becoming the next Chair of the Board of Governors at The Place and London Contemporary Dance School. As our current Chair Alan Bishop prepares to conclude his term in March 2026, we’re seeking a visionary leader to help shape the next chapter of our journey.

A HOME FOR DANCE, ROOTED IN LONDON AND REACHING THE WORLD

The Place is more than a building – it’s a creative ecosystem. As both a National Portfolio Organisation supported by Arts Council England and a globally recognised specialist Higher Education provider, we nurture artists, thinkers, and leaders who shape the future of dance across continents. Our school is a launchpad for bold careers; our trailblazing alumni push boundaries and redefine what’s possible. From education and training to creation, production, and performance, our work supports the full arc of dance.

Operating across two vibrant sites in Bloomsbury in central London, The Place has a turnover of approximately £10 million. We are proud stewards of a legacy that continues to evolve, with an expanding international footprint and bold ambitions for the future.

As we approach our 60th anniversary in 2030, we are focused on shaping a future that honours our legacy of innovation while embracing bold new possibilities. Our priorities reflect a balance of strategic risk management and the creative risk-taking that has always defined The Place.

We are financially sound, but we operate within a complex landscape. Like many in Higher Education and the arts, we face funding constraints and sector-wide pressures. Strategic leadership will be key to navigating these challenges while continuing to grow our reach and relevance.

BE PART OF WHAT'S NEXT

We hope this introduction sparks your imagination. If you share our belief in the transformative power of dance and education, we’d love to hear from you.

To find out more about our story, our values, and our aspirations, you may find the following pages of interest:

• Our History
• Our Mission and Values
• Our Leadership Team
• Our Board of Governors
• Our Departments
• Our Annual Reports & Accounts

GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP

The Place is led by Clare Connor, Chief Executive and Accountable Officer, who has held this role since August 2017. Clare provides visionary leadership across all dimensions of the organisation: academic, artistic, operational, financial and strategic. Under her stewardship, The Place moved through its ambitious 50th-anniversary year and launched a transformative ten-year plan to further “a world with more dance”. During this period, turnover increased by approximately one-third, and London Contemporary Dance School became an independent Higher Education Provider recognised by the Office for Students as a World-leading specialist provider.

The Board of Governors is led by Alan Bishop, who joined as Chair in August 2019. Under Alan’s leadership and guidance, The Place has demonstrated dynamism and growth in dance development through our world-leading status despite an increasingly challenging external context.

Alan has been a passionate advocate for our artistic and educational ambition, championing a culture of thoughtful risk-taking underpinned by strong risk management. He has deeply understood and valued the innovative spirit that has defined The Place since its founding and his leadership has been instrumental in carrying that legacy forward- guiding us from our previous five-year strategic plan to our current vision, with boldness and creativity at its core.

The Governors help us shape our overall strategy and support The Place to fulfil its artistic and educational objectives within a sustainable business model. The Governors work closely with the Chief Executive and senior leadership team, and play a vital role as advocates and ambassadors on behalf of The Place.

As The Place is a company limited by guarantee (company no. 883094) and a registered charity (charity no. 250216), Governors are both charity trustees and company directors.

There are two key departments; Education (comprising Research and London Contemporary Dance School and the Centre for Advanced Training), and Public Programmes (comprising Theatre and Artist Development, Producing & Touring and Classes & Courses). These departments are supported by Central Services Teams including Communications, Development, Finance, and Human Resources.

Key stakeholders and partners include Arts Council England, Office for Students, the Department for Education, alongside the Charity Commission. We also have a partnership with the University of the Arts London (UAL) in support of degree validation and PhDsupervision.

THE ROLE OF THE CHAIR

In pursuit of our vision, mission and five-year plan and in preparation for the planned retirement of our current Chair, we are looking to recruit a new Chair of The Place Board of Governors.

Our priorities for the next period reflect a balance of strategic risk management and the creative risk-taking that has always defined The Place. These include:

• Evolving our governance to reflect the changing landscape of arts and education, ensuring we remain agile, inclusive, and future-facing.
• Developing a new capital facility that supports our growing community and enables us to take artistic and educational risks in spaces designed for experimentation and excellence.
• Expanding commercial ventures to diversify income streams and strengthen our financial sustainability, while remaining true to our values and artistic integrity.
• Deepening stakeholder engagement, including relationship management with our Royal Patron, and cultivating philanthropic partnerships that support long-term ambition.
• Embedding thoughtful risk management across all areas of our work, recognising that bold ideas require brave decisions, and that resilience is built through strategic foresight.

The diversity of The Place is central to our future. To further build the diversity of our board of Governors, we are particularly interested to hear from people who identify as Global Majority, disabled and/or LGBTQ+.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The responsibilities of the Chair include:

• Chairing the Board of Governors, setting the agenda and ensuring effective governance.
• Leading the organisation in partnership with the Chief Executive.
• Monitoring performance and delivery of the agreed strategy.
• Developing high quality and mutually respected relationships across the Board, Leadership Team and key external individuals.
• Advocating to government, the arts and education sectors, funders, and individuals of influence.
• Representing The Place at key public events and, where agreed, in the media and press.
• Helping to enhance financial stability and creating an environment to generate resources to finance growth.
• Advising the Board on matters of advocacy, policy and strategy.
• Ensuring timely and effective succession planning for the Chief Executive (Accountable Officer).
• Supporting the work of the Commercial Hires and Development functions, through insights and introductions.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

CANDIDATES MUST DEMONSTRATE:

• A strong interest and empathy for The Place, its mission, vision, and values.
• Experience and impact as a Chair or at Board level of a major organisation with national or international reach, preferably in the arts or education/Higher Education sector.
• The ability to chair meetings in a calm, collaborative and decisive manner to ensure productive discussion and debate at board level.
• Good judgement and an ability to see the big picture, clarifying issues and focusing on those actions which will deliver results.
• An understanding of the context of The Place, its relationships with Arts Council England, Office for Students and the Department for Education, and with commercial hirers and philanthropic supporters.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to confidently represent the organisation.
• Familiarity and confidence in managing reputational risk, and in navigating internal and external communications at times of challenge.
• A commitment to ensuring diversity throughout the organisation.
• Appreciation of the non-executive nature of the role but with readiness to support and mentor the senior management team as appropriate.

IN ADDITION, IT WOULD BE DESIRABLE FOR CANDIDATES TO HAVE:

• Experience of fundraising within a not-for-profit context.
• Experience of developing or overseeing a major capital project within an organisation.
• An understanding of the importance of global connectivity, international partnerships, and cultural exchange to our work and to our world-leading reputation.

TIME COMMITMENT

The regular time commitment for the Chair is likely to be 4 or 5 days a month.

Governor meetings take place four times a year in London. The Chair may wish to attend meetings of the the Academic Board or the Audit, Finance and General Purposes and Nominations Committees, and will be expected to engage with the diverse work of The Place, which includes attending performances, fundraising galas and events.

The position is not remunerated but reasonable travel expenses will be paid.

Quarterly Board meetings for Academic Year 2025-26 will take place on:

• 19 November 2025
• 11 February 2026
• 22 April 2026
• 01 July 2026

The role of Chair is offered for a period of three years. Following this, the Chair may be re-elected and serve a maximum of six years.

TIMESCALE FOR APPOINTMENTS

We hope to appoint a new Chair of the Board of Governors in the autumn of 2025 to join the board from Spring 2026 onwards.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your CV and full contact details, with a cover letter (maximum two sides of A4) as a statement outlining why you would like to be considered for the role and summarising how your experience corresponds to the responsibilities and candidate profile described above.

We also accept applications via video recording. The method by which you choose to apply will not affect our shortlisting decisions. Video applications should:

• Detail your education and professional qualifications and employment history.
• Outline your interests outside of work.
• Indicate why you would like to be considered for the role.
• Include any further information to support your application.

References are not required at the point of application, but will be required upon any offers that are made, and so it is useful for you to prepare your referees ahead of time.

If you would like an informal, confidential conversation before submitting your application, please contact Dr Lise Smith, Head of Governance. Lise will arrange for you to talk to the Chair of Nominations Committee.

CLOSING DATE

The closing date for applications is Sun 05 Oct 2025 at 12:00pm (noon). We plan to hold interviews on Wed 15 and Mon 20 Oct 2025. Interview dates may be subject to change.

Should you wish to make us aware of any support required to attend an interview or to carry out your role as Chair, please contact our HR Team.

HEADER PHOTO CREDIT

'Peak Hour in the House' by Blue Ka Wing | 2024 | Photo by Rocio Chacon