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Artistic Director
Institute of Contemporary Arts
The ICA London is seeking applications for the full-time role of Artistic Director.

The Artistic Director will lead the organisation in all its programmatic aspects, managing a team of curators and working closely with the Board of Trustees, the Managing Director and all departments of the ICA. We are looking for a candidate who values equally and embraces all the different strands of activity that this unique venue in the heart of London offers: Cinemas, Exhibition halls, Talks & Education, Live Music & Theatre and a bar and restaurant, all with a late license.

You will be expected to create and upkeep a distinct programme that caters for specialist audiences, whilst aiming to broaden the ICA’s reach as an essential hub for the arts and evening events in the heart of London. 

In challenging times of reduced public funding and post-pandemic uncertainties you will work together with the Senior Management Team to develop a sustainable business model that safeguards the ICA for generations to come. Your term will begin in the year of our 75th anniversary, a great opportunity to capitalise on brand ICA and to strengthen the position and visibility of the organisation. As the lead Creative, this role collaborates with the curatorial team to deliver a programme that captures the artistic and cultural moment, identifies and delivers on trends in the contemporary arts alongside significant cultural developments that will continue the extraordinary legacy of the ICA. Long term planning is key to the success of this role. 

The Artistic Director will take a long-term strategic approach to the ICA’s vision, mission and forward planning, working closely with the Senior Management Team and the Board to match the programme and organisational aspirations to our financial strategy. 

You will act as the principal advocate (regionally, nationally and internationally) liaising with leading figures and opinion formers in the arts, and representing the ICA to the press, patrons, media, artists, audiences and cultural stakeholders. 

In your role you will work with the Board and Senior Management Team to articulate and implement the ICA’s Development strategy and ensure that realistic plans are in place to meet an ambitious vision. The ICA premises and facilities located on The Mall are much loved and are an invaluable asset. Inspired by your vision, all parts of the organisation will be revitalised and their maximum potential exploited. 

We are looking for candidates who have shown proven curatorial and programming leadership with a strong network of international artistic relationships. You should have key experience of gaining funding from a variety of stakeholders and accountability to a variety of occasionally conflicting agendas; a varied and resourceful network of Development contacts with proven experience of sustained fundraising and financial negotiations. As a leader of 64 staff you will have a proven record of extensive team management and human-resource experience operating within a tight financial scenario alongside annual budgeted targets. 

The unique position of the ICA as the preeminent focal point of current cultural developments in London and the UK requires you to have a deep understanding of – and commitment to – the city and cultural context you will be working in. The position is full time and comes with benefits and a travel budget to enable you to research as well as represent the ICA on the international stage. 

Contract: Permanent, full-time 40 hours per week

Salary: Competitive salary to be negotiated

Term of Office: 4 years, subject to contract


Please send your application by email to chair@ica.art.

Closing date: Sunday 31 October 2021
Equal Opportunities

Please also submit an equal opportunities form along with your application. The data you submit will help us enhance the diversity of our workforce. Submitting this form is voluntary and does not affect your application for the role. Applications are shortlisted anonymously and your equal opportunities data will only be used to help ensure our shortlist is diverse representation of the best applications received. After the shortlisting, your equal opportunities form is separated from the rest of the documents you submit and the data is retained without any personally identifying information. Your equal opportunities form is subsequently deleted.

The Institute of Contemporary Arts is committed to up-holding the Equality Act 2010 and encouraging equality and diversity within our workforce and all opportunities provided by the ICA.

We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and we are committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills, experiences and abilities. Whilst some of our offices have barriers to access, we are taking steps to resolve these, and in the meantime continue to encourage interest from applicants who require reasonable adjustments within the workplace.