WE’RE RECRUITING: Co-Directors
It’s transition time! 🔥
Rising’s current Co-Directors are coming to the end of their 5 year term and we’re looking to carry on our radical model of co-leadership by recruiting (openly for the first time!) the next Co-Directors to lead the agency from 2026.
Rising Arts Agency is by and for young people in and around Bristol. We have committed to transitioning our leadership at least every 5 years so that we can create opportunities for new people to lead.
Jess and Euella (the current Co-Directors) were invited to be Rising’s leaders by our founder Kamina Walton whilst already part of the Rising team. This time we have designed an open recruitment process, guided by a steering group of experts, so that this opportunity to lead is open to whoever feels like they are ready to step up.
We’re looking for people with a vision for what the next five years of Rising could look like, guided by the needs and aspirations of our community of young creatives. This is a chance to have an impact on the creative sector and beyond, to champion young people and create a more equitable future for everyone.
Due to the nature of this role and the recruitment process we would encourage you to read the process section of the Recruitment Pack carefully.
A leadership we ran back in February, in some ways the start of this recruitment process
INFO
Salary: £36,000 (full time equivalent)
Hours: 36 hours a week (4 days a week)
Contract: 5 years
Deadline: 11:59pm Sunday 22 February 2026
We expect the whole process to take 8 to 12 weeks from applications closing to making a final decision, please see the job pack for the full process.
WHO YOU ARE
Where you come from is less important than what you bring to the table.
You could be an experienced leader, producer, creative or be looking for work after a period of focusing on caring responsibilities – or something completely different.
You might have experience bringing people together to do something amazing and making real change happen or you might be the one in your friend group who takes the trip out of the group chat or organises sign-making before the protest.
What matters is that you are excited by the endless potential for real world change through mobilising young creatives, getting them PAID and using creativity to challenge the status quo and start building radical new futures for everyone.
Co-Director Explainer Video
About this role
The role of Co-Director is shaped by the people doing it, but it’s important to understand that co-leadership is different from a job share. There are different ways to share full responsibilities for all the aspects needed to lead the agency from completely integrated to duel where you each have specialisms in the work.
Due to the nature of this role and Rising’s ethos we are not looking for someone with X years of experience or who has done these specific things before, just someone who is confident they would work most of this out and isn’t scared to get stuck into any of it.
We anticipate that the role will focus on three strands:
driving the vision for the agency forward and advocating for why we do the work the way we do
caring for the people involved in the work, whether that’s the team, board, our community or partners
developing the business that ensures the work of the agency can continue to put money directly into the hands of young creatives
For a full list of the responsibilities in detail, what we’ll be looking for, what we’re like to work for and some history of the agency please watch the explainer video above or watch/read through the full job pack below.
How to Apply: CO-DIRECTOR
You can apply by EITHER:
Submit your answers in written, audio or video format via our online typeform.
Please ensure your audio or video file is 15-20 minutes long in total and uploaded to a host (eg Soundcloud, Youtube, GDrive etc) that enables you to provide a url that will not expire.
Download a copy of the application form, complete and email to hello@rising.org.uk with the subject ‘Co-Director Application’
Any other way that provides all the information in the application form
Whichever way works best for you, all applications will be considered with equal merit.
Deadline
11:59 PM Sunday 22 February
MORE INFORMATION
We are hosting several events and have other opportunities for you to see what our community does during the application window.
Monday 9 January 1pm - online open house /webinar to receive this information in a different format and meet some of the team (registration open on 12 January)
Wednesday 11 January 5.30pm - in person collage and chill session with Rising’s community at our studio in 9 Bath Buildings (register here)
Tuesday 3 February 5pm - a second online open house / webinar with the same information as the first (registration open on 12 January)
Or email hello@rising.org.uk with any other questions
Got another question?
We’ve created an anonymous question form where you can submit any questions you have about being a Co-Director or this recruitment process and they’ll be added to a FAQ below
Rising’s 9th birthday party shot by Mitul Shah
READ MORE ABOUT OUR LEADERSHIP TRANSITION:
