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Southbank, London

Chair of the Board of Governors

Southbank Centre
Office & Professional
Office & Professional
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Description

Location
Southbank, London

Hours
Not specified

Salary
Negotiable

About the Role
Southbank Centre is publicly funded and commercially active, locally rooted, nationally and internationally ambitious, beloved by both Londoners and those across the UK and recognised around the world. 2026 marked our 75th Anniversary, and our year-long celebration is reaching millions in London and around the UK, demonstrating our resolve to make a tangible difference to the lives of our artists, audiences and local communities. This year we aren’t just celebrating 75 years of history; we are setting a magnificent stage for the next 75.

It’s a great time to join the Southbank Centre. We are seeking a Chair of the Board of Governors who:
- Has a genuine belief in the importance of arts and culture in British public life, and a personal commitment to Southbank Centre’s place within it;
- Brings proven commercial and strategic capability in leading and delivering visionary change, not managing the status quo;
- Is a proven fundraiser with the relationships and the confidence to ask at the level of major gifts and capital campaigns;
- Is experienced in chairing and the governance of a complex organisation, with the authority to build a confident, high-performing Board;
- Has senior standing across Government, Arts Council England and key civic bodies, and a willingness to use it.

We are the UK’s largest centre for the arts, and a charity proud to bring millions of people together on London’s South Bank. Our mission is to make a difference to the lives of artists, audiences and communities through the variety of our programming and spaces. We look after a 13-acre site, which includes the Royal Festival Hall, the Queen Elizabeth Hall, the Purcell Room, and the Hayward Gallery.

If this role appeals to you, and you want to work with us to make the Southbank Centre the world’s most exciting centre for the arts, we would love to hear from you. We know that experience can look different for everyone, and encourage you to share your relevant skills with us whether they are from within the Arts or gained in other sectors.

Requirements

Experience
Proven commercial and strategic leadership experience in delivering visionary change. Experience chairing and governing a complex organisation. Demonstrable success in fundraising at the level of major gifts and capital campaigns. Established senior standing across Government, Arts Council England and key civic bodies.

About you
A genuine belief in the importance of arts and culture in British public life with a personal commitment to Southbank Centre’s mission. Ability to build and lead a confident, high-performing Board. Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the confidence to engage at senior levels.

Qualifications
Not specified, but relevant leadership, governance, and fundraising experience essential.

Expiry date: 12/10/2026
Chair of the Board of Governors
Company:
Southbank Centre
Job Type:
Full-time
Location:
Southbank, London