We’re building a member-led network for Calderdale’s creative and cultural sector – and we’re looking for people who want to help shape what happens next.
As CalderdaleCreates becomes its own legal entity, as a non-profit company limited by guarantee, we’re looking for members to join our first board of directors.
Stand for election to the Board of Directors
We are looking for committed members from across Calderdale’s creative and cultural sector to become directors of CalderdaleCreates as it becomes a formal, non-profit organisation in the form of a company limited by guarantee.
We’re keen to hear from a broad mix of people, including freelancers, and those working in community organisations, creative businesses, young people (18–25), and those within cultural organisations. You don’t need previous board member or governance experience – what matters most is that you care about the sector and can contribute thoughtfully and responsibly.
The board of directors is collectively legally responsible for governance, compliance, financial oversight and risk management in accordance with the law governing companies. The role of director is voluntary and is about providing oversight and direction, not running the day-to-day activity of CalderdaleCreates.
What’s involved
- Quarterly board meetings
- Shared responsibility for good governance and decision-making
- Helping ensure CalderdaleCreates is stable, inclusive and led by the sector
- An initial term of three years, with the possibility of being elected for a second term.
Who can stand
- CalderdaleCreates members aged 18+
- People eligible to act as a company director (not bankrupt, or disqualified)
- People able to commit time to attend meetings and take on fiduciary responsibility.
Priorities for board of directors:
- Stability in Year 1 with clear transition to elected governance
- Staggered elections in future years to avoid full board turnover
- Representation-led approach
- Proportionate process suitable for a sector-led network
I want to be a CalderdaleCreates director – what now?
Get ready to nominate yourself & prepare a 400 word statement of intent. Nominations open in early February.
I want to vote – what now?
Make sure you’ve signed up on the CalderdaleCreates directory. You don’t need to upload a full profile. Voting will take place over a week in late February.
Board nominations – 2026 – timeline
- Formal call for nominations – announcement coming
- Nominations close approx 2 weeks later
- Statements of nominees are circulated to the membership next day
- Voting opens to the membership the following week, for one week
- Voting closes, results are counted and agreed, and circulated – within a day or two
- New Directors are announced
- Directors are formally appointed within a fortnight
Need more information about being a director?
We’re running two lunchtime learning sessions in February that are relevant to our board member elections: Good Governance (and what being a board member is all about) on Tuesday 3rd February and About Advocacy (and speaking up for our sector) on Tuesday 10th February.
These 90 minute free online sessions will help you decide if board membership is something that would be right for you. Details of these two events are here. If you can’t make it on the day, don’t worry as we’ll release recordings of these sessions for CalderdaleCreates members.
Register your interest in standing for election as a director
If you’re interested in getting involved, or would like to find out more before deciding, please email:
📧 Ruth.Heritage@calderdale.gov.uk
We aim to reflect the diversity of Calderdale’s creative and cultural sector and may use this information to help ensure balanced representation.
Further information
Board Composition in year 1:
- Our incorporation documents will allow up to 15 directors total to be elected in total and we’ll have further elections in 2027 for additional directors, also to serve a three year term.
- Two / three current Steering Group members are to be retained initially as new directors for continuity of knowledge.
- We will elect three more directors from CalderdaleCreates membership in 2026
- CMBC will be offered a place on the board as a single entity director
- We may look to co-opt HR / Legal / Finance specialists as required.
CalderdaleCreates Directors Election Method:
- Open call for nominations
- Self-nomination with statement (max 400 words)
- One member, vote for your three top candidates
- Online voting by members of CalderdaleCreates
- The three candidates with the most votes will be appointed
