Volunteer Board Members

What will you be doing?

The ICO has a number of long-standing Trustees stepping down in 2025 and we are consequently seeking some new Board members. About the ICO Founded in 2003, the Independent Cinema Office (ICO) is the leading cultural agency in the UK for film exhibition and has pioneered successful models for a sustainable, culturally challenging and inclusive exhibition sector that are shared both nationally and internationally. At the ICO, we believe that like all great art forms, cinema can transform people’s lives. We try to ensure that everyone in the UK has access to the widest possible range of cinema and the ability to share it with other people. We do this by bringing different kinds of work to audiences via our network of partners – mostly independent cinemas but also film festivals, village halls, community venues and pop-ups. We run industry leading training schemes from entry level through to CEO level. We work with distributors, filmmakers, producers and national and international agencies. We programme cinemas, release films, create touring programmes, deliver consultancy services, fund filmmakers and support Young Programmers’ groups amongst other activities.  About the role We are looking for people who love cinema as much as we do and who have the energy, commitment and lived experience to help us continue and develop our work. We are also very interested in young Trustees: we know that the future of the industry is in your hands and want to be mindful of the current and future challenges for your generation. We believe that with your help we can develop a more equitable industry and enable people to connect on screen with stories that resonate with them. We want to create a more open and challenging sector and help build more sustainable businesses to support it. Trustees provide direction, challenge and support to our leadership team. We don’t want you to deliver work or get involved with day-to-day operations (although we would love you to attend our events and programmes) – what we need are fresh perspectives alongside oversight and supportive encouragement as well.

What are we looking for?

We are especially interested in hearing from people with skills in finance, HR, fundraising and organisational development as well as from people who reflect more widely the communities we serve in audiences across the UK, whether that be through heritage, lived experience or access to opportunities.

What difference will you make?

Joining the ICO board is a fantastic opportunity to help steer and shape a national cultural agency and in doing so, influence the activities and practices of the wider UK film exhibition sector. The ICO is a relatively small but extremely creative and dynamic organisation that responds quickly to new ideas, enabling you to make a meaningful difference and help effect real change in what can be a hugely rewarding role. You will have the opportunity to bring existing skills to the table as well as to develop new ones – in governance, planning, team working, financial operation, arts administration and more – and gain valuable insight into and experience of the UK film industry. You will also be able to access ICO events and programmes. We know that Trustee job descriptions can sound quite dry – and to be clear, it is a legally responsible position that will require commitment on your part. But the professional skills and lived experience you bring to the table might simply be around working with other people and having initiative and a passion for cinema; you don’t need to be at a senior level in the film industry to contribute. As an organisation, we want to include everyone in our definition of audiences – we don’t want to leave anyone out – and our Board of Trustees must do the same. Find out more See the full ad on our website: https://www.independentcinemaoffice.org.uk/jobs/ico-board-members-4 Come to an open Q&A online where you can meet current Trustees and staff and hear more about what the role entails.

10:30am, Monday 18 November (Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcrdu2hpj8sGdJCDFdmnkD9Jq49m8x...) 

If you would like to attend, click the links above to register and receive a joining link.