Trustees and Chair role
Forward Arts Foundation

Join Forward Arts Foundation as a Chair or Trustee

Are you passionate about the transformative power of poetry? Do you believe the arts can help build a more inclusive and creative society? Do you want to amplify diverse voices and make poetry accessible to all? So do we. Let's connect.

Forward Arts Foundation – the charity behind National Poetry Day and the Forward Prizes for Poetry – is seeking a new Chair and Trustees to join our dynamic and committed board.

We’re a small but ambitious organisation, working nationally and online to celebrate poetry, support new voices, and widen access. We reach over 2.4 million people annually through events, campaigns, and prizes – and we’re ready to grow. As we look to deepen our impact, diversify our audiences, and strengthen our infrastructure, our board plays a critical role in helping us govern effectively and strategically.

Current challenges and goals

As we approach a period of growth and transition, we’re focusing on:

• Strengthening our fundraising and diversifying income
• Deepening our engagement with younger and more diverse audiences
• Evolving our digital reach and infrastructure
• Ensuring long-term sustainability and good governance
• Our board is central to helping us meet these goals. We are looking for individuals who can bring fresh perspectives, sector expertise, and a commitment to inclusive leadership.

Who we’re looking for

We are particularly interested in hearing from candidates with experience in:

• Education: especially with young people or literacy
• Digital: including content strategy, online engagement, or platform development
• Fundraising and Philanthropy: including major donors, trusts and foundations, or corporate giving
• Governance and Leadership: including charity law, finance, or previous board experience
• We also warmly welcome applications from individuals under 30 who may be considering their first trusteeship – we’re keen to support your development.

The Chair role

We are also recruiting a new Chair of Trustees. As Chair, you will lead the board, support the Director, and ensure strong governance and accountability. This is a vital and rewarding leadership role at a key moment in the Foundation’s journey. If you’re interested in the Chair position and would like an informal conversation, we can arrange a call with our current Chair, Jamie Andrews.

How to apply

Our board meetings are flexible, online-friendly, and inclusive by design. Poetry is for everyone – and we want our board to reflect that.

Location: All board meetings may be attended online. We will try to meet face-to-face when we can. But trustees are welcome wherever they live.

We estimate you’ll need to commit around 30 hours over the course of a year. The board meets quarterly and we have a strategy day one afternoon a year. Trustees are appointed for a 3-year term, with a maximum of 2 terms.

To apply or find out more, email Lucy Macnab at lucy@forwardartsfoundation.org, letting us know which role you’re interested in and why. Please include your relevant experience, skills or interests, and what you hope to gain from the role.

About the Organisation

Forward Arts Foundation is a national charity committed to widening poetry’s audience through grassroots campaigns. We promote the enjoyment & understanding of poetry, inspire people to express themselves through poetry, & support poets & communities.