FAN National Training Advisory Group members

Salary: £150 per meeting

Film Hub South East is recruiting for FAN National Training Advisory Group members.

Film Hub South East is part of the BFI’s Film Audience Network (FAN). Supported by National Lottery funding, FAN is a unique collaboration made up of eight Hubs managed by leading film organisations and venues strategically placed around the UK, and is a key element of the BFI’s strategy to ensure the greatest choice of film is available for everyone.

As part of the BFI’s Screen Culture 2033 strategy, Film Hub South East has been awarded BFI National Lottery funding to support and deliver a UK-wide training and skills programme for those film exhibitors and film festivals which are members of FAN.

Film Hub South East is managed by the Independent Cinema Office, the national organisation for the support and development of the independent film exhibition sector in the UK.

We are now looking for members to join a paid advisory group to support us in delivering the FAN wide training and skills programme over the three years to 2026.

This programme will complement the member support work being delivered across the Film Audience Network and will contribute to the following Screen Culture 2033 outcomes for FAN:

• Vital skills for the sector that cannot be delivered by the commercial market are developed
• Children and young people are empowered to develop their own relationships with a wider range of screen culture
• People across the UK can access a wider choice of film and the moving image, including stories that reflect their own lives
• Funding helps to tackle social, economic and geographic barriers for screen audiences in new and effective ways.

To find out more, read the longer guidance below and/or attend our online information session.

Online (Zoom) information session

Tuesday 30 May, 1:30 – 2:30pm: Register here

This is the best way to get up to speed on what we’re looking for from advisory group members and will enable you to put questions directly to our team. Even if you can’t attend during the time slot, if you register, you’ll receive the recording afterwards. You do not need to have your camera on and can ask questions either on camera or via the chat function.

If you have any questions about this open call, email: james.calver@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk

What is the purpose of the advisory group?

The purpose of the Film Audience Network (FAN) national training advisory group is to provide guidance, expertise and assistance to Film Hub South East in recognising and tackling the challenges facing the film exhibition sector in the UK. The group will consider how training and professional development opportunities can best support FAN members to meet the BFI and FAN outcomes set out above as well as address the wider challenges the sector is currently facing.

The role of the advisory group is to bring its knowledge, experience and insight to bear on the strategy, to influence outcomes and to make ongoing recommendations about how it can best be delivered and made relevant to the widest range of FAN members.

Members of the group will also be asked to act as advocates for the strategy within their organisations and networks, to bring knowledge, information and relevant contacts to the discussion and to champion the importance of skills development across the exhibition sector.

What kinds of people are we looking for?

We are aiming to recruit no more than six people for this group.

Applicants should be either:

• Those who work for FAN members (cinemas, mixed arts venues, film festivals, community groups or programming collectives)

Or, people with expertise in at least one of the following areas:

• Fundraising
• Skills development for the UK’s screen-based creative industries
• Capacity building and skills development beyond the independent exhibition sector
• Bringing about structural change in an arts, creative or cultural organisation.

We would expect group members to contribute their knowledge of business, skills and recruitment challenges for the sector or their knowledge of the impact professional development and training opportunities can have on addressing business challenges in the creative sector.

The UK exhibition workforce does not currently reflect the UK population and as part of this strategy we will seek opportunities to address this structural inequality through the training opportunities we provide, the topics we address and the inspiration we offer. As such we believe it would be beneficial if the advisory group included people with experience of bringing about structural change in a relevant setting to provide their insights and to offer meaningful scrutiny in this area.

We are also looking for one member who is at an early stage in their career with an interest in the areas highlighted above.

What’s involved in taking part?

The advisory group will meet four times a year.

At least one meeting annually will be held in person. Travel expenses will be covered (except for those who work for the BFI or FAN).

Group members will be asked to commit to at least a one-year involvement to allow detailed discussion and debate around relevant topics.

Part of what we mean by ‘advisory’ is that you don’t need to do the work itself. The ultimate responsibility for the events and their delivery lies with ICO and FHSE staff. This is an opportunity to influence and advise. You will be credited for your guidance by both the ICO and the BFI.

What is the fee?

We can pay a fixed fee of £150 per meeting to relevant participants for their attendance, such as freelancers or those working outside the scope of a salaried position. This can be discussed on a case-by-case basis. Meetings will last no more than two hours.

How to apply

Please send an email with (either as a written submission or as an audio/video piece):

• A short paragraph on an issue in cinemas, film festivals or community exhibition you think can be supported through training activity, potentially including your approach to this professional development or how the ICO/Film Hub South East could use its influence (300 words maximum)
• A short paragraph on what experience (which need not be professional film industry experience) you would bring to the group that would help us in our work (300 words maximum).

Be direct and concise. Do not be afraid to mention an issue that ICO/Film Hub South East participates in, as part of this process is being open to thoughtful critique. Please send these in the body of an email with the subject line ‘FAN national training advisory group’ to James Calver: james.calver@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk

If you’d like to discuss the role and get a better sense of the work involved, please feel free to email James directly too.

The closing date for this position is 30/06/2023 at 17:00