New Board Opportunity

To support us in our continued development, we are expanding our Board capabilities to include professional expertise in accessibility.

For over 55 years, the Ulster Orchestra has been at the forefront of musical life and culture in Northern Ireland, with a mission to enrich lives and inspire, making music accessible for all. In 2022, we moved into our new home – Ulster Orchestra at Townsend (“UO@T”) – placing us firmly within the community.

With this move, our strategic plan is to create an inclusive and accessible space for rehearsal, recording, performance and learning and community engagement through music, collaborating with others towards the economic and cultural development of the area and creating a sustainable purpose for the site.

Accessibility touches on every part of the organisation from how we provide information through our social media, website and all written content to how we work with venues to model best practice in accessibility, including UO@T, to how we co-design our learning and community engagement activities and how we aspire to provide a welcoming environment for disabled musicians.

To support us in our continued development, we are expanding our Board capabilities to include professional expertise in accessibility.

Alongside our networks with relevant organisations, this Board Member will provide specific oversight in this area. This will include guidance to ensure that our recruitment and audience engagement processes address potential barriers to participation and retention and provide adequate supports such as travel or communication. They will also actively contribute to our ED&I agenda and Board diversity.

We understand that barriers to accessibility and inclusion aren’t just physical, they can also be caused by people’s attitudes and assumptions. This is a role for someone who is passionate and creative about identifying and removing those barriers and improving the experience of D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people within the arts, whether as an employee, audience member or participant.

We are particularly keen to hear from candidates who have: 

• Professional knowledge and lived experience of accessibility challenges and barriers, accessibility standards, relevant legislation and best practice in the working environment
• ​A proven professional track record to advocate for the needs and rights of people with disabilities
• Professional experience of contributing to or developing strategies, policies and plans that improve accessibility
• Strong skills in articulating accessibility issues and solutions effectively to diverse audiences within a professional environment
• A creative and resourceful approach to identifying and addressing accessibility challenges within the arts sector whilst balancing the constraints of a limited budget