Organizer Information
The Old Diorama Arts Centre (ODAC) is a London-based arts and community organization located in Euston, Camden. It operates as a charitable organization (Charity No. 283452) with a long-standing history rooted in DIY cultural movements of the 1970s. Originally established in the historic Nash-designed Diorama building, ODAC emerged as a collectively run arts space supporting experimental theatre, craft, performance, music, and interdisciplinary practice.
Over time, ODAC evolved into one of London’s key independent arts centres, eventually relocating to its current purpose-built studios at Regent’s Place, supported by British Land. Today, ODAC functions as a hybrid creation and community hub focused on socially engaged artistic production, civic participation, and local regeneration.
Since 2021, the organization has increasingly aligned its mission with social impact, using arts practice as a tool for community transformation, particularly within the rapidly changing urban context of Euston and Camden. Its strategic vision emphasizes collaboration between artists, residents, and civic structures to foster inclusive cultural ecosystems.
Title & Description
Head of Programme (Permanent Role) – Arts Leadership & Socially Engaged Practice
This opportunity is a senior leadership position within ODAC’s evolving organizational structure. The Head of Programme is responsible for shaping, managing, and delivering ODAC’s artistic and community-based programming across multiple strands.
The role sits at the intersection of artistic production, civic engagement, and strategic development. It is designed to strengthen ODAC’s capacity to deliver its 2024–2029 Strategic Plan, with a focus on participatory arts, community co-creation, and cross-sector partnerships.
The successful candidate will oversee a portfolio of programs that include participatory festivals, residency activity, youth engagement initiatives, homelessness-focused creative programs, and neighbourhood-based arts interventions. The role emphasizes both high-level strategic leadership and hands-on production oversight, ensuring that ODAC’s artistic and social missions remain integrated.
The Role Overview
- Position Title: Head of Programme
- Contract Type: Permanent (subject to a 6-month probation period)
- Salary: £42,500 per annum (pro-rata available)
- Working Hours: Full-time or 4 days/week (0.8 FTE)
- Pension: 4% employer contribution
- Holiday: 25 days + bank holidays (including 3 days at Christmas)
- Reporting To: Creative Director & Chief Executive
- Line Management: Local Participation Manager, freelance artists, and producers
- Safeguarding Responsibility: Designated Safeguarding Lead (Adults at Risk and Children)
- Location: On-site at ODAC, 201 Drummond Street, NW1 3FE (with partial remote flexibility)
This position carries significant responsibility for safeguarding, financial oversight, and strategic programme coherence across ODAC’s multi-programme ecosystem.
Position & Tasks
- Strategic leadership of ODAC’s artistic and community programmes in alignment with the 2024–2029 Strategic Plan
- Co-producing and managing participatory arts programmes with artists, freelancers, and community partners
- Oversight of delivery, timelines, and budgets across all programme strands
- Leading fundraising applications (from small-scale to large institutional bids) in collaboration with leadership
- Managing partnerships across cultural, civic, and social sectors including local authorities, charities, and community organizations
- Acting as Safeguarding Lead and ensuring compliance with safeguarding frameworks
- Overseeing monitoring, evaluation, and impact measurement systems (qualitative and quantitative)
- Supporting communication strategies in coordination with internal teams
- Ensuring effective use of studio spaces and operational coordination
- Developing training and professional development frameworks for staff and collaborators
- Contributing to strategic development in areas such as creative democracy, health, regeneration, and digital infrastructure
Categories
- Socially Engaged Arts Practice
- Participatory Arts
- Cultural Leadership & Management
- Theatre & Performance
- Community Arts
- Visual & Interdisciplinary Arts
- Arts Administration
- Urban & Civic Practice
- Cultural Policy & Regeneration
- Creative Producing
- Arts Fundraising & Development
Eligibility
- Open to international and UK-based applicants (no geographic restriction stated, though UK-based experience is advantageous)
- Senior-level professionals with substantial experience in arts or cultural leadership
- Candidates with backgrounds in:
- Socially engaged arts production
- Community arts or participatory practice
- Cultural institutions or public sector arts programming
- Local authority or regeneration-related cultural work
- Strong preference for candidates with:
- Experience working with marginalised communities
- Experience in safeguarding (children and adults at risk)
- Experience in fundraising and multi-source grant development
- ODAC strongly encourages applications from:
- Global Majority candidates
- Disabled artists and professionals
- LGBTQ+ communities
- People with lived experience of homelessness or socio-economic exclusion
- Individuals from underrepresented backgrounds in the arts sector
Program Benefits
- Competitive salary of £42,500 (pro-rata available)
- Permanent employment with long-term organizational influence
- Pension contribution (4%)
- Paid holiday entitlement (25 days + bank holidays)
- Access to Employee Assistance Programme (mental health and wellbeing support)
- Travelcard loan scheme
- Enhanced family-friendly workplace policies
- Senior leadership role in a highly visible London cultural organization
- Opportunity to shape major civic and socially engaged arts programmes
- Direct involvement in strategic planning, fundraising, and urban cultural regeneration initiatives
- Influence over multi-year institutional development (2024–2029 strategy cycle)
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- A full CV detailing professional and educational background
- A covering letter outlining relevant experience and motivation for the role
- Completion of an Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form (online)
- Email confirmation of submission of the monitoring form
Optional but encouraged:
- Evidence of relevant programme leadership or fundraising achievements
- Examples of socially engaged or participatory projects led or produced
How to Apply?
Applications must be submitted via email: recruitment@olddiorama.com
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 22 June 2026
- Shortlist Notification: 25 June 2026
- First Round Interviews: 30 June 2026 (in person)
- Second Round Interviews: TBC
- Start Date: ASAP (ideally August 2026, flexible)
Location
London, United Kingdom
Additional Details
This role is strategically significant within ODAC’s organizational restructuring and long-term cultural mission. It combines artistic leadership with operational control, particularly in safeguarding, evaluation, and financial sustainability.
The role sits within a broader agenda of urban cultural regeneration in Euston and Camden, engaging with community-led cultural strategies and local authority partnerships. It also includes potential future development in areas such as creative health, neighborhood governance (“Creative Democracy”), and expanded residency programming.
Candidates should expect a complex, multi-stakeholder environment requiring fluency across artistic, civic, and institutional languages.