Deadline: FRIDAY, 23 OCTOBER 2026

Artistic Director Role Description and Person Specification 

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Nairn Book and Arts Festival is an annual celebration of the arts, deeply embedded in our Highland community, with a reputation for producing a unique and innovative programme of cultural events, giving a platform to authors, musicians, artists and performers from across Scotland and the wider UK, while nurturing the local creative community.

Now in its 23rd year, the Festival is seeking an experienced Artistic Director to deliver the 2027 festival (28th August – 5th September) and take this highly regarded, popular, and well- loved annual event forward into 2027 and beyond.

This is an exciting time to join the Festival. We are developing co-creative ‘Community Ventures’, exploring multi-year funding, increasing outreach and future-proofing our plans. You will help shape our future and develop stable funding.

We are in the process of future-proofing our Strategy and forward plans and therefore this is the ideal time to join and help shape the future of the festival, including moving towards Multi-Year and/or more stable funding arrangements.

Although we are looking for an experienced artistic director or senior events manager, we would also welcome applications from arts professionals who aspire to grow into such a role, in the near future, with support from the existing team and in line with our Festival ‘Values and Vision’.

YOU: You will be confident, and highly organised, with experience delivering multiple events and managing budgets of £150k+. You will thrive in a dynamic environment, make independent decisions, adapt when plans change and bring calm, practical leadership to busy periods and competing priorities. You will be an excellent relationship-builder, with fundraising experience and a passion for arts.

Key skills we are looking for:

• Takes ownership and makes things happen - you are self-motivated, proactive and confident working independently, while knowing when to bring others in.
• Leads with confidence and empathy - you can confidently navigate a variety of conversations and build trust with funders, stakeholders, board members, volunteers, and the public.
• Thinks strategically - you can see the bigger picture while also understanding what needs to happen on the ground to turn ideas into reality.
• Is an enthusiastic public face for the Festival - you can confidently advocate for the Festival, communicate its vision and build support for its future.
• Has a passion for the arts and community - you have a proven track record of working in the arts and/or understand the value of an ambitious cultural programme that is rooted in and accessible to its local community.

CONTRACT: Freelance, part-time, averaging 20 hours per week. 12 months initially, with potential to extend by mutual agreement. Hybrid working, including at least 4 days per month in Nairn.

Expectations are that the hybrid working pattern includes a period each month to be spent in Nairn engaging with stakeholders and holding face-to-face meetings. Duration is open to negotiation, but is likely to average, at least, 4 working days, per month.

REMUNERATION: 0.6 FTE of £30-£45K, based on experience.

APPLICATIONS: By 5pm, 23 October 2026. Interviews in November. Please send a CV and covering letter (maximum two sides of A4) to info@nairnfestival.co.uk, showing how you meet the criteria and addressing:
• Proposed hybrid working and attendance in Nairn.
• If you have existing work commitments, how you would accommodate existing commitments.
• Any financial concerns regarding the package.
• Any support or mentoring you would need.