We’re hiring two experienced arts freelancers for roles working on our ACE-funded Resilient Festivals project.

RISE Network Lead

We’re looking for an experienced arts freelancer to lead our new RISE network, identifying and recruiting five new festivals to join RISE, including BAFA membership, peer mentoring and conference attendance, as part of the ACE-funded Resilient Festivals project.

The RISE Network Lead role within BAFA’s ACE-funded Resilient Festivals project is designed to enhance the sustainability and accessibility of UK arts festivals. The successful candidate will identify and recruit five new arts festivals led by or working with underrepresented protected characteristic communities, or those based in priority places, to join BAFA through the RISE programme, facilitate peer networking between BAFA mentor and participant festivals, and collaborate with Tonic on training initiatives aligned with RISE’s broader goals. This home-based position requires an initiative-taking approach to network development, strong stakeholder engagement, and a good working understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the arts festivals sector, as well as a strong background in widening participation, accessibility and inclusion.

This is a freelance contract for a total fee of £4,000, plus additional expenses as agreed. We anticipate that the role will commence in December 2025 and complete by October 2026.

For full details, please download the full job description.

To apply, please complete the application form and email it to [email protected] with a copy of your current CV by midnight on Monday 17 November. Please also complete an equality and diversity monitoring form. Shortlisted applicants will be notified by Friday 21 November, and interviews will take place online on Wednesday 26 November. BAFA is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.

Environmental Responsibility Champion

We’re looking for an experienced arts freelancer with a strong track record in environmental sustainability for events to become our Environmental Responsibility Champion, working with a range of BAFA member festivals as part of the ACE-funded Resilient Festivals project.

The Environmental Responsibility Champion role is a freelance position focused on advancing environmental sustainability for UK arts festivals through this new ACE-funded project. The ideal candidate will bring expertise in environmental practices within the arts sector, leading on-site audits at selected festivals to highlight best practices, identify areas for improvement, and provide actionable insights.

They will collaborate with the project team to recruit up to three participant festivals drawn from the BAFA membership, creating and share findings from the project as a toolkit, reaching the wider arts festivals community via BAFA’s platforms, and promoting collective environmental stewardship. Additionally, they will coordinate with Julie’s Bicycle on the provision of tailored festival training from the Julie’s Bicycle team, based on the insights gathered through the programme and the findings of the BAFA-commissioned Festivals Forward report by BOP Consulting, with the broader aim of creating a more sustainable and better connected arts festivals sector.

This is a freelance contract for a total fee of £5,000. We have a separate budget for travel, enabling agreed travel expenses to be reimbursed. We anticipate that the role will commence in January 2026 and complete in November 2026.

For full details, please download the full job description.

To apply, please complete the application form and email it to [email protected] with a copy of your current CV by midnight on Monday 17 November. Please also complete an equality and diversity monitoring form. Shortlisted applicants will be notified by Friday 21 November, and interviews will take place online on Wednesday 26 November. BAFA is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.