Senior Arts Manager (ID: 45353)

Job Description

Company: British Council
Location: Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Job Type: Full-Time
Experience: 6-12 Years Extensive experience in Arts and Creative Industries (Senior-level experience required)
Education: University degree (preferably with a focus in Arts, Cultural Studies, or a related field)
Expected Salary: ₹7.8 – ₹26.9 Lakhs per year (plus employer benefits)
Job Category: Teaching, Project Management, Sales and Marketing
Website: Website info
Contact: Contact us

About the Role:

The Director Arts – India is the most senior representative of Arts in the country and is
responsible for leading the British Council’s Arts strategy in India. You will drive the
development and delivery of arts programmes and cultural initiatives that build
connections between the UK and India. Your role involves shaping the UK government’s
arts and culture strategy for India, managing a specialist arts team, and building lasting
relationships with key stakeholders in both the Indian and UK arts and creative sectors.
This position is externally focused and requires strategic leadership, strong networking
skills, and a deep understanding of the creative industries.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategy & Planning:
• Lead the development and execution of the British Council’s Arts strategy in India.
• Contribute to regional and global arts strategies by shaping cultural initiatives and
  supporting the UK government’s arts and culture agenda.

• Sector Expertise:
• Utilize expert knowledge of the arts and creative industries to inform programme
  development and ensure alignment with market needs.
• Provide senior-level insights and briefings on emerging trends and sector priorities.

• Relationship & Stakeholder Management:
• Build and maintain strong relationships with senior arts sector contacts, cultural
  institutions, funders, and government bodies in both India and the UK.
• Represent the British Council externally to enhance its reputation and influence in the arts.

• Business Development:
• Identify and develop new partnership opportunities to support revenue growth and
  cultural exchange.
• Lead on strategic bids, proposals, and contract negotiations with key partners.
• Leadership & Programme Management:
• Manage and mentor a dispersed specialist Arts team and ensure effective delivery of arts
  programmes.
• Monitor performance against targets and oversee project closure activities, embedding
  learning for future initiatives.
• Governance & Compliance:
• Ensure adherence to internal and external standards and guidelines across all arts
  programmes.

Qualifications:

• Must have the legal right to work in India.
• Extensive experience working in and/or with the arts and creative industries in India.
• Proven track record in senior arts or cultural engagement roles, with a strong network of
  industry contacts in both India and the UK.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and leadership skills.
• Ability to develop strategic partnerships and drive business development in the cultural
  sector. – A passion for arts, creativity, and cultural exchange, with a commitment to excellence
  and innovation.