Trustee vacancy – Silk Heritage Trust, Macclesfield

We are the Silk Heritage Trust and have a number of exciting opportunities coming up for new Trustees. We are very keen to recruit to the Board of Trustees new faces who have enthusiasm, energy and a passion for preserving our industrial heritage here in Macclesfield.  This is a time of change, challenge and opportunity and we are seeking new Trustees who can help drive transformation.

The Silk Heritage Trust has a 40-year track record of providing heritage, cultural and learning experiences in Macclesfield.  The Trust is at an exciting point of development and needs new Trustees to reflect the range of voices represented in our work.

The Trust is rebuilding its finances and operations post Covid.  We are embarking on an ambitious development programme to become more relevant to audiences – shouting louder about the remarkable collections, buildings and heritage experiences on offer.  We know we have made a difference to people’s lives on-line and in person, and we are committed to extending this work.  This is why we need new Trustees with experience of connecting with wide lived experiences.

Do you want to make a real difference by helping to save part of Macclesfield’s heritage as a Trustee of the Silk Heritage Trust?

• Do you have digital and social media skills? – Could you bring those skills to help us develop and optimise our strategy to achieve our objectives to reach new audiences and generate income?
• Do you have retail experience? – Can you help guide how can we enhance and improve our footfall and increase our income per visitor?
• Do you have fundraising experience? – How can we best approach this to make the most of what we can raise from local philanthropists and individual supporters.
•  Do you have financial planning experience? – Could you bring fresh, brave thinking to managing how we strengthen our financial position and resilience?

Sounds like your cup of tea? Well, please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you!

Initial interviews will be either in person or, if preferred, via Zoom with the Chair or Vice Chair, plus the Museum Director and another trustee.

Background context

We have The Silk Museum, housed in Macclesfield’s original Art School building, which was built in 1877. The Museum contains a wide range of exhibits relating to the silk industry, plus an extraordinary Egyptian collection created by Marianne Brocklehurst. We have ambitious plans to open a Research Room for students and members of the public to come and study our vast collection of original pattern books. In addition we have a recently revamped retail outlet with a wide range of gifts related to the silk industry and a thriving café.

In Paradise Mill we have the largest collection of working silk Jacquard Handlooms in Europe, still housed in their original location. This building is currently undergoing a major refurbishment with a new roof, passenger lift and alarm system being installed. We anticipate this work to be completed by the end of 2023. We are seeking trustees with fundraising, retail and marketing experience in particular to help us plan for the reopening and beyond. An exciting opportunity!

In the centre of Macclesfield we also have the historic landmark building that is the Heritage Centre. Originally a Sunday School this building now houses a number of tenants, including Cinemac, Macclesfield’s only cinema, which also hosts live events.

Additional information

Number of meetings per annum/time commitment:

Trustees meet four times a year for Board meetings at The Silk Museum, usually requiring a few hours in the evening. There are also various sub-committees who typically meet monthly for an hour or two to help steer through the various projects with the Museum Director and her team.

Daytime or evening meetings: Both

Closing date for applications:       23 October 2023

Contact details or web link for applicants to find out more:  [email protected]

Click here to visit the Silk Museum website>>