Advertised from 25 April 2025

Role

Wigtown Festival Company is seeking a creative leader to guide one of Scotland’s most valued cultural organisations into its next chapter. Our new Chief Executive Officer will champion our mission, strengthen our impact and build on our hard-earned reputation. 

Wigtown is Scotland’s National Book Town and the annual Wigtown Book Festival is now one of the UK’s best-established literary gatherings, featuring more than 200 sessions each year for all ages, encompassing visual arts, music, theatre and food as well as literary events. 

The festival draws writers and members of its audience from far and wide, while continuing to celebrate the rich history and culture of south-west Scotland. Wigtown Festival Company was established as a charity in 2007 to deliver the annual festival, and since then both the festival and its year-round engagement and educational activity has grown significantly: developing new audiences, helping writers fulfil their potential, cultivating a love of reading for pleasure in children, and providing creative opportunities for young people. 

This is an exciting time for Wigtown Festival Company. Having secured Multi-Year Funding from Creative Scotland and recently acquiring a permanent home in Wigtown, the new position of Chief Executive Officer provides an opportunity for the right individual to make a significant positive impact on the creative direction of the organisation and contribute to the wider ongoing regeneration of Scotland’s National Book Town. 

If you are passionate about books and their power to change lives, and are interested in shaping culture-led regeneration of Scotland’s National Book Town, then we would love to hear from you. 

The Role 

As CEO, you will provide strong, visible leadership, ensuring Wigtown Festival Company remains a sustainable, creative organisation that meets the evolving needs of Scotland’s cultural sector. Reporting to the Board, you will drive the creative and strategic vision of the organisation, leading a staff team to deliver operational excellence, financial sustainability, and sustainable growth. 

You will be the public face of the organisation, representing the organisation at the highest levels, advocating for our activities and fostering relationships with key funders and stakeholders across the cultural sector. 

Who we’re looking for 

We are seeking a creative and strategic leader with the following attributes:- 

• Respected and connected in arts/literary networks and understands the opportunities and challenges facing the cultural economy, charitable sector and rural communities  
• An outstanding communicator and advocate, with the ability to build strong partnerships and influence key decision-makers, funders and stakeholders. 
• An investor in people, empowering and supporting the development of colleagues
• Experienced in leadership, management, business planning and organisational development, preferably within literature and leading arts organisations 
• Experienced in community and organisational development
• A strong strategic and financial mindset, capable of leading an event-based organisation with a focus on fundraising and long-term sustainability. 
• Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, ensuring we continue to reach and attract new audiences, supporting writer development and providing creative opportunities to more young people.

Application notes

Applications in the form of a tailored CV and a covering letter (no longer than two pages), highlighting your skills and experience pertinent to the role, should be sent to chair@wigtownbookfestival.com and arrive no later than 12 noon on Monday 26 May 2025. 

Please download our recruitment pack below for more information.

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