Cockermouth’s Kirkgate Arts is looking for people to join its board of trustees.

The community charity needs four people to help them achieve their plans for the future. The role of company secretary is also available.

Vacancies are for volunteers willing to help to develop Cockermouth’s Kirkgate Arts which runs the town’s Kirkgate Centre, Heritage Group and Youth Theatre, as well as the Arts Out West project that works in partnership with a large number of West Cumbrian village halls and community venues.

Chairman Marion Bowman said: “This is our 25th anniversary year and we’ve chalked up many successes involving huge numbers of people, whether it’s been comedy shows, gigs, touring theatre companies or community highlights such as the Christmas lantern parades, local history exhibitions and the town’s annual panto”.

She added that despite the challenges that they are facing due to Covid-19, they are still getting people into arts and cultural activities online.

This is through a new project called Arts Out Wide that runs until the end of November. They have also re-opened the Kirkgate Centre for twice weekly cinema screenings and some of their regular community activities.

Marion said: “It’ll be a long time before we can be as busy as we were before lockdown but we’re determined to ensure we’re still here in 25 years’ time and have just signed off on a new strategic plan for the next five years.”

She said that the vacancies have become available following their recent Annual General Meeting.

They are looking for people who are enthusiastic about community life, the arts and heritage and they are keen to attract people with lots of different skills and knowledge – in local history, buildings, management, finance, health, education, IT, digital marketing, communications, law, or business.

To find out more and have an informal chat about the trustee and company secretary vacancies, email directors@thekirkgate.com

Marion added: “We want people of all ages and backgrounds. People don’t have to have had board level experience before - we’ll support anyone who wants to take the first step to serve as a company director and charity trustee.

“It could be a useful career development opportunity, satisfying volunteer role or stimulating retirement activity and we’re a friendly team with some exciting ambitions. Welcoming four new people onto the current board of seven will really boost our plans for the future.”