Role Description

We're looking for a participatory artist to lead the Three Trees Company, a project working with adults in recovery from poor mental health, run in partnership with The Chichester Centre, a low secure mental health in-patient facility. Thanks to funding received from the Friends of St Richard’s Hospital we are proud to be re-launching this project in 2026. If you would like to understand or chat more informally about this role, please do reach out to our team on leap@cft.org.uk.

The successful applicant will lead on the delivery of weekly Theatrical Skills workshops, alongside an Assistant Practitioner and a Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist, on Tuesday mornings at The Chichester Centre. You'll be paid our LEAP Practitioner fee of £30 an hour, with a 2 hour minimum, for workshops.

Person Specification

We are seeking expressions of interest from freelance practitioners from a performing arts background with the following:

• Demonstrable experience of planning, delivering and evaluating high quality workshops and/or participatory projects with adults
• A knowledge of participatory arts practice, combined with a strong understanding of a range of performance styles
• A genuine passion for working creatively with adult community participants
• Experience working with people within an in-patient facility
• Experience working with hard to reach individuals or groups, in theatre or other creative settings
• An understanding of safeguarding guidelines and best practice when working with adults at risk
• Flexibility to respond to individual needs within a workshop

Desirable Criteria

• A Mental Health First Aid qualification
• A full, clean driving licence and access to personal transport

Responsibilities of all staff members

• Work in accordance with CFT’s policies including, but not limited to: Equal Opportunities policy and Safeguarding Adults at Risk Policy
• Be aware of, and comply with, the rules and legislation pertaining to Health and Safety at work
• Maintain a clean and safe working environment at all times
• Be an active ambassador for CFT, its aims, objectives and values
• Commit to CFT’s environmental policies to reach net zero and collaborate with us in finding innovative solutions towards more sustainable theatre-making

How to apply

To apply for this opportunity, please provide a current CV and a short cover letter to leap@cft.org.uk by Midday on Tuesday 17 February.

After the closing date, we will email all candidates to update them as to whether they have been selected to attend an informal interview on Tuesday 24 February.

A few more things… 

This freelance post is to work with Chichester Festival Theatre’s LEAP (Learning, Education and Participation) Department and is based in Chichester at satellite locations near CFT. Flexible working will be required according to workload and may include occasional evening and weekend working.

We're an Equal Opportunities employer. We embrace and celebrate diversity and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skillsets. We passionately believe that the more diverse and inclusive we are, the better we’ll be as a company, an employer, a community hub and a theatre. We actively encourage applications from people that have been traditionally under-represented in the arts. 

We really value people who will bring unique perspectives and will add new knowledge to our team. The Theatre has an equality of opportunity approach and aspires to give everyone the chance to achieve their potential. 

You may already have seen that CFT are Disability Confident and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive culture. 

CFT have a range of policies and procedures in place which promote safeguarding and safer practice across our organisation. 

All appointments are made subject to satisfactory reference and proof of eligibility to work in the UK.