Creative Director
The Creative Director is responsible for defining and leading the artistic vision, creative strategy and public programme framework for Hay Festival UK.
The postholder will shape the future direction of Hay Festival's creative offer, ensuring the organisation remains one of the world's leading cultural platforms for literature, ideas and interdisciplinary exchange. The role combines creative leadership, strategic thinking and organisational influence, balancing artistic excellence with audience growth, fundraising opportunities and commercial sustainability.
The Creative Director will lead the Creative Directorate through the Creative Team ensuring a coherent, ambitious and distinctive programme across festivals, year-round events, digital content and new initiatives.
Working closely with colleagues across Development, Commercial, Marketing, Operations, Education and International teams, the Creative Director will ensure creative activity contributes to Hay Festival's charitable mission, strategic objectives and long-term growth.
Key Responsibilities
Creative Vision and Artistic Leadership
- Define and lead Hay Festival UK's Creative Strategy, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives, charitable purposes, commercial objectives and brand values.
- Establish the artistic priorities, themes and editorial direction that shape all UK programming.
- Identify emerging cultural, literary, political, scientific and social conversations that should inform future programming.
- Ensure Hay Festival remains a leading platform for literature, ideas, debate and cultural exchange.
- Champion innovation, diversity and excellence across all creative activity.
Flagship Festival Leadership
- Shape the overall creative architecture of Hay Festival Hay-on-Wye, Winter Weekend, After Hours and other UK activities.
- Lead decision-making on headline bookings, major programme strands and key creative priorities.
- Ensure Venue 1 and other flagship stages deliver world-class line-ups capable of attracting large audiences, generating significant ticket income and enhancing Hay Festival's reputation.
- Maintain senior relationships with leading authors, artists, thinkers, performers, broadcasters and cultural leaders.
- Ensure the programme balances artistic ambition, public relevance, audience demand and financial sustainability.
Leadership of the Creative Directorate
- Lead and develop the Creative Team
- Ensure strong collaboration between literary programming, interdisciplinary programming and partnership activity.
- Create a culture of creativity, accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Provide strategic oversight of programme quality, audience development and creative innovation.
Skills and Experience
Essential
- Significant senior leadership experience within arts, culture, publishing, media or creative industries.
- Proven experience developing and delivering successful cultural programmes, festivals or public events.
- Strong understanding of literature, publishing and contemporary cultural sectors.
- Demonstrable ability to attract major talent and shape compelling public programmes.
- Experience balancing artistic ambition with commercial and organisational objectives.
- Strong leadership, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
- Experience contributing to fundraising, sponsorship or partnership development.
- Financial and budget management experience.
- Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Personal Attributes
- Welsh speaker (desired)
- Visionary, creative and strategically minded.
- Collaborative and empowering leader.
- Commercially aware and audience-focused.
- Credible and influential ambassador.
- Innovative, curious and outward-looking.
- Passionate about literature, ideas, culture and public engagement.
A full job description can be found here
Please send your CV with a cover letter explaining how your experience fits the role by 8 July 2026 to hr@hayfestival.org.
First interviews will take place 14 July 2026 in Hay-on-Wye