Creative Director

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 include:
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.

Please see the job pack for a full job description