Location: London, UK (office-based two to three days per week, remote work for admin tasks, and on-site support at shows)
Role: Unpaid role with travel expenses

About Como No & La Linea Festival

Como No is England’s leading promoter of music from Latin America, with a legacy dating back to the 1980s. We have presented landmark shows in venues ranging from The Jazz Café and Village Underground to the Royal Albert Hall and The O2 Arena.

Our flagship event, La Linea – The London Latin Music Festival, has brought exciting projects and memorable performances to audiences across the capital every April since 2001. Artists such as Gilberto Gil, Celia Cruz, Natalia Lafourcade, Buena Vista Social Club, Seu Jorge, and Los Fabulosos Cadillacs have all been part of our programme.

Since April 2023, Como No has been a National Portfolio Organisation supported by Arts Council England, expanding our work and strengthening the bridge between Latin America and the UK.

Term Length

Three years*, maximum of two terms. Option to re-apply after a minimum of three years outside the board.

Como No has been England’s leading promoter of live music from Latin America since the 1980s. We have presented hundreds of shows from small venues to The Jazz Café, Village Underground, Barbican, Royal Albert Hall and The O2 Arena. Our shows have helped define Latin music for generations and provided events for the burgeoning Latin American community as well as other Spanish and Portuguese speaking audiences and artists.

From Celia Cruz to Natalia Lafourcade and Buena Vista Social Club to Seu Jorge and Los Fabulosos Cadillacs we have created landmark events. Every April since 2001 we have produced La Linea – The London Latin Music Festival which has curated a series of debuts and new projects in venues across the capital and whose archive is a catalogue of achievements in new music since the millennium.

Our special projects have brought together new collaborations and created new definitions of Latin Music: from Mexrrissey – which put the music of Morrissey and the Smiths through a Mexican musical filter for La Linea and then toured the world, to Tino Contreras’ last ever show, at Frida Kahlo’s Casa Azul in Mexico City during lockdown – which we streamed globally – to our instrumental role in developing the Latin big band New Regency Orchestra.

Our work has reinforced the musical bridge between Latin America and the UK which goes back centuries. We celebrate and advance opportunities for the creativity of Latin American Londoners and are one of England’s main music promoters.

Since April 2023 Como No has been a National Portfolio Organisation supported by the Arts Council of England.

Como No and La Linea was set up by its founding director Andy Wood. He has now stepped back from his executive role to become the first member of the Non Executive Board of Como No Ltd which will carry forward the organisations work as a not-for-profit company limited by Guarantee. Como No Ltd was incorporated in March of 2024 and is taking on the mantle of Como No and La Linea under the executive directorship of Elena Beltrami who began her role in April of 2024. The ACE National Portfolio Organisation support of Como No continues and is being novated to Como No Ltd.

Role Overview

We are recruiting new board members to join Andy Wood, Martin Allen Morales, Malú Ansaldo on the non executive board of Como No Ltd working with its executive leadership at an exciting time in the development of the organisation.

As a Board member, you will be a critical friend of the organisation and support and advise on Como No’s goals and objectives, provide oversight and expertise and sign off on various policies and reports. You will ensure the business is well-run and properly governed which includes signing off on quarterly reports for Arts Council of England, as well as any annual policy updates. You will receive written and verbal updates from the Como No team on how they are progressing against their internal targets, in order for you to fully understand the company’s goals and success measures. You will work closely with the Director, Operations & Reporting Manager and Finance Manager throughout these processes.

We really value advocacy on the wonderful work we do, so we are looking for Board Members who are passionate about what Como No & La Linea does and represents, and who have the skills and experience to provide expertise during this exciting period of development and evolution.

As a Board member, you will be joining an active and dynamic team of creatives and you will have the opportunity to attend our year-round programme.

We value the benefits that a diverse board can bring so welcome applicants from all cultural, personal and socio-economic backgrounds. We are open to applicants who may be seeking their first Board member position as well as more experienced candidates.

We are particularly seeking Board members of Latin American heritage.

All Board members must be residents in the UK.

Como No Ltd company number 15593158 is a not for profit company limited by guarantee without share issue. The personal financial liability of each of its Non Executive Directors is limited to £1.

Role Description

Board Member Responsibilities

• To provide expertise in various fields of work in order to help the company grow.

• To be responsible for ensuring the business is well run, which will include giving approval of quarterly management accounts, quarterly narrative reports and other annual reports and policy updates.

• To act as a representative and advocate of Como No, if required, to Arts Council England and other funders, sponsors, partners and stakeholders.

• To act in Como No’s best interests.

Additional Board Member Responsibilities

• Attend quarterly board meetings, reading board reports ahead of time and offering ideas for improvements to the company. Board meetings will happen on weekday late afternoon/early evening. In person attendance is preferred but online attendance is possible on occasion.

• Each meeting lasts approximately two hours and members are required to read and comment on any papers or documents sent out in advance for discussion.

• Board members may also be expected to give expertise and advice on specific aspects of project or business development as these arise.

• Attend important company events and receptions and bring contacts that may be beneficial to the business.

• Support the fundraising operations of the company through expertise and your network.

• Review risks that the company may face and put in place mitigation procedures.

Person Specifications

We are looking for Board Members with significant capacity to support and represent the company over the course of the coming years. We are looking for people who have:

• An awareness of live music and/or other creative industries.

• An understanding and appreciation of the music that Como No presents.

• A willingness to commit the necessary time and effort.

• Strategic vision.

• An ability to act with reasonable care and skill.

• An ability to think creatively and problem-solve.

• Good, independent judgement.

• Exceptional leadership and teamwork skills.

• An ability to interpret management accounts and financial information.

• An ability to challenge current thinking in a constructive manner.

Additionally, all Como No Board members will be expected to demonstrate specific knowledge and expertise in at least one of the following areas:

• Music or arts

• Business law, governance and/or other legal expertise

• Fundraising

• Financial management / economics

• Marketing / Sponsorship / New Business Development

• Environmental Sustainability

However, this is not an exhaustive or exclusive wish-list. Above all, we want to we build a skilled, committed and diverse group of board members who can help us to become more secure, bigger and better.

The legal responsibilities of a Non Executive Board Member of a Not for Profit can be read here http://www.cgi.org.uk/professional-development/careers/directors-duties

Appointment and Resignation

There is no maximum or minimum number of Board members included within Como No Ltd’s Articles of Association. We would like to have a board of at least five members.

Potential new Board Members may be suggested and considered by existing Board Members at any time.

Board Members are elected to serve for a term of three years, after which they may be re-elected at the next Annual General Meeting. Board Members are limited to two terms (six years). In extraordinary circumstances, Board Members may be asked to extend their term in the interests of organisational stability. If a Board Member has served two terms (six years), they do have the option to return to the Board after a minimum period of three years has passed.

Board Members are expected to serve a minimum of one three-year term. In exceptional circumstances, Board Members can resign mid-term with a three-month notice period.

*As we establish the new board there is the possibility for some new members to join initially for just a two-year term to ensure that not all board members come up for renewal at the same time after the first three years.

Your Reward

Contributing to the development of an innovative not for profit Arts and Cultural organisation with a key role in England in the presentation and development of Latin music. Focused on empowering communities, and artists as well as working alongside an interesting and committed group of like-minded people. As a valued member of the team you will have guest ticket access to all Como No & La Linea events.

How to Apply

We hope you will consider making an application to become a non-executive board member. If you have questions about the appointments we want to make, and would find it helpful to have an informal conversation, please contact our Executive Director Elena Beltrami, elena@comono.co.uk

To make an application, please email

• Your CV or biographical information (no more than three sides please)

• A supporting statement (no more than two sides please) that sets out your motivation for applying for the role and how you can meet what we are looking for. (mentioning shesaid.so in your application).