Vacancy Artistic Director

Leuven & Beyond will be the European Capital of Culture in 2030. Through our HumanNature concept, culture acts as a lever for societal transformation. Are you looking for the opportunity of a lifetime to connect local creativity with international excellence? Then you are the artistic leader we want.

About LOV2030 – Leuven & Beyond

In 2030, Leuven will serve as Belgium’s European Capital of Culture. Together with the wider East Brabant region, and under the banner LOV2030 – Leuven & Beyond, the city successfully secured the title.

LOV2030 offers a unique opportunity to position Leuven and its region as a cultural and societal frontrunner in Europe, acting as a catalyst for cultural, social, economic, tourism-related and sustainable development policies. Through imagination and experimentation, LOV2030 aims to shape a new narrative for the future - one rooted in a fair, inclusive and sustainable way of living together.

Under the overarching concept HumanNature, LOV2030 addresses major societal challenges such as polarization and the climate crisis, positioning culture as a driver for dialogue, innovation and systemic change.

Following the bid book phase, LOV2030 is now entering the planning and delivery phase. We are therefore seeking visionary and engaged leaders who combine artistic excellence with collaboration and societal engagement. The open positions are part of a transparent and open recruitment process. With strong attention to continuity between the bid book phase and the years ahead, we are building a strong management team to deliver LOV2030 as a distinctive, ambitious and lasting European project.

Your role in shaping the vision

As Artistic Director, you are the driving force behind the creative and societal vision and content of LOV2030. Together with your team, you will further develop the winning bid into a all encompassing program that is both artistically surprising and deeply rooted in society. In the legacy of LOV2030, artistic innovation and social relevance go hand in hand.

With your team, you use LOV2030 and culture as a lever for radical connection, innovation, experimentation, and dialogue. You are a member of the four-person Management Team (MT).

Key Responsibilities

• Artistic Vision 
  You translate the ambitions of the bid (Human, Nature, Innovation) into a groundbreaking program with international stature and broad appeal.
• Radical Connection
  Innovation, connection, and broadening are in the DNA of LOV2030. You make LOV2030 a project by, for, and with everyone. Together with your team, you realize a powerful legacy of innovation and inclusion in Leuven & Beyond.
• Impactful Collaboration
  Together with your team, you have an open mindset, and you build bridges between artists, scientists, the social sector, education, economic actors, citizens, and European partners.
• Inspirational Leadership
  You inspire and challenge. You coach and motivate a multidisciplinary team of creators, curators, and connectors, and help build an open organizational culture with guts.
• International Figurehead
  You position Leuven as a European cultural leader and pioneer, maintaining strong ties with international institutions and partners.
• Managing the delivery
  Ensure realistic planning and effective delivery of the artistic programme within the approved financial framework.

What’s in it for you?

• Once-in-a-lifetime: a unique creative leadership role in a European flagship cultural project with invaluable societal impact.
• Permanent employment: an open-ended contract with vzw LOV2030. Formally, this is currently the non-profit organisation vzw KU[N]ST Leuven, which will be restructured and rebranded as vzw LOV2030 in the coming months.
• Salary:  a competitive salary package (indicative A4a to A5b scale for local government in Flanders, with a gross monthly salary ranging between €6,100 and €8,600), complemented with an attractive package of extra-legal benefits. The overall remuneration package will be aligned with your experience, expertise and proven track record.
• Network: the opportunity to work with topnotch colleagues and driven changemakers across Leuven and the region, Flanders, Belgium and Europe.

Are you our new Artistic Director?

• You have at least 7 years of experience in the cultural sector, with 2 years in an artistic leadership role.
• You are a collaborative leader with experience in managing creative teams.
• You have a proven track record in both artistic programming, and community building or outreach.
• You bring at least 3 years of experience in leading teams, either hierarchically or in a project-based context.
• You are skilled at building bridges between different sectors (arts, cultural heritage, science, social sector) and have a strong affinity with European collaboration.
• You speak and write Dutch and English fluently. Candidates who do not yet fully master Dutch commit to achieving the required level within one year of starting employment. Fluent French is an asset.
• You are an inspiring, entrepreneurial and empathetic leader who combines a clear artistic vision with strong implementation capacity and international visibility.
• The position starts at 80% employment, increasing to 100% by 1 January 2027 at the latest.

Information about the selection procedure

In every job, we strive for the best possible match. Both for you and for us. You will go through these steps. You must pass each step in order to proceed.

1. Screening of candidates

   We will screen candidates during the week of 27 January.
   We will assess your motivation and relevant professional experience.
   We will select the 6 to 8 highest-scoring candidates from the screening and invite them to an interview with the jury.
   We will inform candidates by Friday 30 January at the latest whether they have been selected for an interview with the jury.
    

2. Interview with the jury

   This step is reserved for the 6 to 8 highest-scoring candidates from the screening.
   During this interview, we would like to get to know the person behind your CV. We will focus on a dialogue that centres on your intrinsic motivation and leadership skills. We are curious about your vision for the role and how your experience and skills can contribute to the success of LOV2030.

3. Timing of interviews

   The interviews for Artistic Director will take place on Tuesday 10 February 2026 in Leuven.
   The top 3 candidates from the interview will be invited to the assessment centre.
    

4. Assessment centre

   We simulate situations in which you demonstrate behaviour that is relevant to this job.
   The assessment for Artistic Director will take place in mid-February 2026. The date will be set in mutual consultation.
   Location: Brussels (Diegem)
    

5. Job offer or recruitment reserve

   We will rank all candidates who pass the interview and assessment centre. The highest-ranked candidate will be offered the job.

Did you pass, but didn't get the job?

We will keep your details on file. If we have a similar vacancy, we will contact you. You will not need to reapply.
We select applicants based on their qualities and motivation. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, origin, culture or beliefs.
We work with Hudson Belgium for this procedure. They support us throughout the entire recruitment and selection process.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted by Saturday 24 January 2026 (i.e. no later than Friday 23 January at 11:59 p.m.).

Please send the following documents to email hidden; JavaScript is required

• Curriculum vitae
• Motivation letter
• A brief explanatory note demonstrating how you meet the following experience criteria (for screening purposes in the first stage):
  • You have a strong and relevant track record in the (socio-)cultural sector, with at least 7 years of professional experience, including a minimum of 2 years in a role with end responsibility (e.g. artistic director, intendant, curator, programme director).
  • You bring at least 3 years of experience in leading teams, either hierarchically or in a project-based context.
  • You have a demonstrated track record in both artistic programming and participation, community building or socio-cultural innovation.

Further Information

If you have any further questions regarding the procedure or the content of the positions, you may contact the following persons as from Monday, 5 January 2026:

• Piet Forger, Director of Culture, City of Leuven, via email hidden; JavaScript is required
• Geertrui Vanloo, Managing Director, City of Leuven, via email hidden; JavaScript is required

In case of any issues with the dates or the location, please contact us and we will look for a suitable solution.