🪐 Organizational Development
Designing a Scalable Organizational Structure for a Leading Regional Arts Institution
Art Jameel had experienced rapid transformation — evolving from a lean, grant-giving agency to a 90-person, multi-site cultural institution with international reach in just five years.
Cosmic Centaurs partnered with Art Jameel to support this next phase of growth by reviewing and restructuring their organizational chart, revisiting their mandate and values, and strengthening internal communications. Through a highly collaborative, thoughtful, and strategic process, we helped clarify roles, align on purpose, and build a future-proof structure to support their continued expansion in the arts, culture, and learning sectors in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and beyond.
Antonia Carver
Director, Art Jameel
Art Jameel
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We’ve seen a renewed sense of engagement and purpose; clarity on our mission, mandate, and organizational goals; and adoption of a certain analytical way of thinking about how we build and maintain fit-for-purpose structure — which helps us navigate the rapidly growing field we work in.
Cosmic Centaurs' Superpower
Eagle Eyes
One Emoji to Describe our Collaboration
🦅
How likely are you to recommend us?
10/10
Art Jameel supports artists and creative communities. Founded and supported by the Jameel family philanthropies, the independent organisation is headquartered in Saudi Arabia and the UAE and works globally. Art Jameel’s programmes – across exhibitions, commissions, research, learning and community-building – are grounded in a dynamic understanding of the arts as fundamental to life and accessible to all.
Our Engagement in 5 Questions
1. What challenge were you facing before working with Cosmic Centaurs, and why was it important to address it?
Art Jameel had gone through a period of intense and rapid growth — transforming from a small agency and grant-giving model with just a handful of staff into a 90-person team managing two major public centers in two cities, alongside international collaborations — all in just five years (and during a global pandemic).
We had been in launch and start-up mode, and our org chart had grown organically — with some roles expanding horizontally, others vertically, and varying scopes from local to global. We partnered with the fantastic team at Cosmic Centaurs to take a strategic look at our local and global structure, and to revisit and refine our organizational values, mandate, and internal communications — to ensure we had the structural foundation and clarity of purpose needed to support sustainable growth.
2. What specific intervention or aspect has had the most lasting impact on your organization?
A couple of years on, we still often refer to Cosmic Centaurs and how valuable it was to take the time to go through this process with focus and intention. We’ve seen a renewed sense of engagement and purpose; greater clarity around our mission, mandate, and organizational goals; and the adoption of a more analytical way of thinking about how we build and maintain a fit-for-purpose structure. This mindset continues to help us navigate the rapidly evolving fields of learning, arts, and culture — in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and around the world.
3.What is one thing that surprised you about our partnership?
The Cosmic Centaurs team was direct and honest, yet also sympathetic and diplomatic — which was essential. In any organization, change can be challenging, and discussing roles and responsibilities (including blind spots or even shortcomings) can be emotional. This is especially true in an environment where team members have built centers, systems, and teams from the ground up and are deeply passionate about their work and its impact on the community.
However, the way Cosmic Centaurs approached the process — in a highly collaborative and constructive way — and with a focus on goals, processes, and organizational design, brought the entire team on board. Everyone embraced the opportunity to “kaizen” Art Jameel.
4. What is one piece of advice you would give to our other clients?
Go with the process and adopt as open an approach as possible!
5. What is Cosmic Centaurs’ superpower?
Eagle eyes — Flying high above an organization to see it from above and swooping down into the minutiae!
“We knew we wanted to approach this in an open, inclusive, root-and-branch way — but it was Cosmic Centaurs who quickly got to know us, surfaced the real challenges with clarity, and guided us through them with precision, empathy, and strategic insight.”
