AS THE cultural sector emerges from the COVID-19 lockdown, Clore Leadership is ensuring its leadership programmes will remain accessible to a wide range of cultural leaders, by working with partners to secure bursaries for sector leaders developing their leadership skills in spring 2021.

During lockdown we have been finding innovative and agile ways to create resources that reach out to the sector at large

Hilary Carty, Executive Director, Clore Leadership

All places under the remodelled Clore Fellowship Programme will be fully funded for 2021. 

In a first for its intensive courses, circa 75 per cent of places will be supported by bursaries. Clore Leadership is also offering a number of activities on a ‘Pay what you decide’ basis.

The organisations workforce development survey (July 2020) highlights a strong ambition by sector leaders to be agile, entrepreneurial and adaptive. 

Respondents recognise the need for organisations to create flexible business models that respond the volatility of current and future challenges. 

The disproportionate impact on the ability of freelancers to afford and prioritise professional development is articulated; and issues of diversity, equality and inclusion remain critical to achieving effective transformation.

Critically, the survey confirms that organisations are struggling to maintain training budgets whilst resources are tight and the environment uncertain.

In response to these findings Clore Leadership has sharpened the content for all its programmes around priorities for adaptive leadership. 

A new modular Emerging Leaders course and the now established Leadership Pulse will run in spring 2021.

The modular format will support participants to better reflect and implement learning in stages, which is particularly helpful as the sector seeks just-in-time solutions to evolving leadership challenges. 

Applications for the flagship Clore Fellowship Programme and two modular courses, all due to begin in spring 2021, will open at the end of September 2020.

Diversity progression remains high on the agenda for the sector in recovery. 

Two Clore Leadership conferences will take place online in September and November respectively: Emerging Futures for early career change makers, features a range dynamic speakers including acclaimed performance artist, Travis Alabanza; and Governance Now for Trustees and aspiring Trustees, will include key themes around responses to crisis; adaptive governance; engaging with diverse communities; and the future of governance. 

Nina Simon (CEO of the non-profit organization OF/BY/FOR ALL) is the first of the keynote speakers. 

Wayne McGregor, Board Member, Clore Leadership said: “Our sector is set for a seismic change, only if we capture this extreme moment of disruption and explore its multi-faceted potential.

“We need evolution, adaption and fresh thinking to challenge the inequalities and vulnerabilities exposed by this strange period of enforced pause and we need urgent action.  

“Artists and leaders today, over 70 per cent of whom are freelancers, will need to be trailblazers, using their diverse creativity as a source of resilience, not only to reinvigorate the arts and culture sector but to impact society more widely with art making as a critical form of social action.

“Clore Leadership’s purpose is to inspire and cultivate innovation in the leadership of culture. With our refreshed and targeted programmes, we want to share invaluable stimuli, learning and networks to sharpen all of our perspectives and create new dialogues towards this change.

“This is a particularly vital moment for the next generation of creative leaders who are ready with ideas and vision to exercise.

“It will be through their imaginings, their insight that we will grow and flourish – our job is to create space for and facilitate this powerful unfolding.  

“I’m delighted that the Emerging Futures Conference offers a timely opportunity for early career creatives to be proactive in connecting and curating new world experiences for the times ahead.”

Hilary Carty, Executive Director, Clore Leadership added: “We recognise that individuals and organisations are operating under extreme financial pressures but the need for high quality and relevant leadership learning has never been greater as the sector navigates the next stage of the fallout from the pandemic.

“Therefore we have responded by broadening access to our programmes, being proactive in pushing forward the diversity agenda and expanding opportunities to nurture the creative, civic and brave leadership encouraged and modeled on our programmes.”

“During lockdown we have been finding innovative and agile ways to create resources that reach out to the sector at large, with our Leading from a Distance video series, Leadership in Action case studies, Small Group Conversations and Clore Leadership Experience sessions. 

“Looking ahead we want to maintain the topical urgency of our response to Covid-19, blending this with our highly regarded approaches to supporting current and future generations of dynamic, skilled and generous leaders ready to make their positive difference within society as a whole.”