Clore Leadership develops the leadership potential of cultural professionals, particularly those who share protected characteristics of race, disability and gender, to ensure the arts sector fully represents and responds to contemporary society.
Connection to Esmée's strategy
- Priority
- Long-term outcomes
- A representative cultural workforce.
- A new and diverse generation of cultural leaders are equipped to influence the world around them.
The creative sector is markedly less diverse than the economy as a whole. Culture forms and is informed by society, so cultural leaders must be inclusive, relevant, and well equipped to meet today’s challenges.
We are supporting two programmes for diverse leaders facing multiple barriers in progressing their cultural careers:
- Emerging Futures aimed at early career trailblazers, targeting those who share protected characteristics of race, disability and gender. Comprising an annual conference, places on the Emerging Leaders course, and the Excellerate Fellowship.
- 'Inclusive Cultures', so far comprising Brilliant Routes and Coaching Conversations, focused on Disabled and D/deaf and Black, Asian and ethnically diverse professionals, acknowledging the need to overcome inaccessible structures within the arts and culture sectors. Further elements of this programme will be developed in 2021.
The programmes address both the needs of early career arts professionals and the significant barriers which restrict access and progression. By creating multiple entry points and formats, Clore Leadership seeks to address these barriers and create clearer pathways across its own programmes.
We think that these initiatives will enhance the skills and capacity of diverse talent to make a positive career progression at an early stage.
Clore Leadership’s support, training, and convening, as well as its exceptional peer networks offer cross-artform programmes which have contributed to the development of numerous cultural and creative leaders. The work Esmée supports aims to widen access to this support and recognise the barriers that restrict both entry to and progress within the sector.
Alison Holdom, Funding Manager and Arts and Culture Lead, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
