Applications reopen for unique arts leadership opportunity
Women can benefit from programme led by The Point
Women associates with a unique perspective on arts leadership are being offered the opportunity to benefit from training placements and support from an exciting project.
The visionary Women Leaders South West (WLSW) leadership training programme has reopened for applications. The project, which seeks to address the gender imbalance in senior roles in arts organisations, was paused in March 2020 due to COVID-19.
There are 16 places available on the project, which is led by The Point, Eastleigh in collaboration with seven South West based cultural organisations and the University of Southampton.
Do you or someone you know have creative ideas that you want to see happen for yourself or your community? Are you passionate about arts and culture? Aged over 21 and based in the South West region with strong roots in your community?
The support programme will include: a living allowance/training bursary to cover ten months of training; work-based placement with one of the arts organisations; mentoring; additional support to meet your individual needs across the whole programme; and travel costs.
In addition, successful applicants will be offered online and face-to-face training and career development opportunities with Southampton Business School and connection with women from across the world through the WOW Foundation and director / producer Jude Kelly, who started the organisation.
WLSW is particularly interested in working with women from groups who are most underrepresented at leadership level in the cultural sector including disabled women and people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.
BSL, audio and large print versions of the application pack will be also available.
Sacha Lee, Artistic Director at The Point, said: “WLSW wants to understand the barriers to leadership, develop tools to tackle them and remove some of the obstacles women face in becoming leaders in the arts.
“We want to challenge people’s ideas of what a leader is, support all ideas and voices, bring excellence, excitement and strength to the arts and learn together with women from all backgrounds”.
Councillor Tina Campbell, Eastleigh Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Social Policy, said: “It is important that the under-representation of women from all backgrounds in senior arts roles is tackled, and these training placements offer an excellent opportunity to create a new generation of talented female leaders in the creative sector.
“Women occupy the senior roles in the Council’s arts and culture team, and we are pleased to support this scheme offering similar opportunities to the women arts managers of the future. The Point’s central role in this project reflects its status as an important arts centre in the region and we look forward to seeing the project progress.”