Applications are now open for collaborative leaders to take part in the first UK Creative Community Fellows Programme (UK CCF).

This new leadership programme is an online and in-person learning experience that will run its first cohort from October 2020 to January 2021. It will bring together artists, community organisers, administrators and entrepreneurs from around the UK to explore new tools and frameworks which will enable their arts and culture projects to drive transformational change in their communities.

Applicants are encouraged to visit www.ukcreativecommunityfellows.co.uk for more details on the programme and how to apply.

The programme is being run by an international partnership between Derby Museums and National Arts Strategies (NAS) with support from the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Social Impact Strategy (CSIS). The programme is funded by Arts Council UK and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (UK Branch).

“Leaders from a diverse range of backgrounds who are supported and connected has been shown to be important in those organisations working effectively in and for their communities. We are delighted to be supporting the UK Creative Community Fellows Programme through our work on the ‘civic role of arts organisations’, which has identified leadership training as one of the key levers to change.” – Andrew Barnett, Director of Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (UK Branch) 

Building on a successful model developed over five years in the USA by NAS, the UK CCF will enable cultural organisations, artists, government bodies and communities to benefit from a blended approach to knowledge and skills development in a diversity of leaders, and the delivery of civic services and place-shaping programmes.

“Driving transformation through arts and culture can be daunting, difficult and often lonely. UK Creative Community Fellows will bring cultural trailblazers together to be part of something bigger, to learn life-changing skills, and to see dreams become reality.” – Hannah Fox, Director of Projects and Programmes, Derby Museums

The UK CCF begins this year and will support a total of 50 fellows across two years. Through the programme, Fellows will learn and apply analytical and strategic tools, supported by a faculty drawn from UK and international partners with expertise in social entrepreneurship, business, leadership, community development, social psychology and design.

*Applications now close on 12 May 2020.*

For more information about the UK Creative Community Fellows Programme, contact Hannah Fox on 01332 641901 or email: [email protected] 

Image courtesy of Sareen Hairabedian