A consultation exercise to examine how the cultural sector could prepare a larger pool of potential leaders and how existing leaders could improve their performance has revealed widespread concern about the quality of leadership and governance in the sector.
The concerns have been highlighted in a Progress Report by the Clore Duffield Foundation, which launched a consultation exercise relating to leadership in the cultural sector in January this year. Key problems identified in the report are the lack of time and money available for development and training; increasing pressures on leaders from a multiplicity of stakeholders; pay levels; the ad-hoc nature of career progression; and poor selection and recruitment processes. Specific concerns were raised about relationships between organisations? directors and chairs, and the disproportionately small number of women and ethnic minority leaders were noted.
Proposals for a new ?bricks and mortar? institution to promote leadership development have so far been rejected in favour of a system which can work in partnership with existing providers. Practitioners would like to see new opportunities that include a new cross-sectoral leadership development programme, as well as bursaries, research grants, a summer school, the facilitation of mentoring, coaching and secondments, and organisational support. They highlight the need for funding to enable them to attend development courses; the importance of developing the entire senior staff in their organisations; the value of taking time out for study; and the desire to develop professional and support networks.
To encourage debate, an essay entitled ?Why are there not more successful leaders of arts organisations and museums, and why are there not more suitable candidates for these posts??, written by consultant John Holden, was circulated for comment amongst a group of 200 arts and museums professionals, academics, training providers and government bodies. A review of existing provision of management development both in the cultural sector and beyond was undertaken, and research of relevant literature and current course provision was commissioned.
The consultation exercise generated 150 responses, and consultation meetings were held with 30 individuals. The majority of responses to the paper have come from the museums and heritage community, with fewer from the performing arts, and the Clore Duffield Foundation is keen to seek further views from practitioners and professional associations involved in theatre, music and dance. The initial essay and Progress Report can be found at www.cloreduffield.org.uk, and comments and responses to these should be sent to cloreduffield@aol.com by the end of July. Firmer proposals will then be developed, which will also address issues of governance, and dialogue will then begin with possible partners. A third and final paper will be circulated in the autumn.