Fellowships
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Here you can find answers to the questions that people ask us most about the Fellowships.
When will the application process open?
Applications for 2013/14 Fellowships are now closed. All applicants will hear by letter by 24 April 2013 whether they have been shortlisted for interview. Interviews will be held at Somerset House in London between 30 April and 31 May 2013.
What is the deadline for applications?
Applications for 2013/14 Fellowships are now closed.
What does the Fellowship include?
The programme is designed around your needs, circumstances and leadership aspirations. Each Fellowship is different, but includes a 3 month placement (totally different from your own experience to date) usually in cultural organisation in the UK, training courses, mentoring and coaching. There are some mandatory activities, including the two residential courses for all Fellows and workshops. The content will be very practically-based, most of the speakers will be people who have direct experience of leadership. The Director, Sue Hoyle, and Fellowship Manager, Sharon Armstrong-Williams, will discuss with you the best possible mixture of different opportunities for your bespoke programme.
More detail can be found on the Content page in the Fellowships section of the website.
If I want to remain in employment, how much time will I need to take away from work?
Most Fellows will complete their programme within a concentrated 7 month period, between January and July 2014. In addition, you will attend a residential course in Kent from 23 September to 4 October 2013, which will introduce you to the programme and the other Fellows. If you wish to remain in employment, you'll need to be released from work for periods of time, adding up to about 8 months in total. This will include a 3 month placement with another organisation, two residential leadership courses (each spread over two weeks) and other learning opportunities.
Please note: a Fellowship cannot be combined with full-time employment.
My organisation is relatively small, and losing me for 7 or 8 months would be very difficult for them. Can you help?
We want to do everything we can to help in such circumstances, to enable good people to come forward. In exceptional circumstances you might be able to spread your Fellowship over a slightly longer period. The two residential courses (each lasting two weeks), the placement (a minimum of three months) and a further two workshops, each approximately 5 days, are mandatory but the individual elements of your programme such as attendance at conferences and external courses could be spaced over the period agreed for your Fellowship. We are keenly aware of the difficulties that some organisations face and will try to be as flexible as we can in moulding the Fellowship Programme to individual needs.
I intend to leave my current place of employment shortly after the application deadline, should I apply as an employee or freelancer?
Your application should reflect your current situation at the time of applying. Therefore, you should apply in the normal way with a supporting nomination from your employer. You should include details of any foreseeable changes in your circumstances in your application.
Can I combine the Programme with part-time employment or education?
Whilst it's not impossible for you to continue with some other commitments, you should bear in mind that the Programme is very intensive and you will need to be as flexible as possible to gain the most from the Fellowship.
As an employer, what are the benefits to my organisation?
The benefits to employers may include a refreshed, more skilled and more confident member of staff, with enhanced knowledge and networks which can help strengthen the organisation.
As an employer of a potential Fellow, what are the financial implications for my organisation?
Employers of funded Fellows who are not supported by a Consortium-supported Fellowship, will be eligible to claim up to £15,000 as a contribution for the periods when the Fellow is away from work focusing on their Fellowship, on the condition that they provide evidence that they will continue to pay the Fellow's salary and benefits throughout the Fellowship. In addition, all Fellows receive funding for their individual learning programme, which includes mentoring, coaching, participation in group workshops and a tuition budget to cover secondment expenses, course fees and study visits.
Some Fellowships are supported by a consortium of cultural organisations. In these cases the employer will cover the costs of the Fellows agreed salary, employer's National Insurance, any agreed pension contribution and other current benefits and entitlements throughout the course of the Fellowship and any back-fill within the organisation.
How much time will I need to spend away from home?
As far as possible, the Programme is planned to suit you. Many of the tailored elements of your programme such as the choice of location for secondments and individual tuition will depend on what's best for you, and may - if that is your choice - involve being based near home.
The mandatory two 2-week residential courses will be held at Bore Place, near Sevenoaks in Kent. In addition, there will be occasions throughout the Fellowship when the cohort of Fellows is brought together for tailored workshops, seminars and other learning opportunities, usually in London or nearby. If accepted on to the Programme, please discuss with us any concerns you may have about the arrangements for these.
Can I do the Programme if I have caring responsibilities?
Yes, in most cases. We will try to be flexible in planning your Programme with you. At the beginning of your programme you will meet with the Director and Fellowship Manager when we will discuss the content of the programme and all the practical arrangements, and after that there will be regular opportunities for you to discuss your circumstances.
I have young children and I may have difficulty attending two residential courses spread over two weeks each. Does this preclude me from having a Fellowship?
No. We understand the difficulty that Fellows with young children may have in taking part in our programme, and we want to do everything we can to enable them to do so. Much of the programme can be done close to your home, and it may be possible to do the placement part-time. The main problem does lie with the residential courses, which we have found to be a very effective way of developing leaders and an essential part of the Programme. From the moment you are selected as a Fellow we will discuss with you in detail any concerns you may have.
Can I do the Fellowship Programme if I'm disabled?
Yes. We will discuss your needs with you and do everything we can to ensure you can participate fully in the Programme.
Can I apply for more than one Specialist Fellowship?
Yes, provided you complete the relevant section of the application form for each specialist Fellowship. Applying for one or more Specialist Fellowship(s) will not affect your chances of being considered for a particular Fellowship.
Will it be possible for more than one employee from a single organisation to be chosen as a Fellow?
Yes.
Am I eligible to apply?
We will be looking for exceptional individuals with at least 5 years' paid work experience either in employment, self-employed or freelance, usually in the cultural sector. Most Fellows have been working for between 5 and 10 years when they start the programme. You must be able to demonstrate most or all of the leadership attributes we have identified in the What You Must Demonstrate page in the "How to Apply" section. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and there is no upper age limit.
Although I have experience of leadership at a high level, my paid work experience to date has been outside the cultural sector. I am an active voluntary member of the board of my local dance company and local Museum. Would I be eligible to apply?
Yes. We offer Fellowships to exceptional individuals who have already worked within the cultural sector for at least 5 years, or outside it but who demonstrate a knowledge, understanding and passion for culture and the potential to become leaders within the cultural sector.
I live outside the EU. Can I apply for a Fellowship?
Everyone is eligible to apply, provided they have at least 5 years' paid work experience, preferably in the cultural sector and meet the criteria and conditions of the Fellowship for which they are applying.
If you live outside the EU and have not been nominated for a Chevening or Hong Kong Scholarship (see section on International Fellowships) you will not be eligible for a funded Fellowship. However, you may choose to apply for a Self-funded Fellowship by ticking the appropriate box in the application form. If you are successful and are offered a place, you would need to have funds available to cover the full costs of your participation in the Programme. Please see the Money Matters section for further details on the costs associated with a self-funded place.
What is the difference between a Fellowship and an International Fellowship?
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Home Affairs Bureau of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, through the Hong Kong Arts Development Council offer a number of Scholarships to undertake an International Fellowship on the Clore Leadership Programme. The Scholarships are by nomination only and further details can be found in the International Fellowships section.
International Fellows are drawn from outside the EU and undertake the Fellowship in a more concentrated period. Their programme includes the two residential courses, study visits, individually selected training and a slightly shorter placement (for around 8 weeks). They usually spend between 2 and 4 weeks in the UK during September/October and return for 3 months, between April and July the following year.
What is a Consortium-supported Fellowship?
Consortium-supported Fellowships are available to employees of the consortia member organisations only. Application is by nomination by the participating organisations and further information will be available from the relevant HR departments.
Eligible candidates should complete the normal application form and indicate the name of the Consortium-supported Fellowship for which they are applying. Other employees of the participating organisations are also welcome to apply for a Specialist Fellowship/s.
As with all candidates for the Fellowship programme, applicants must be able to demonstrate ambition and proven achievement in their professional life, and meet most or all of the attributes listed in the ‘What you must demonstrate' section of the website.
I thought the Fellowship included academic research
Fellows based in the EU and Hong Kong, will be given the opportunity to put forward a proposal for a 3-month research project, funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council. If your proposal is successful, you will undertake the research once you have completed the rest of your Fellowship and must be submitted no later than March 2015.
What sort of people have been awarded Fellowships in previous years?
You can read brief biographical details of each year of Fellows in the press releases included on our website.
I have applied for a Fellowship in the past, will that count against me?
No, each application is assessed on its own merits.
Why can't I access the online application form?
If you are having trouble accessing the online application form from the "How to apply" page of the website, it may be because you have disabled Javascript in your browser or you are using a non-standard browser. We suggest that you try Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox with Javascript enabled.
If that fails, please get in touch to ask for documents on paper to be sent by post.
