
Our Story
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Clore Leadership is a dynamic and inclusive resource for leaders and aspiring leaders in the arts, culture and creative sectors.

We offer a strong and supportive foundation from which leaders at all stages of their career can develop and strengthen their leadership skills, competencies and performance.
Our aim is to inspire and equip leaders to have a positive impact on society through great leadership of culture. We offer opportunities for professionals in our sectors to understand and develop their leadership strengths, providing spaces to challenge prevalent ideas and beliefs and develop confidence in their leadership styles and potential for impact.
We provide leadership development programmes, promote thought leadership and fresh ideas through debate and challenge, and offer access to an incredible network of leaders. Our programmes range from a tailored Fellowship, through intensive leadership courses, leadership development days, seminars, webinars, conferences and events. To offer the broadest spectrum of opinion, we commission and encourage research and provocation pieces from a rich variety of sources, keeping abreast of leadership knowledge and opinion.
From freelancers and entrepreneurs to heads of established institutions, Clore Leadership nurtures dynamic and diverse leaders. Participants on our programmes are drawn from a range of specialisms including the visual and performing arts, film and digital media, libraries, museums, archives and heritage, and cultural policy.
Clore Leadership was initiated in 2003 by the Clore Duffield Foundation, and is sustained by a partnership between private philanthropy and public funding. It has succeeded in creating a sought-after cadre of creative and cultural leaders and inspired investment in leadership on the part of governments, agencies, foundations and charities both nationally and internationally.
Our Vision
A society enriched by arts, culture and creativity.
Our Purpose
To cultivate excellence and innovation in the leadership of culture.
Our Values
- Excellence: we provide exceptional quality experiences, resources and opportunities for leadership development.
- Inclusivity: we encourage learning from the broadest perspectives by embracing diversity (of thought and experience).
- Learning: we inquire and challenge to evolve and continually deepen understanding.

Clore Leadership came from an inspirational idea of Dame Vivien Duffield who sought to help develop a generation of exceptional cultural leaders. Initiated in 2003 by the Clore Duffield Foundation, and sustained by the Foundation's generous support, the programme was based on the recommendations of commissioned authors John Holden and Robert Hewison, and established in 2004 as the UK's first cross-disciplinary leadership programme for the cultural and creative sectors.
Founding Director, Lord Chris Smith of Finsbury led the development of the programme from 2004 – 2008. Sue Hoyle, who had been Deputy Director at the outset, took the reigns as Director from 2008 – 2017. The current Director is Hilary S. Carty.
Read more about the establishment of Clore Leadership in the reports below.