Welcome to Lead On – the newsletter from Clore Leadership, which seeks to explore, stimulate and share perspectives on the issues currently impacting the leadership of culture. What a treat to attend #EmergingFutures23 this week! This thought provoking gathering was held at Contact in Manchester, ‘a multi-arts venue that invests in the next generation’ – so a perfect partner for our bi-annual conference co-designed by and for early career leaders. The theme of ‘Care-fuelled Leadership’ had been drawn from a ‘Think-In’ earlier in the year, conversations with emerging leaders which helped us to explore a range of options and gather thoughts on the issues rising to the top for this generation of leaders. With a stellar array of speakers, creatives and active participants, Emerging Futures 2023 proved a day rich with thoughts, opinions, experiences and wishes. A real laboratory for sharing and exchange. Navigating the perspectives of employees, freelancers, employers, funders, colleagues and allies on the priorities of care, wellbeing and compassion, brought buoyant debates in the search for ways to move from aspirations of good practice to realisable and equitable solutions - ones that go beyond the one-off response, and achieve positive outcomes for all. Brave decisions needed. Brave conversations started. Brave leadership embraced. Not always comfortable. Not always knowing. Not always right. But proceeding with care, with openness and with transparency. Calling in rather than calling out. Being ready to explore, and ready to change course if the ‘great idea’ unexpectedly loses momentum, or turns sour. It’s somewhat ironic that being brave in today’s leadership calls not for the firm, assured and assertive ‘answers’, but favours the probing, exploratory, collaborative questions. ‘What if?’ rather than ‘What now?’ A big take-away for many of us was a reminder that, as cultural leaders, we work every day with the tools for solution-finding: creativity, flexibility, openness. Our art and culture are themselves a source for that ‘constant reimagining of how to work, live and commune creatively’ (Ella Otomewo, Poet) Leadership evolves and so must we – to be active agents in our cultural life, active leaders of positive change and proactive in our prioritisation of care as a fuel for leadership. Re-fuel. And lead on. Hilary Carty, Executive Director, Clore Leadership
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