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. With COP26 framing all our news, the Climate Emergency is undoubtedly, the issue of the moment –and one that all leaders are challenged to address. The Covid-19 pandemic drew our attention and resources to matters of imminent health and survival but even Covid could not mask the persistent and urgent issues of climate change, diminishing resources and environmental sustainability. And, as if to underscore a point, dramatic weather conditions delayed travel to Glasgow just at the start of COP26. We choose our level of optimism/pessimism as the gathering continues. We also choose our actions – to engage or to avoid. How much do we need political leadership – or at least governmental example? Can individual actions really make a difference without the macro framing of institutions, connected systems and collegiate governance? Can one wait on the other – or do we just need to act now? The voices of our artists and creatives don’t always make the headlines, but rich veins of creative explorations, perspectives, opinion and activism run through contemporary creative practice as our sector too navigates ways of being and seeing this complexity. In this edition of Lead On, Clore Fellow Eduardo Carvalho prompts us to use our natural storytelling to get closer to audiences and Julie’s Bicycle, a sector resource and mobiliser on the climate and ecological crisis for over a decade, has recently mapped arts policies to climate policies, working internationally to connect common approaches across a global platform. And, not surprisingly, the voices of early career creative leaders (discover some below) demand immediate engagement – this is not a future challenge – as it threatens their future. We encourage sector Trustees to join the debate at Governance Now 2021, as we address the critical issue of the Climate Emergency. We’ll be asking how our organisations can be prepared and positioned to be an integral part of the civic responses to global changes in our environment. So let’s choose well how we engage. Small actions DO count. Collective actions CAN make a big difference. Cultural actions WILL make a positive contribution…. In the words of Greta Thunberg “you are never too small to make a difference.” Hilary Carty, Executive Director, Clore Leadership
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