News & Events Event

Luton Two-Day Workshop: Step Up & Lead

Event details

  • Friday 11th December 2026 & Friday 12th February 2027
  • UK Centre for Carnival Arts, Luton
  • Free

This two-day workshop is part of the Luton Arts Support programme and is exclusively for people working in Luton’s cultural sector.

Are you a Luton-based mid-career creative, producer or cultural professional ready to elevate your impact? If you’re a few years into your career in Luton’s cultural or creative sector – maybe you’re leading a team, a project, or taking on more responsibility in your role or as a freelancer – and you’re starting to think about taking that next step then this is for you.

Step Up & Lead is a two-day intensive workshop designed to help you unlock your full potential as a leader on your own terms. This will be an open, accessible space to explore game-changing tools, connect with a vibrant local peer network, and start to think about driving real change in Luton’s cultural sector.

The two-day workshop will comprise the same group throughout and you’ll be learning alongside a mix of mid-career peers from different organisations, across different art forms, and different levels of seniority.

What you’ll take away

  • Lead with authenticity and clarity: uncover your core values, navigate complex workplace dynamics using Transactional Analysis, and build an authentic personal brand that doesn’t compromise who you are.
  • Tackle real challenges head on: master a practical coaching toolkit (including active listening, the GROW framework, and Push/Pull techniques) to resolve barriers you are facing in your day-to-day work.
  • Master change making communication: use the ChangeMaker Framework to craft and deliver your personal vision, learning how to pitch ideas persuasively and inspire action across teams and organisations.
  • Expand your local network: you’ll learn alongside a diverse cohort of Luton peers, building lasting professional relationships and a peer-support network that extends beyond the workshop.

Programme Overview

Day 1: Foundations: self, values and how you show up

  • Defining leadership: unpack what leadership means to you and break through traditional preconceptions
  • Understanding self: explore Jungian preferences, comfort zones and your core values
  • Showing up as a leader: shed limiting beliefs and define how you want to operate in leadership spaces
  • Authentic personal branding: map your strengths and navigate workplace dynamics

Day 2: Practice in Action: influence, change and real tools

  • Coaching toolkit: learn and practice hands-on coaching, active listening, and incisive questioning on active, real-world problems.
  • Change-making communications: draft, test, and refine your own change-making story with immediate peer feedback
  • Consolidation and next steps: build a concrete plan to take your learning forward and maintain cohort connection

Who can attend?

If you work in Luton’s creative or cultural sector and have around 5 – 15 years’ experience – enough to have moved past the early stages of your career, even if you’re not sure ‘leader’ is the right word for you yet – then this workshop series is for you.

You don’t need a formal title or to already think of yourself as a leader. If you’ve ever spoken up for an idea, brought people together, made something happen, or thought about how things could be done differently, you’re already leading. This series will give you space to build on that.

How do I apply?

There’s no application form to complete – just register your expression of interest by clicking the button below.

This workshop is open to anyone who considers themselves mid-career and works in Luton’s cultural or creative sector.

We have 24 places available which will be allocated on a first come, first served basis (subject to us checking eligibility – that you work in Luton and that you have the relevant years of sector experience for this opportunity).

Deadline for Expressions of Interest: 9am, Thursday 5th November 2026

We aim to let all successful participants know they have a place on the week beginning 16th November 2026.

Register your interest

About the Facilitators

Mel Larsen

Mel Larsen is a Business Growth Coach & Consultant. She helps creative freelancers, entrepreneurs and cultural organisations to trust their big vision and design strategies to multiply their Clients, Income & Impact.    

She’s delivered coaching, training, public speaking and consulting across the world including the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Ghana, the Caribbean, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, the Netherlands, Greece, Scandinavia, Russia and South Africa.      

She’s founder of three successful community-led festivals in Streatham, South London. Her coaching clients include small-scale entrepreneurs and freelancers from a wide range of creative, social and holistic genres as well as CEOs of mid-large-scale cultural organisations.    

Her consulting clients have included The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, Arts Council England, Australian Arts Council, The British Council, The Arts Marketing Association and The National Trust.  

Prince Laryea

Prince is a seasoned arts professional and qualified coach; he has a diverse background spanning executive leadership, creative direction, coaching, and consulting across the private and third sectors. Prince currently serves as a director for a London-based consultancy specialising in executive coaching and organisational development and, prior to this, was Executive Producer for one of the UK’s leading touring dance theatre companies.   

With a foundation in graphic design and business development, Prince has a proven track record of driving success in both commercial and non-profit sectors. His experience includes leading marketing campaigns for major brands, founding and scaling a youth arts charity, and achieving significant sales as a touring musician.   

Prince brings a unique blend of creative vision, strategic thinking, and a people-focused approach. Prince is also a qualified Mental Health First Aid practitioner and transformational coach.