At the conclusion of each year’s Fellowship programme, Clore Leadership works with the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) to commission research from the most recent cohorts of Fellows. These research projects help inform Fellows’ own development as future leaders as well as making a valuable contribution to the wider understanding of strategic leadership issues and challenges.

This year, for the first time, we have opened the research opportunity to all previous Clore Leadership Fellows and in receiving an extraordinary number of proposals responding to the urgent and critical challenges facing the wider sector, the Clore Leadership Board were keen to support a greater number of projects that will have demonstrable public benefit to the UK.

Consequently, we are delighted to be able to announce 15 new research projects funded by AHRC and Clore Leadership. Fellows will undertake research this autumn, supported by academic supervisors from across the UK’s Higher Education sector.  We will be publishing final reports in spring 2023 and look forward to sharing their collective findings with the sector.

Topics explored across the research projects include:

Race & decolonisation: Research will include investigation on how communities are tackling the legacy of the historical injustices of colonialisation. Projects will also explore support networks that can be created for leaders from minoritised backgrounds through coaching and through bespoke programming delivered for black, Asian and ethnically diverse leaders.

Community building & creativity:  Examination of social & cultural exchange internationally with a focus on how community identity is created in the context of a planet connected through global communications networks.

Supporting freelance workers & artists: Projects that explore how best to support those working as independent practitioners across the arts sector including specific investigation of support structures and critical issues for producers, artists and those working in the museum sector.

Leadership development & transformation: Research into contemporary developments in cultural leadership including: Co-leadership as a model for enabling greater diversity; emotional intelligence in cultural workplaces; and leading during times of uncertainty. 

Environmental Responsibility: Seeking to better understand the relationship between culture and the sustainability agenda, assessing the impact of climate crisis on conservation and cultural heritage as well as how artists and cultural leaders can influence climate debate.

Jonathan Mayes, Head of Strategic Partnerships and Impact at Clore Leadership said: 
"We are pleased to be commissioning topical research from an unprecedented number of our Fellows. Now more than ever, it is vital that our arts & cultural leaders are well-positioned to respond to the critical issues of our time. We are therefore delighted to continue our partnership with the AHRC to support leaders as they dig deeper into these issues, exploring new ways of working, challenge preconceptions and contributing to a society that is enriched by arts, culture and creativity. The range of topics being explored is testament to the resourcefulness and insight of our Fellows and we greatly look forward to seeing the results of the research and sharing them with the sector.”

Dr Sue Carver, Head of Skills, Arts and Humanities Research Council said: 

“AHRC’s ongoing partnership with Clore Leadership continues to foster leadership capacity and development in the cultural and creative sector. The range and scope of the research projects that fellows will undertake is impressive and timely. We are pleased that the opportunity to conduct this research will enable fellows to extend their skills, insights, and networks, thereby enhancing their professional practice and activities, and supporting their ongoing development as leaders. We look forward to learning more about fellows’ research journeys and their development through our continued engagement with Clore Leadership.” 

Fellows undertaking the research are:
Julia Twomlow (2004 Fellow)
Kathleen Soriano (2004 Fellow)
Helga Henry (2008 Fellow)
Kate McGrath (2008 Fellow)
Laura Sillars (2008 Fellow)
Claire Antrobus (2009 Fellow)
Gaylene Gould (2009 Fellow)
Joshua Sofaer (2010 Fellow)
Sarah Stannage (2010 Fellow)
Sholeh Johnston (2016 Fellow)
Jonathan May (2018 Fellow)
Stephen Bennett (2019 Fellow)
Sona Datta (2019 Fellow)
Phil Sanger (2021 Fellow)
Dr Cecilia Wee (2021 Fellow)

Previous research commissioned by Clore Leadership (from Fellows and others in the sector) can be found on our website here.