Applications open for Inclusive Cultures 2023

Inclusive Cultures Programme Co-contributor and Facilitator Sarah Pickthall talks about the latest applications for the programme and why you should get involved:

We're delighted to share that our Clore Leadership’s Inclusive Cultures programme is now open for a 3rd round of applications with a closing date of 17th April 2023.

Inclusive Cultures is a 6 month part-time professional development opportunity for cultural leaders who are taking steps towards systemic change, particularly those who are ready to deepen and broaden their approach, competence and courage to contribute to and lead into inclusive culture-making and transformation.

The programme draws on Inclusive Leadership theories and practice and most importantly the lived experiences of D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent individuals and communities as part of that and using coaching techniques to inform thinking and action in smaller groups.

The fact that the programme is disabled-led provides its distinctive edge. 5 established disabled coach artists and strategic thinkers: Alia Alzougbi, Rachel Bagshaw, John Kelly, Deborah Williams OBE, Hayley Williams and myself, all passionate about their fields of work and making inclusivity real and resonant as part of that.

Together we work alongside a team of invited guests to shape and serve up the pith of the programme, inviting our 30 leaders on the programme to shape their own ideas into strategic moves for the future.

Previous guests have included Mele Broomes, Tarik Elmoutawakil Charlene Salter, Dolly Sen and Jamie Beddard from Diverse City who was there by my side when we developed the first Inclusive Cultures programme, mid-pandemic in 2020.

Since that first programme, we haven’t stopped sourcing the latest debate and diatribe to reflect the current challenges we face in developing and shaping people’s inclusive thinking and practice in their projects and organisations.

Most recently we’ve seen real interrogation of the inherent entitlement within the idea of inclusion: ‘We the includers’. Who says that people want to be included in our best cultural endeavours anyway? How does a conversation about what people really want build more trust and forge more fruitful equitable respectful relationships and sense of belonging?

We will also reflect on our individual and collective behaviour patterns and defaults extending these beyond bias to bolder challenges to systems and the status quo. We are also painfully aware that we can no longer seek to manage our own, and our team’s, mental health and wellbeing without seeing how deeply entwined our health and wellbeing is with the environment.

So whether you’re a CEO wanting a seismic shift or a sole trader artist/producer with a plan that needs a supportive coaching cohort to realise, or anything in between, then share your thinking with us in your application.

Find out more about what people explored in their Inclusive Culture journey by reading their brilliant blogs.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN | Applications close 12pm Monday 17 April 2023: https://bit.ly/CLInclusiveCultures23