National Culture Forum Leading Learning Programme 2010/11
Information for applicants
What it’s all about
The NCF Leading Learning Programme has been generously supported by the Cultural Leadership Programme as the first leadership programme to be specifically aimed at the cultural sector within local government. It has five main support elements:
Initial 360-degree assessment of your leadership strengths and potential.
A total of five days in residential sessions to allow you to meet inspiring exemplars, reflect on your own practice and challenge your knowledge and skills
Monthly one to one mentoring sessions with a well matched senior figure with extensive local government experience and expertise.
Five bi-monthly facilitated action learning sets, organised for North, South, East & West.
An interactive website with further reading, participants’ forums and development opportunities.
We have also negotiated to offer formal accreditation for this programme, for those that want it. This will entail an additional written element of two 3000 word assignments and leads to accreditation from City University of a module for their MA in Cultural Leadership (this is transferable to cultural leadership masters programmes at other UK universities).
Who it’s for
The programme is aimed at:
senior managers of cultural services in local government
senior staff of agencies who work closely with local government
directors/senior managers of companies and trusts that deliver outsourced services for local authorities.
We would expect participants to have overall responsibility for more than one area of cultural services, but because local authorities have such varied structures we aim to be flexible. People currently managing cultural services may not even have a cultural services background. What’s most important is an ambition to succeed in local government and to extend the creative and innovative perspectives of cultural services to influence the wider agenda.
It is open to officers from all four nations, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
How much it costs
The subsidised cost of each place is £5,000 plus VAT for 2010/2011.
For 2010/11 we also have some bursaries worth between £4,500 and £1,500 each, bringing the price down to well below its true cost. We are also prepared to stagger invoicing so that fees can be spread across two financial years.
Please contact the Programme Director if you would like further details of these.
Where and when
The whole programme will run from mid-September 2010 to July 2011.
The residential sessions will be held at Woodside Conference Centre, Glasshouse Lane, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2AL.
The provisional dates for the residentials are:
3 days 12 (eve) to 15 (teatime) October 2008
24 hours (4pm – 4pm) 22/23 February 2010
24 hours (4pm - 4pm) 5/6 July 2010
Participants will negotiate with their mentors on convenient mentoring session dates between December 10 and September 11.
The final make up, venues and times for the action learning sets will set by mutual consent after the initial three-day session in October.
Selection procedure
Applications will be received by e-mail only and up to midnight on 30 July 2010.
All applications will be assessed by the Director of the programme and the Leading Learning steering group.
We hope to be able to select on the basis of information supplied on and with the application forms. In the event of major oversubscription we may need to interview potential participants. If so these interviews will take place during August and up to 10 September.
All applicants will be notified of the outcome by 13 September and we hope to let as many people as possible know before the end of August.
How we will make choices
We are looking for participants:
from the full range of cultural backgrounds
with strong experience of more than one cultural area
coming from all areas of the UK
who can demonstrate innovative thinking and practice in their career so far
who are eager to invest in their own development
who want to make a difference to local government.
Next steps
If you wish to apply please complete the application form and attach the two letters of support requested on the form. Please do not attach a separate CV or any further papers.
E-mail the form and attachments to leadership@cloa.org.uk by end of 30 July 2010.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of this information or get clarification on any point arising, please contact:
Sue Isherwood
Director, NCF Leading Learning Programme
tel 01749 871110
mobile 07919 540803
e-mail leadership@cloa.org.uk
