Empowering Leaders in Buckinghamshire’s Creative & Cultural Sector
Creative Catalyst – Empowering Creative Leaders in Bucks We’re delighted to launch Creative Catalyst, a new mentoring programme for Buckinghamshire’s creative and cultural sector. The programme is designed to give emerging, established and aspiring leaders the space, tools and support they need to develop their skills, explore challenges, and build confidence in leading projects that make a real difference in local communities.
Over a period of 6–12 months, each participant will be paired with a mentor who can provide tailored, one-to-one guidance. This support will be aligned to a project or challenge the participant is facing, ensuring the mentoring is practical, relevant and directly useful. Alongside this, the programme will provide opportunities to take part in training sessions, networking events and peer support activities, helping participants to grow their professional connections and broaden their perspectives.
Creative Catalyst is open to those at all stages of leadership:
Emerging leaders keen to develop new skills and take on greater responsibility.
Existing leaders looking for fresh perspectives, guidance and support.
Aspiring leaders who may not yet identify as leaders but are motivated to grow and contribute to the sector.
The programme aims to strengthen leadership across Buckinghamshire’s arts, culture and heritage sector, with a focus on building capacity for inclusive, community-led practice. By fostering new connections and providing targeted support, it will empower participants to deliver projects that are accessible, impactful and forward-looking.
With the generous support of the Rothschild Foundation and Heart of Bucks, the costs of mentors, training and networking will be covered, with some additional travel support available.
Championing the work of women from the cultural sector and identifying how our work can support women from all walks of life as we work towards a more equitable society for all.
On the 6th of March Bucks Culture hosted the inaugural Women of Culture Event in celebration of International Women’s Day. The event, hosted at the Elgiva Theatre in Chesham, saw women and allies from across the sector come together to explore issues faced by women and champion the work of women in the cultural sector.
Audiences were treated to an interactive workshop led by Rosie Axon, Founder and Director at Chiltern Music Therapy and Betty Makharinsky Founder and CEO at Vache Baroque. This musical session explored the role of female voice in music, from the exclusion of female artists in the Baroque era to how the song, Bread and Roses, became the slogan of a political movement calling for safety, shelter and better living standards for all. Delegates were in full voice and the Forum at the Elgiva was filled with not only sunshine but the beautiful sound of an entirely female choir.
‘Love our new girl band’ gleefully expressed post workshop by an attendee, testament to the joy of participation. This could be the start of something new for Bucks.
We were delighted to hear from Vicky Hope-Walker, CEO at National Paralympic Heritage Trust (NPHT) and valued Board Member at Bucks Culture. Vicky spoke of her creative journey to CEO at NPHT. From training in creative arts to implementing socially inspired programmes as a freelancer leading to the eventual establishment of NPHT. Vicky’s presentation took us on a journey through time celebrating the great work and discoveries of female leaders from across Bucks and beyond.
From one inspirational leader to another, our very own, Lallie Davis, Director at Bucks Culture, shared howWomen of Cultureprovided opportunity to celebrate and champion women around the world alongside the cultural sector in Bucks, with a lens to the past, a moment in the present, and an eye to the future. The event provided time for networking and opportunity to come together to discuss the wider issues faced by women and the communities we work with.
Bucks Culture’s first International Women’s Day event is something Lallie has been intending to convene for a long time. International Women’s Day has been taking place annually on the 8th March since 1911. The day is dedicated to the advancement of women worldwide and belongs to all who care about women’s equality.
Sadly, in a rapidly changing World, women are often most affected by some of our most pressing issues: migration, poverty and climate change.
In the cultural sector we are in the amazing position to be working in an impactful way to implement change for the communities we work with. Our work in community settings serves to uncover inequalities, raise the profile of challenges, and bring people together armed with art and creativity as a tool for engagement and a catalyst for change.
Stories, music, visual arts, poetry, crafts and events, all play a role in reaching people and bringing them together. In difficult times, this role is of more importance than ever.
Notes on Accelerating Action from Lallie Davis, Director at Buckinghamshire Culture
This year’s International Women’s Day theme, accelerate action, is about how we can collectively Accelerate Action for women everywhere by addressing systemic barriers and biases women face in both personal and professional spheres.
Despite everything,
the World Economic Forum says full gender parity is still five generations away[i].
87% of men in paid work are full-time workers, whereas only 59% of women are in paid full-time work[ii].
Women are now 47% of those in employment but are still the majority of those in part-time employment[iii].
Employment rates of Bangladeshi and Pakistani women still lag behind that of other groups[iv].
The Gender pay gap has increased to 8.9% since 2018, while overall pay gap has decreased to 17.3%[v].
Women account for 69% of low earners, a proportion that has barely changed since 2018(70%) and that has remained constant since 2011[vi] (69%)
Women continue to encounter numerous challenges, including:
Health Inequities: Studies show that women’s pain is often dismissed, leading to delayed diagnoses and inadequate treatment. The Sun
Mental Health Struggles: Research indicates that young women experience higher levels of mental distress compared to their male counterparts, influenced by societal pressures and gender-based discrimination. The Australian
What steps can you take today to challenge gender biases?
How can you support the women in your community more effectively?
In what ways can your workplace promote a culture of inclusivity and equality?[vii]
Tree of Insight and Intentions
Attendees shared thoughts and plans, writing a tag for our Tree of Insight and Intention sharing how to accommodate female audiences and pledges for the future to accelerate action!
As shared below
I pledge to actively praise and elevate my team of women, recognising their strengths, input and skill sets. I could not do my job without them.
I pledge to make space for more women to devise and lead on projects! + being aware of added barriers to intersectionality.
I do and will celebrate the women who came before us, paved the way for us to help and inspire the women who will follow us.
My intention is to promote fiction and non fiction written by women (esp from Bucks)when possible. Look at heritage of Bucks born writers e.g. Enid Blyton
I pledge to create more spaces for women to come together to be creative.
Seek out ways to make links with the local British Asian Community of Women.
Write and create more female characters to explore and present female perspectives. Continuing to connect with and champion female causes.
I pledge to promote and embrace female artists.
Continuing my recent exhibition work concerning, Childhood Lost, by sponsoring a young female street child in Kolkata.
I pledge to learn more about women’s businesses locally that I can promote.
Providing community, supportive inclusive and fun activities.
We are delighted to connect with and hear from women working across Buckinghamshire, working in collaboration to reach communities, support each other’s endeavours and ensure that women’s issues are included in our work and programmes.
Please do get in touch with ideas for future programmes, recommend speakers and to keep us up to date with your work.
Having registered as a charity a few months ago, Buckinghamshire Culture is now ready to build a Board of Trustees to guide and steer the organisation.
We are seeking people from varied backgrounds, and who come with diverse experiences, able to demonstrate knowledge or experience in one or more of the following areas:
Running creative/cultural organisation(s) or projects
Practicing as an artist or creative
Fundraising
Buckinghamshire social context
Views and perspectives of children and young people
Legal / Human Resources
Accountancy.
To find out more, and for details of how to apply please take a look at our Trustee Pack:
Deadline for expressions of interest: 17th January 2022, 5pm.
We are very happy to receive expressions if interest as written statements, voice recordings or videos (for the latter two formats please send via Dropbox or Wetransfer) alongside a current and relevant CV.
Buckinghamshire Culture, Garsington Opera and Resource Productions are pleased to present an online event for the creative and cultural sector sharing digital adaptations and innovative virtual delivery skills and tips.
During the Covid-19 pandemic we have seen creative and cultural organisations innovate, re-frame and develop online content thanks to rapid learning and adaptation. To support those coming back to work, or looking for new ideas for engagement, Buckinghamshire Culture, in partnership with Garsington Opera and Resource Productions, have worked together to develop this online workshop.
This event will focus on digital engagement and will share learning and top tips, as well as first-hand experiences of those delivering online. We aim to take away some of the fear of delivering online for the first time and share tips for those that have some experience already. There will be a creative, participatory element to the session when the group is invited to devise a new Chorus with Garsington Opera’s Richard Taylor and Karen Gillingham, so you can experience online creative engagement first hand and be inspired to try your own version. We will finish with a Q&A and brief panel discussion of what further advice, input, sharing or support attendees would like to see next.
We have curated a programme of speakers from Buckinghamshire and beyond covering a range of topics:
Adapting and pivoting activities for online engagement
Sharing tips for use of digital tools such as Zoom, Whatsapp, Youtube, Google classroom etc
Engaging vulnerable people online
Supporting those with multiple needs or limited experience to engage online
Skills and performance tips for online delivery
Working inclusively online
Opening doors to collections and resources using virtual access
Increasing certain audiences who might prefer online engagement
Working with artists and practitioners in a digital space
Tips for successful online engagement.
This event has been funded by Rothschild Foundation.
Buckinghamshire Culture has commissioned Cultural Associates Oxford to develop and deliver a bespoke leadership programme for the county called Bucks Cultural Leaders. This new online leadership programme and network for leaders and innovators across the creative and cultural sector in Bucks has been designed to respond positively and proactively to the impact of Covid-19, and to support the cultural eco-system of Buckinghamshire at a time of great challenge for the cultural sector.
A multi-faceted programme of leadership sessions, peer mentoring, action research and professional development has been developed by Cultural Associates Oxford, who will bring their own experience and skills to the programme, as well as enlisting the support of external speakers. The programme will begin in February and take place throughout the year until Autumn 2021.
The application process was launched in November 2020 and the panel met just before Christmas to review an impressive collection of applications. 22 innovators and leaders from the Bucks creative and cultural sectors have been offered a place on Bucks Cultural Leaders. The response from our successful applicants has been fantastic and shows that this programme is extremely timely:
That’s brilliant news! Something really positive to look forward to, just at a time when we need to be working collaboratively. I shall get started on my reading and send the bio and pic to you.
Thanks for sending me this good news. After yesterday’s announcement and losing another project to the continued lockdown it was most welcome!
Many thanks and I am delighted to have been accepted on the course! Now for the homework…… Well done in getting this off the ground – its brilliant and much needed.
I’ve had to re-read this a couple of times to check it’s real! I am delighted to have been offered a place and I know I will get so much out of this opportunity. This news has put a spring in my step on a day that was significantly lacking in positivity for obvious reasons.
With warmest wishes and thanks to you and the team that have put this together
Participants on this leadership course represent the breadth of the Bucks creative and cultural sector, including: Amersham Museum, Buckinghamshire Archives, Buckinghamshire Culture, Bucks County Museum, Bucks New University, Buska Video, Chiltern Arts, Chiltern Open Air Museum, Fish Eye Film Fest, Garsington Opera, Milton’s Cottage, National Paralympic Heritage Centre, Obsidian Art, Queens Park Arts Centre, Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, Signdance Collective, The Buckinghamshire Craft Guild, The Elgiva, The Theatre Shed, Waddesdon, Wycombe Museum, Wycombe Swan.
A complementary programme of business and cultural development workshops will also be offered to participants, their colleagues and the wider creative and cultural sector to support re-building after the pandemic. These will begin in April 2021 and be announced soon.
Bucks Cultural Leaders has been funded by the Rothschild Foundation, Arts Council England and Buckinghamshire Council.
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