Artistic Directors of the Future

Dedicated to creating change at leadership level in mainstream theatre

  • Membership

    Strengthen your relationship with fellow professionals

    Sign Up

    Membership Strengthen your relationship with fellow professionals Sign Up

  • Board Shadowing Programme

    Providing a seat at the boardroom table for culturally diverse artists and leaders

    Apply Now

    Board Shadowing Programme Providing a seat at the boardroom table for culturally diverse artists and leaders Apply Now

  • Training & Development

    Expand your understanding of leadership, business and artistic vision

    Training and Development

    Training & Development Expand your understanding of leadership, business and artistic vision Training and Development

  • Events and Conferences

    Championing and supporting culturally diverse leaders and artists in the UK and across the world

    Events and Conferences Championing and supporting culturally diverse leaders and artists in the UK and across the world

Success Stories

We are proud to announce that after a successful inaugural ADF Up Next: leadership development programme, Up Next Artistic Director, Tarek Iskander has been appointed Artistic Director of Battersea Arts Centre.
Find out more about ADF Up Next programme on our dedicated microsite.
Up Next
Who we are

Artistic directors of the future is the uk’s first organisation dedicated to creating change at leadership level in the creative industries.
Summary

We work with a wide range of culturally diverse artists and leaders at varying levels of experience to prepare, support and inspire the next generation of artistic leaders giving them the leverage they need to progress to the next step.

By working in collaboration with the theatre industry, academia and numerous leading producing theatres located nationally, we deliver a bespoke development programme, generate access to positions of authority and cultivate artistic opportunities.

Starting A Theatre Company

Do you want to take control of your career? Do you have the artistic vision to bring new stories and practices to the arts sector? If the answer is YES, then this training course is for you!

Revitalise Your Career

Have you reached a crossroad in your career? Ready to embark on the next chapter in your professional development? Our jam-packed training day will help you to boost your confidence, identify your career goals and move towards achieving the next level of your career.

ADF Members Meet Up

Connect with your fellow ADF members and other culturally diverse creatives, get the inside scoop on future ADF activity, brainstorm new ideas, grow your networks and find out about other opportunities.

ADF Board Shadowing Programme is coming to London!

We have secured a  consortium of London’s most ground-breaking theatre companies to provide up to eight ADF members with a seat at the boardroom table.

Apply Now

Board Shadowing Programme: Yorkshire Edition

In partnership with Artistic Directors of the Future and five leading Yorkshire theatres, learn more about the experience from those who took part in the inaugural ADF Board Shadowing Programme: Yorkshire Edition.

Diversifying Boards

Learn about how ADF are leading the way on the diversification of arts boards across the country through our National Diversifying Board Events. An action driven full-day event which connects our members with senior executives from a wide range of theatres to stimulate action and create lasting change.

Who’s Next? Conference

Artistic Directors of the Future presented: Who’s Next? conference hosted at the Young Vic Theatre on 9th September 2015.

ADF’s innovative inaugural conference brought together directors, theatre makers, board members and artistic directors from different backgrounds and levels of experience for an exciting day of panel discussions to explore the future of diverse leadership. Key conversations examined the work and power of artistic directors, discussing pathways for progression and suggesting methods to ensure the leaders of the future are diverse for the positive development of the industry.

Opportunities

Learn about the latest artistic director, senior management and board vacancies at ADF and other organisations across the UK and internationally.

About Us

Dedicated to creating change where it matters the most, at leadership level. Find out how Artistic Directors of the Future started, our core values and trusted methodology.

Team

Meet our ADF Family! We are proud to have a dynamic team of diverse leaders who strive to create equality and inclusion in the arts.

ADF is kindly supported by Arts Council England, Garfield Weston Foundation, Esmeé Fairbairn Foundation, Aziz Foundation.
Friends of ADF