AN ACTION-FOCUSED EVENT DESIGNED TO BRING A GROUP OF PEOPLE TOGETHER WHO WANT TO MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN
Our ADF Diversifying Boards event takes place across the country to address the lack of cultural diversity at board level.
We, at Artistic Directors of the Future, recognise that Trustees have the ultimate responsibility to recruit and appoint the artistic directors and leaders of their organisations. Following the successful launch of ADF’s ‘Diversifying Boards’ event at the National Theatre in 2016, we were delighted to make this unique opportunity available to arts organisations across the UK and internationally, in response to the low levels of culturally diverse Chairs and Trustees.
Previously the conference has been held over one day from 2022 the conference will expand over 5 days online making it more accessible. The event invites executive leaders, boards and ADF members who are currently trustees and the Board Shadowing Programme alumni to explore the barriers that prevent the diversification of arts boards to develop possible strategies for the short, medium and long-term goals.
This event aims to demystify how boards of theatres work and to take action to diversify their membership and network. All of our events include provocations and examples of good practice from leaders in the arts and cultural, and corporate sectors. The day concludes with speed networking and a practical ideas session to produce action plans.
In 2016, we launched the ‘ADF Diversifying Theatre Boards’ event at the National Theatre in London, in partnership with Battersea Arts Centre and the Independent Theatre Council. With board training delivered by Charlotte Jones (Chief Executive, Independent Theatre Council) and provocations from guest speakers: David Bryan (Managing Director, Xtend UK Ltd & A member of Arts Council England’s National Council), Beverley Mason (Director/ Producer, Medar Pysden), Afreena Islam (Trustee, Contact Theatre) and Simeilia Hodge-Dallaway (Founder & Artistic Director, ADF).
For the first time, we bought together our ADF members with CEOs, Artistic Directors and Trustees of theatre buildings and organisations to proactively address the issue of diversity and take action to make positive steps for change.
Since our inaugural event in London, we have partnered with Arts Council England to transform our London event into a national symposium. Our second event took place in Yorkshire at Sheffield Theatres. *Click here to read an artistic response from our guest artists Kate Fox our third event took place ar Birmingham Rep, also in partnership with Arts Council England.
If you are interested in working with ADF to develop and implement a SMART action plan to enable your organisation to become better represented at board level or to find out more information, please contact us at admin@adofthefuture.com.
