Clore Leadership

Bold governance for uncertain times

Juliette Barber reports on “Governance Now: Imagine it Different”, Clore Leadership’s flagship conference that brought cultural leaders together in London during Trustees Week 2024. Exploring bold approaches to cultural governance, the event inspired trustees, directors and changemakers to imagine a more inclusive and resilient future for the sector

On a crisp November morning, Senate House in London buzzed with anticipation as trustees, directors and cultural leaders gathered for Clore Leadership’s “Governance Now: Imagine it Different” conference. This annual event, held during Trustees Week 2024, saw 180 delegates in-person delegates, joined by many more online, for a day of bold ideas and collaborative discussions.

Governance 101: Back to Basics

Nicola Nuttall, Director of The Stradling Collection and The Charles Causley Trust, opened the conference with an energising Governance 101 session, offering a primer on the Charity Governance Code’s seven principles. With humour and clarity, she broke down key concepts, from strategic leadership and accountability to fostering openness and diversity.

Her memorable analogy, “noses in, fingers out”, encapsulated the delicate balance boards must strike between oversight
and interference. Practical advice—such as ensuring good
team dynamics, focusing on strategy rather than operations
and planning for succession—set a strong foundation for attendees.Reflecting on the session, many trustees noted
the importance of aligning governance practices with
funding applications, a critical requirement for bodies like Arts Council England. 

AI in cultural governance: Friend or foe?

Dr Doug Gurr’s (Director of the Natural History Museum) keynote explored the ethics and opportunities of AI in cultural governance. Sharing examples from the Natural History Museum, he demonstrated how AI is revolutionising processes like fossil dating. He posed essential questions for boards:

• Do you have a vision for the role of technology in
   your organisation?
•  Are you equipped to deliver that vision?
•  Do you understand the risks and opportunities?

Gurr highlighted the importance of ethical frameworks, citing The Alan Turing Institute’s guidelines, and warned against naivety when adopting AI. The session sparked lively discussions, with many delegates debating AI’s potential within the industry.

Community-led governance: Citizens assemblies

Breakout sessions encouraged hands-on exploration of innovative governance models. Saad Eddine Said (CEO and Artistic Director of New Art Exchange and Co-Director of Citizens in Power) led a session on Citizens Assemblies. He shared insights from its “Voice Assembly”, a community-driven approach to governance that prioritises equity, compliance and relevance. He also highlighted the success of “Friday Nights,” an initiative that opened the gallery’s doors to the local community while generating income. 

Discussions explored how Citizens Assemblies could democratise governance, noting challenges such as lottery-based representation and participant remuneration. The delegates were really engaged and agreed on the growing importance of citizen leadership in shaping cultural organisations.

Inclusion, succession and mental health

In the afternoon, Shonagh Reid (Director of Spotlight Inclusion) and Michelle Wright (CEO of Cause4 and Programme Director of Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy) led a session on new approaches to inclusion and succession. Delegates tackled barriers such as recruitment biases and the lack of formal succession planning. Practical solutions included co-chairing roles, mentorship programmes and creating archives to preserve organisational memory to support emerging leaders.

Mental health emerged as a pressing issue, with many boards grappling with how best to support staff and trustees.
Clear HR policies, external support and inclusive practices
were identified as key strategies for fostering wellbeing. Delegates also discussed the role of mental health in governance, acknowledging the increasing strain on cultural leaders and the importance of clear HR policies to support boards and staff alike.

Imagining governance differently

The afternoon provocations embodied the conference’s theme of reimagination and pushed attendees to reimagine governance and think beyond conventional models. Raj Tulsiani (Founder and CEO of Green Park) and Joanna Moriarty (Partner, Green Park) emphasised the need for diverse-thinking boards, while Hedda Archbold (Creative Arts Executive and Culture Consultant) and Keith Arrowsmith’s (Managing Director of ProArtsPlus) session on “closing well” challenged leaders to view organisational closure as a strategic, values-driven process. In another session, Matt Peacock (Co-Director of Arts and Homelessness) sparked debates on whether paying trustees could enhance inclusion. Opinions were split, with some arguing it could attract a broader range of candidates, while others raised concerns about maintaining the voluntary ethos of trusteeship.

Closing reflections: Imagining a collaborative future

The day concluded with a compelling keynote by Councillor Liz Green. In a powerful discussion on the intersection of cultural funding and local governance, she called for bold partnerships between cultural organisations and public sector bodies, highlighting the importance of community-focused innovation.

The conference left a lasting impression, defined by a sense of urgency and optimism. From lively debates to thoughtful roundtable discussions, the event showcased the diversity of perspectives shaping the future of cultural governance. As delegates departed Senate House, they carried with them fresh ideas and a shared commitment to shaping governance models that are inclusive, imaginative, forward looking and resilient.

Governance Now is presented by Clore Leadership on behalf of the Cultural Governance Alliance. The Cultural Governance Alliance (CGA) is a light-touch collective of agencies, organisations and advocates working strategically to champion, share and promote best practice in the governance of culture. Membership is FREE. 

For joining details and to access priority booking and exclusive discounts for future governance events, visit culturalgovernancealliance.org/join-us