Governance Now: Championing Communities

About this event

"It was an amazing day. I found the speeches very thought provoking, and loved speaking as well. I learnt a lot about governance, which I've taken back to my board, prompting some great conversations." Speaker, 2019 Governance Now

In person tickets for the conference have now SOLD OUT. Please click here to purchase an online ticket (plenary sessions, live streamed and recording) for £25 + VAT.

VIEW THE FULL PROGRAMME & SPEAKER BIOS

Governance Now, our annual conference presented to you by Clore Leadership and the Cultural Governance Alliance (CGA) exploring the critical issues in cultural governance, returns as an in-person event* from 09:45 – 18:00 on Wednesday 8 February 2023 at Midlands Arts Centre, (MAC) Birmingham (Registration opens from 09:00 at MAC on the day).

Our conference theme for this year is ‘Championing Communities’ as we explore how boards and trustees can support the response of cultural organisations to place-making and civic agendas.

This year’s edition of the Governance Now conference explores place-making and civic agendas in the cultural sector and the vital support required from boards and trustees. The need for cultural organistaions to respond to topical debates, social issues and local need has never been more urgent, with those involved with governance at the heart of the response. From the cost of living crisis to the ongoing impact of Covid, and with political pressure for the cultural sector to work harder at reaching broader communities, the pressure on boards has never been greater. Governance Now gives trustees and senior leaders the time and space to tackle head-on the critical issues faced and the sector’s responses, exploring questions such as:

• Why is increased representation and equity at board level so difficult to achieve and what steps do organisations need to take to ensure representation of the communities they serve around the table?Governance Now provides workshops giving the chance for delegates to discover and share tools and techniques to enact tangible change.

• What role does cultural sector governance have in ensuring organisations are responding to local need?Engage with speakers who are actively making changes in their communities.

• How do boards ensure that decision-making balances creativity and financial stability with engagement and inclusion?Hear from experts on the challenges of running cultural organisations in the context of a cost-of-living crisis and the legacy of the global pandemic.

The conference day will encompass a range of keynotes, panel discussions and workshops all designed to support trustees and senior leaders. The event will be catered (including a hot and cold finger buffet lunch) and conclude with a networking drinks reception in MAC’s new KILN café-bar after the main programme closes at 17:30.

Confirmed contributors so far:

Keynotes from:
Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair, Arts Council England
Nicola Turner MBE, Director of Legacy for Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
Sukhy Johal MBE, Director of the Centre of Culture & Creativity & Chair, Arts Council, Midlands Area
Andrew Lovett OBE, CEO Black Country Living Museum & Chair of Association of Independent Museums

Including Speakers:
Ri Chakraborty, Trustee, Norwich University of the Arts
Sarah Derbyshire, Orchestras Live
Thanh Sinden, Diversity & Equity Coach
Keith Arrowsmith, Governance Associate, Clore Leadership
Prue Skene, Head Governance Associate, Clore Leadership
Anna Williams, COO, Birmingham Royal Ballet
Ammo Talwar MBE, CEO, Punch Records & Chairman, UK Music Diversity Taskforce
Robin Simpson, CEO, Creative Lives
David Johnson, Director of Strategy and Programmes, Cause4
Sarah Gee, CEO, Spitalfields Music
Keshena Partridge-Bowie, Co-Deputy Chair, The Play House
Tim Wheeler, Consultant & author of Place/s at the Table report into disability & governance

A youth governance workshop is being run by youth-led social enterprise Rising Arts Agency

Case studies from:
Coventry City of Culture
National Lottery Heritage Fund
Strike A Light Theatre

Governance Now: Championing Communities is kindly sponsored by Green Park and Mills & Reeve

We look forward to welcoming you to Governance Now 2022/23.

Have a question? Contact cga@cloreleadership.org

Ticketing Information and Access

Ticketing Information
As usual, we are offering a tiered ticketing system. If you would like to discuss any options further, please do get in touch CGA@cloreleadership.org

Access
We recognise that some organisations might not be in a position to fund their Chair/Trustee/Aspiring Trustee, etc. – so we are once again providing a rate for individuals paying independently. In addition to the regular rates, below, we are providing:

• Get Into Governance tickets –reserved for those who are currently underrepresented on boards. We’re keen to engage people who identify as LGTBQIA+, working-class, D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent, those from Black, Asian and Global Majority backgrounds and young people (30 and under) engaged in or aspiring to engage in governance.

• Online Tickets - We are keen to encourage delegates to join us in Birmingham, however, we realise that it will not be possible for everyone to access the in-person event. We are consequently offering an online ticket providing access to a live stream of some plenary sessions during the conference day (via Zoom) – though unfortunately the stream will not be able to include all break-out sessions, workshops and networking breaks. This content will also be as a recording exclusively available to in-person and online conference delegates after the event.

We don’t want the cost of the event to be a barrier to attendance. If you are keen to attend but will struggle to afford a ticket at the relevant rate, or travel to and from the conference, we have a small number of bursaries available. To find out more, please get in touch with us at: cga@cloreleadership.org

Event and Venue Accessibility

We are aiming to provide live captions for all of the sessions taking place in the Main Theatre, which includes all of the Zoom streamed content. If you have any additional access requirements you need us to know about, please tell us in your ticket registration, or by emailing cga@cloreleadership.org

Midlands Arts Centre was partly chosen as the venue for the conference as it is committed to offering a welcoming and accessible environment in which everyone can feel comfortable. They have an extensive range of Access Facilities and Services including BSL interpreted venue introduction, audio venue guides, sound enhancement options, lift information and access options for moving around the venue on arrival.

Read more about the venue's accessibility here

“This year was great, and it had to be digital - but can't wait to be back in person, or with hybrid mix.” Governance Now 2021 delegate

Promotions and Offers

Promotions and Offers*
Organisations sending multiple delegates to the conference can apply a 50% discount code. Click the 'Enter promo code' blue link in the left corner of the ticket window before selecting tickets and enter MULTIBUY22 to apply the discount before purchasing. (A maximum of 2 tickets can be purchased per person).

*Discount codes cannot be applied retrospectively when tickets have been already purchased. Refunds can be accepted up to 7 days before the event, though any Eventbrite fees will not be refundable.