Space for Change

Peer learning opportunity for creative learning leaders interested in creating more inclusive, equitable & sustainable work

Reflection. Disruption. Exchange.

Space for Change is a peer learning group focused on sharing and developing practice and addressing current challenges facing the sector. The programme is designed for leaders in the field of creative learning who want to do things differently, improve their work, and seek inspiration from their peers.

This will be an intimate space for reflection, developing your practice, and overcoming challenges. We will curate a dynamic, forward-thinking, and solutions-focused cohort, with a focus on building professional resilience, making connections, and discovering renewed purpose.

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2024-2025 theme: Equity in creative career pathways for the next generation

Research suggests that there are persistent inequalities in arts, culture, and heritage occupations. In this year’s Space for Change, we will focus on how we can retain young people engaging with arts and culture within the industry and how to tackle the barriers they face when embarking on creative careers.

We want to convene a group of cultural sector leaders who want to re-invigorate and strengthen their programme offer to include career advice and skills, including working with schools, and who want to work together to face social mobility issues facing our sector.

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Find out more

• Who is this programme for?

  Creative Learning leaders whose work is focused on children and young people within arts and cultural organisations. Whether you are a freelance practitioner, leading a department, or running a company, this group is open to all those who have influence to make change possible. It is open to all artforms and artistic practice.

  In the past we’ve worked with leaders from the following companies:

  Alexandra Palace, Artichoke, Artis Foundation, Arts Emergency, Barbican, Bow Arts Trust, British Museum, British Youth Music Theatre, Cartoon Museum, CBSO, Cubitt Artists, Culture Mile, The Drawing Room, Fresh Arts, Global Learning London, National Theatre, National Youth Theatre, October Gallery, Peer UK, Philharmonia, Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery, Pilot Theatre, Playing On, Polka, Pop-Up Projects, Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration, Roundhouse, Royal Museums Greenwich, Sadler's Wells, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance, Somerset House, Sound Connections, South London Gallery, Spotlight, THAMES, Theatre Centre, The Photographers' Gallery, The Yard, Towner Eastbourne, UP Projects, Victoria & Albert, Whitechapel Gallery, Wigmore Hall and Young Vic.

• What will the programme involve?

  Space for Change sessions will explore issues and address areas of priority for the creative learning and creative careers sector, with space for reflection and discussion. There will also be self-led buddying-tasks for you to complete in your own time, designed to help you reflect on learning, embed changes, and improve your work.

  At the end of the six-month programme, there will be a sector-wide celebration to gather the learning and reflections from the programme.

  This programme is free to access.

• Who is leading the programme?

  Sheryl Malcolm is an experienced Theatre Practitioner with over 20 years experience of delivering a variety of education and arts projects within statutory, community and voluntary settings across London, as both a freelance practitioner and Participation Manager.

  
  She has worked extensively with a variety of communities and organisations across the city, including Pegasus Opera Company, Young Vic, Theatre Centre, Lewisham Youth Theatre, Emergency Exit Arts, Roundhouse, The Albany and National Theatre Learning. She has also taught at the University of East London and Central School of Speech and Drama.

• Listener in Residence: Maria Amidu

  Maria Amidu was the Listener-in-Residence for A New Direction’s Space for Change programme in 2023/24 and previously in 2022/23. She was invited by Senior Programmes Manager Corinne Micallef to witness conversations and observe what was bubbling up. She has created several artistic responses to reflect the discussions she heard during both cohorts.

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  Spark!

  In March 2024, Maria presented Spark! for the first time at the Space for Cange Symposium as a short chronicle of her second artistic response.

  

  

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  Pause

  During 2022/23 Maria created this artwork, designed to be a touchstone resource for those working in the cultural sector with children and young people as a reminder of what matters most.

  Download 'Pause' (PDF version)

• Quotes from previous cohorts
  • "The energy was amazing! Almost life changing!"
  • "It's the most meaningful CPD I have ever undertaken – so specific and so bespoke."
  • "Space to reflect, to chat, to dream of new ways of working."
  • “Having a group of peers is invaluable. Even though I have a team, I can’t share everything with them. Working with a group of peers is cathartic, nourishing and practical."
  • “It’s been amazing, really challenging, and eye-opening.”
  • “I have approached difficult conversations at work with more strength and less worry.”
  • “I feel that taking time to pause, think, strategise, and rebuild better has been really useful. The mix of professionals you brought together was amazing.”
  • “A chance to connect on a number of complex and urgent issues.”