Application Deadline:  5 February 2026.

The Clore Fellowship is a programme of tailored leadership development for a cohort of exceptional leaders in the cultural sector. The program award around 24 Fellowships each year to leaders in areas such as the visual and performing arts, museums, libraries, archives and heritage, film and digital media, and cultural policy and practice. The Fellowship Programme is for leaders with ambition and vision who can show how they might take their leadership to the next level. The programme is learned through experience, not taught, and is grounded in contemporary leadership theories and approaches.

The programme format blends opportunities for facilitated reflection, taught content, discussion and debate through a variety of whole and small group, small solo activities. There will be plenty of time to meet with your peers, get to know each other and learn from one anothers’ professional, lived and learned experiences.

The Fellowship is

• A self-directed programme where you determine our own personal learning journey
• Heavily focused on self-reflection, rather than taught content
• An opportunity to learn new things about yourself, where you will gain most by stepping out of your comfort zone, to explore who you are and would like to become as a leader
• An opportunity to get your teeth into knotty questions facing the cultural sector
• An opportunity to learn with and from others in a cohort of peers from across a range of artform/ cultural sector areas

The Fellowship isn’t

• A business management course or creative enterprise focused programme (although you may wish to learn more about these areas as a part(s) of your Fellowship)
• Training (although there is the opportunity to attend taught courses/ training as part of your Fellowship activity)
• A qualification or accredited programme

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants to the Fellowship need to be able to demonstrate the following:

• Have been working in a leadership or change making role in arts and culture for a minimum of 7 years. The only exception to this are our Excellerate Fellowships for early career leaders for which 5 years’ experience is required. You will be asked in the application to provide a CV outlining that you meet the level of experience required.

• Demonstrate that you are / have an ambition to lead and are making a significant impact through your work/ practice.
• Demonstrate a deep commitment, passion, and understanding of the cultural sector and its broader context
• Demonstrate an understanding of your leadership potential.
• Demonstrate curiosity, self-reflection and self-awareness and openness to learning about yourself and others.
• Be in a position to influence practice and/or policy and effect change in your organisation, sector and beyond, as an artist or cultural professional.
• Specialist Fellowships may have additional eligibility criteria. You will be asked how you meet these criteria within the application.
• Be open to sharing your learning with others.

International Fellowships

In 2026/27 through our international partnerships we will offer a small number of Fellowships to applicants from India, South Africa, Jordan, Lebanon, Mexico, China, Eqypt and Brazil.

Programme Details

The Clore Fellowship takes place between September 2026 and May 2027 and includes:

• Two 5 – 10 day residential courses and 3 days of workshops, including travel, accommodation, meals, and refreshments. You’ll learn about yourself, your leadership, and explore the skills and strategies of leadership. You’ll work with facilitators, Clore Leadership staff, associates, and speakers. You’ll hear from a range of guest leaders about their leadership journeys.
• Fellows’ Assembly – connecting with leaders in the UK and internationally around global leadership issues.
• A 360° leadership profile – to explore what that means for you and your leadership.
• A secondment – usually 6 to 8 weeks in a UK-based cultural organisation, in a field different from your own, to stretch your leadership learning.
• Up to £4,000 development budget – to spend on your learning and associated costs (e.g. conferences, courses, study visits or books).

• £14,000 bursary – financial support for time away from work during the Fellowship, paid to you or your employer (as appropriate). For UK Fellows only.
• Mentor or coach support – a package of individual support as you journey through your learning
• A provocation piece – you will produce a piece of research on a leadership topic of your choice
• A collaborative enquiry project – alongside members of your cohort you will explore contemporary leadership learning questions, and present your findings at the second residential.
• Access budget provision for D/deaf or disabled and neurodivergent Fellows, or for those with caring responsibilities.

Funding

The Fellowship Programme is generously supported by a range of funding partners. The cost of all Fellowships, with the exception of self or employer funded Fellowships, are fully funded.

Included in your funded Fellowship:

• The cost of two residential programmes including tuition and all course materials.
• Travel to and from plus accommodation, meals and refreshments for the duration of the residential courses.
• Travel to and from, plus accommodation and associated content costs for skills-based workshops. 
• Support from a mentor or coach.
• Development budget of up to £4,000 towards the costs of your individual development programme. This is available to all Fellows (including employer-supported Fellowships)
• An access budget supporting the needs of D/deaf, disabled or neurodivergent Fellows or those with caring responsibilities 
• Central support from the Clore Leadership team 

Fellowship Timeline

Fellowship Dates

The 2026 Fellowship runs September 2026 – May 2027. You should expect to commit to taking between 6 – 9 months to complete the Fellowship. Each Fellowship content, shape, and timeline is unique to the individual Fellow but you will be expected to attend the following mandatory whole cohort activities:

• Residential 1: Ashorne Hill, nr Leamington Spa, 14 – 23 September 2026 (incl weekend)
• Skills Workshops: Venue (tbc), 18 – 20 January 2027
• Fellows Assembly: Online, 25 March 2027
• Residential 2: Ashorne Hill, nr Leamington Spa, 17 – 21 May 2027

The timeline for applications to the 2026/27 Clore Fellowship is: 

• Fellowship Decisions: late June 2026
• Stage 1: Applications open – Thursday 8 January 2026
• Stage 1 Applications Close: Thursday 5 February 2026 (12.00 noon)
• Stage 1: Assessment: Feb – March 2026
• Stage 2: Applications Open: Thursday 6 March 2026
• Stage 2: Applications Close: Thursday 26 March 2026 (12.00 noon)
• Stage 2: Invite to Interview: w/c 13 April 2026
• Stage 3: Interviews: from w/c 20 April – late May 2026