Leadership Pathway Bursary

This strand of work addresses what leadership in the arts looks like if you are from a working class or low socio-economic background.

90% of people who end up in poverty have inherited their socio-economic status through generations. Without privilege in education, or social and financial connections, how do you navigate this intensely middle class sector well enough to make sure your voice can be heard and be impactful for your organisation and for yourself? We acknowledge these challenges are compounded where they intersect with other marginalised identities, such as being a parent, a carer, queer, Black, Global Majority, Deaf or disabled, female or non-binary, to name a few.

We hope that the Fair Play Leadership Pathway Bursary will help to combat these challenges and support working class, emerging leaders to reduce the financial, cultural and social barriers often encountered when applying for and sustaining leadership roles.

More Information

This is a pilot programme that brings together an invited group of 10 artists from working class or low socio-economic backgrounds who want to be Artistic or Creative Directors and who expect to be applying for leadership roles in the next six to twelve months.

The aim is to demystify the process of applying for leadership jobs and to address some of the social and cultural barriers that prevent potential leaders who are working class or low socio-economic background from applying for these roles.

From May 2026, there will be four half-day sessions over a period of three months that explore:

1. Practical aspects of application processes to leadership roles including job packs, application letters, interviews and general skill set needed for these roles.
2. The role of Boards and how good governance should work in collaboration with a leadership role.
3. Finance and Development – what is expected of you to ensure efficient, effective and solvent financial management, and what is your role in fundraising and philanthropy?

There will also be the chance to:

1. Meet existing Artistic or Executive leaders from working class or low socio-economic backgrounds who will share their experience and knowledge.
2. Spend time with a cohort of theatre professionals from working class or low socio-economic backgrounds who are on a pathway to leadership.
3. Talk through specific questions and challenges in a one-to-one session.

PLEASE NOTE: The Leadership Pathway Bursary is a pilot and we are inviting artists to express an interest who have engaged with Fair Play through one of our other programmes.

We hope to run the Leadership Pathway Bursary as a full programme with an open call for applications later in 2026.