Leading Creatively
This is a brand new learning programme for cultural leaders who are stepping into a new chapter of their journey—whether you’ve founded your organisation in the past 10-15 years, recently taken on a senior leadership role, or are mid-career and looking to lead with greater clarity and purpose.
Bookings extended until 30th June
A programme for people who want support to:
- Lead with clarity, creativity, and resilience in an ever-changing landscape.
- Ground their leadership in values that prioritise community, equity, and sustainability.
- Articulate a compelling vision for their organisation and align their actions with that vision.
- Navigate the complexities of leadership with confidence, even amid uncertainty and challenge.
- Cultivate a supportive, collaborative network to grow and learn alongside.
This programme assumes that:
- Leadership is about service, collaboration, and staying true to your values, not about hierarchy or control.
- The creative industries face unique challenges—from financial insecurity to the pressure to innovate—and leaders must balance these realities with their own well-being and vision.
- Cultural leadership can be lonely, but it doesn’t have to be. Support and solidarity are essential for sustainable success.
- Change is constant. Great leadership means staying flexible, staying true, and being prepared to adapt.
Who’s Running This?
James Gough is an experienced cultural strategist, facilitator, and coach, working at the intersection of creativity, community, and change.
Over the past 20+ years, James has worked with grassroots organisations, national funders, artists, councils, and cultural leaders across the UK. He runs GJG Consultancy, supporting cultural organisations and place-based partnerships to lead with integrity, clarity, and care.
James’s practice is grounded in the belief that leadership is not about hierarchy, but about service, collaboration, and staying true to your values—especially in challenging times. His work focuses on helping people and organisations navigate complexity, build collective vision, and act with purpose.
He’s particularly committed to making space for non-traditional leaders, those carving out new paths or holding space for others, often without a map. His approach is always relational, strategic, and grounded in the real-world pressures of cultural work.
You can expect a style that’s reflective, open, practical, and gently challenging—one that recognises both the weight and the wonder of cultural leadership today.
James will also be joined by guest speakers—leaders who have recently been through the same kinds of challenges you may be facing. They’ll offer honest insight and personal reflections on how they navigated key moments, made decisions, and sustained their leadership in difficult contexts.
"His understanding and insightful strategic acumen coupled with experience and knowledge were invaluable in the success and development of the project.
As a mentor he imparted knowledge but also gave space to showcase my skill set.
In times of complexity and turbulence his calm and measured style allowed us to see opportunities in challenges and grow.
Overall it was absolute delight working with James and I am forever grateful for his impact and contributions."
AJ Haast, Barking & Dagenham Cultural Partnership Group Lead