‘A Space for Reflection, Response and Ideas’ – The Importance of Authentic Industry Conversations, with Achates’ Director Caroline McCormick

When there is a major breaking issue in the cultural sector, where do we turn to to hear the views of our colleagues and friends? Perhaps X, or a trusted WhatsApp group, but the places in which we can express our views within the qualified limits of free speech are increasingly restricted and posts too quickly become headlines which can be damaging to us personally and to the sector.

Yet we need spaces to think, to listen, to speak. The rights to be wrong and to change our minds are more critical than ever in a world where we are facing new and unprecedented challenges. Achates Community will offer its members just such a shared safe space to discuss and explore ideas: alongside our Support and Learning video masterclasses and associated resources, and the Purposeful Leader leadership programme, Achates Community will also offer Community spaces. In these spaces we will offer the opportunity to respond to the issues of the day and to hear the views of those not just in our own art form or region, but from across the sector in the UK. You’ll also have access to weekly critical thinking provocations designed to develop and hone our collective critical thinking muscles.

Accessible only by our members, Achates Community will offer a supportive community of cultural and heritage sector professionals who are mutually focused on tackling the question of how to lead with purpose at all levels within our institutions. Enabling us to understand and articulate our responses to daily events, to hear the thoughts of our peers and to improve our critical thinking as a result. 

Become a Founding Member: join our waitlist now. 

Achates Community – Join for the resources, stay for the community.

Have you been awarded an Achates Community Bursary? We will be announcing the winners on 9 September!