Week Notes (16 - 22 June)
What happens when work is a stretch and a joy?
We had the One Dance UK Board meeting this week and it reminded me what a great group it is. There are lots of new trustees joining and it’s brilliant to see such a mix of experiences and perspectives around the table. I’m also really proud to have been asked to become Vice Chair, working alongside Victor Fung. I care about this organisation and the work they do. I’m excited to play a part in its future.
Being a trustee is something I find really rewarding. It’s a chance to work strategically with an organisation you care about, meet new people, and offer your time and expertise to make a difference. I’d encourage anyone who’s interested to look into it, not just in arts and culture, but across the board (excuse the pun!). It’s one of the most valuable ways to support organisations doing important work. There are many great organisations supporting with trustee appointments, check out Nurole, Trustees Unlimited and Peridot Partners.
The project I’m working on continues to be properly exciting. It’s stretching my thinking and making me question assumptions, while also giving me space to bring in what I know. I’m working with new collaborators as well as some familiar friendly faces. It’s a challenge, of course, but it’s fun and it’s on my terms, which still feels like such a win. One of the best things about going freelance has been having more control over how I spend my time and where I put my energy. Long may that continie.
I’ve also had a lovely catch up this week with someone I worked with more than a decade ago. So good to reconnect, hear what they’ve been up to, and see them in a different stage of life. One of the things I’m enjoying most right now is having the time and space for these kinds of conversations again.
Meanwhile, the Campaigm for the Arts published a clear response to the UK Government’s 2025 Spending Review. This is a clear and compelling piece of advocacy. It is accessible, well-presented and grounded in facts. Despite warm words the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) faces a real-terms cut of 5%. It sends a pretty strong message about where the arts sit in government priorities. I appreciate this is on the backdrop of crumbling NHS provision and education in need of significant reform.
That being said, there’s no new funding for the crumbling cultural infrastructure, no strategic plan to support the workforce, which is significantly freelance and in need of further skills support to encourage the next generation to choose creative careers, and no attempt to reverse the damage done by years of local cuts. All this despite the fact the creative industries are one of the UK’s strongest growth sectors.
If the goal is economic growth and international influence, why wouldn’t you invest in culture? I believe passionately that the arts aren’t nice to have. They’re fuelling tourism, support education, alongside building confidence and physcial and mental well-being. We should be backing that potential. It will be interesting to see how culture is included in the government’s industrial strategy which will be published shortly.
All of that also got me thinking about how we lead and support people in this sector. Over the weekend, I’ve been watching America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders on Netflix. It’s trying to be more open about mental health and the pressures of performance. There’s a clear acknowledgment that the process is tough, but not much effort to change it.
It struck a nerve. You can’t just acknowledge the pressure and then carry on as if that’s the price of excellence. In theatre, and the wider creative industries, we expect excellence every night of the week. And often we get it, but at what cost. The “show must go on” mentality runs deep. There’s pride in pulling it off against the odds, but there’s also a quiet normalisation of pressure and last minute heroics. We applaud the outcome, but not always the toll it took to get there. Acknowledging that it’s hard isn’t enough. We have to change the culture that expects people to keep going no matter what.
It’s a reminder of how important leadership and culture are. If people are constantly competing, unsure where they stand and worried about being cut, how can they really do their best work? Psychological safety is the foundation for creativity, collaboration and sustainable success.
And finally, the sun’s been out all week. I’ve been making the most of my flexibility with work, including a weekend trip to Emmetts Garden. The National Trust membership earns it keep at this time of year. We’re lucky to have places like this on our doorstep.
Reading / Watching / Listening
📖 Let’s see how I get on trying NotebookLM this week based on recommendation from Podcast Strategy Weekly.
📖 AI: meeting the challenges and embracing the opportunities from Arts Council England. Thanks to Cultural Digital for the recommendation.
📖 I anticipated a piece about art and what I got was a piece about aging, vulnerability, aesthetics and storytelling.
📖 Wow did this one hit hard. I definitely feel like in the roots stage, exploring, experimenting and trying things out. I’m curious about lots of different paths, and part of me worries it might look like I’m unfocused or lacking direction. Am I just a magpie chasing shiny things? Maybe. But I’m hoping these early shoots grow into something. more solid over time. If you’re reading this, thanks for sticking with me while I find my footing and working on growing a stronger trunk!
📖 Stop being an Expert and Start being a Leader from Mira Magecha on LinkedIn. I’ve definitely fallen into the expert trap before. In a big organisation, especially when you’ve helped build something from the ground up, you end up knowing the ins and outs better than anyone. You have to wear lots of hats, and overtime you become the go-to person for everything. Shifting from that into a leadership role, stepping back, trusting others, and creating space for the team to grow, isn’t always easy. But it’s so worth it when you see what people are capable of once they’re given the room.
📺 Somebody feed Phil on Netflix. It makes me hungy and gives me itchy feet in equal measure. Great episode on San Sebastian which really makes me want to visit again.
📺 America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders on Netflix. There’s something about this series that doesn’t quite sit right. They’re talking more openly about mental health and how tough the process is. But it makes me wonder why they haven’t updated the process itself to be less brutal and more supportive. And then there’s the leadership. They say they’re trying to be more transparent and upfront, but it still feels like they cheerleaders are being blindsided when cuts are made. There’s a disconnect between what they’re saying and how they’re acting. Only a couple of episodes in so far, so I’m hoping it shifts. It’s hard to watch without feeling a bit uneasy.
Roles
📍Location: Almeida Theatre, London
💰Salary: DOE. I wouldn’t normally share a role without an advertised salary but this one is quite compelling.
📅 Deadline: 10 July 2025