Deadline extended: Expressions of interest invited to be our evaluation partner
Extant is looking for an evaluation partner to join us as we explore new models of inclusive arts leadership for the future.
We want to find people who can be our critical friends, unafraid to ask difficult questions as we work to understand about co-creation, inclusive working (particularly with disabled people) and anti-racist practice. We want to incorporate active listening and continuous learning into all our work. Together we want to embed reflective practice across the organisation, find new ways of empowering creative leadership and building new sustainable ways of working.
In 2026 our founding director and CEO, Maria Oshodi, will step down. Instead of carrying out a standard recruitment process, we are embarking on a three-year project to turn ourselves inside out, invite new disabled leaders into the heart of the company, share what we have learnt so far, and together discover the shape of Extant’s leadership for the future.
From 2023-2026, Arts Council, England is supporting us to undertake this programme of development we’ve called EVOLVE, including:
- Professional development for Visually Impaired (VI) creatives: training for two VI Artistic Directors, who will each work with Extant for 15 months. They will be involved in all strategic and governance decisions, be supported to produce their own public-facing creative work and will embark on a bespoke journey of training and mentoring designed to meet their personal needs.
- Links with Higher Education: developing a new MA programme with Middlesex University in Radical and Inclusive Arts Leadership and funding a PhD on the history of Extant in relation to inclusive and innovative arts practice.
- Evaluation and Reflection: working with external facilitators to evaluate the internal processes of EVOLVE. This evaluation will include everyone from the board to the staff, our artists and participants. We aim to embed learning and openness deep into the culture of Extant, to create systems that make these values sustainable and meaningful in everything we do.
We want support and challenge with effective evaluation across all our operations. Robust, embedded reflective practice will help us to navigate this period of growth and understand how to move towards the next stage in the company’s life. We hope that our work will have a positive impact on the wider arts sector, forging relationships and nurturing ideas that will continue to grow in other environments.
Deadline for receipt of expressions of interest in Word format please: noon on Monday 31st July 2023
For further details and how to apply, please view the full brief below: