As part of our network, we know the last year has been tough on our industry so we want to offer you the opportunity to be part of an Action Learning Set to support you with your development, creating a peer to peer network for you in the region and give you space and time to reflect on your work.
Don’t worry if you aren’t a member of our network, it is free to join and we would love to work with any venue, artists or promoters in the region who would like to learn more about the benefits of joining our network. For more information email Lou Davies, lou@dgartsfestival.org.uk
What we are offering:
We are looking for 6 people to take part in our Action Learning Set in any discipline, or role whether you are a venue, artists or promoter working in the performing arts industry in Dumfries & Galloway.
Working in performing arts, especially during the pandemic, we have had limited capacity to reflect and learn from our experiences due to the pressures of our current situation.
We want to change that; we want to give you a space where you can explore your work and learn from your peers in a supportive and meaningful way.
Action Learning Sets – what are they?
Action learning is a form of group support, reflection and problem solving, based on the principle that we learn best from what is actually happening around us.
We have an unlimited capacity to learn from experience but a limited capacity to learn from what is being taught so in these sets, we will learn with and from each other by working through real situations, reflecting on our experience, to encourage forward momentum in our work.
- We will support you to resolve real life issues and challenges within your venue,
- Support you to articulate, identify and find solutions through input from your peers in the region,
- You will become part of a close, respectful network of peers who are working in other venues across the region, creating a space where you can solve challenges together,
- Build lifelong problem solving skills through self-awareness and reflective learning,
- Support to learn how to self-facilitate your action learning set meaning the support can continue as long as the group wants to continue,
- Learn how to create a culture of coaching within your venue and work life that will transform your working practice for the future,
Also, if you feel like you could benefit from 1 to 1 coaching for your practice or in your career in the performing arts industry, please email Emma for more details: press@dgartsfestival.org.uk
Structure:
You will be required to attend a half-day session in person on Wednesday 30th March, at a location within the region to be confirmed where you will meet with your group or online dependent on current circumstances/restrictions and learn some key coaching skills and what an Action Learning set is and how it all works.
Then the Action Learning sessions will last for 1.5 hours and the 6 sessions will take place between April and July.
These sessions are free to all members of our network. We will run 6 sessions; however, you will learn how to facilitate these as a group and many action learning groups will continue to run even after the first 6 sessions as a space to reflect and support each other.
How to Apply:
Please email Emma, with the following details by the 11th March and you will be notified by 14th March if you have been successful in joining this opportunity.
Please email the following to press@dgartsfestival.org.uk to apply for this opportunity:
- Name, location and what you do in the industry within Dumfries & Galloway,
- A little bit of info about you and your work,
- Contact details
A little bit about Emma, our Action Learning Facilitator…
Emma is currently the Project & Communications Manager at the Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival, having moved to the region from Edinburgh 6 years’ ago.
Emma gained a first class honours in Festival & Event Management in Edinburgh and worked as part of a Fringe venue and Government events team whilst studying. After finishing her degree, Emma went on to take on several events and marketing development roles in the tourism and hospitality industry both at a national and international level.
In previous roles, Emma specialised in branding/rebranding, business strategy and creating effective and innovative communications plans for all scenarios.
Emma also spent many years volunteering with a theatre company both on and off stage and is delighted to be back at the heart of performing arts.
In 2021, Emma qualified as a fully accredited Relational Dynamics Coach to put her skills into practice within the creative industries.
Her friendly, open style of coaching creates a safe, non-judgemental space in which people can explore the questions that really matter to them, focusing on creativity and performing arts practice.