I am writing this on the train home from Middlesbrough. Not the train I was supposed to travel on of course. That was cancelled. A train home nonetheless. This year’s Governance Now conference by Clore Leadership and the Cultural Governance Alliance was the reason for my trip and my first visit to Middlesbrough.
As I reflect on the discussions today and private view of the Turner Prize at MIMA last night, here’s some things that got me thinking:
Mutuals
The session that made me think differently more than any other was Ditch the Default: Unusual Constitutional Models for Cultural Organisations. The default status for cultural organisations is that of a charity or one of the newer legal structures like a CIC or CIO. Keith Arrowsmith from ProArts Plus made the case to consider cooperatives and Community Benefit Societies, both types of mutuals. I know I will next time I’m thinking about this (which lately has been more often than I had ever imagined.)
Disability access
Clore Leadership has given me new insights on many things, notably disabled perspectives on leadership. This has been true of all my encounters with Clore ever since my Fellowship began seven years ago. Today’s panel discussion improved my understanding of the challenges disabled and neurodivergent people face simply participating in governance - from remuneration to fatigue and meeting room layout. I am grateful to the excellent panel for sharing challenges and solutions like summary board papers and mixing long and formal with short and focused Board meetings. Thanks Abid Hussain, Andrew Miller, Sarah Pickthall, Charlene Salter, Jo Verrent, Vici Wreford-Sinnot for an excellent discussion.
Turner on Tees
MIMA, Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, is host to the Turner Prize this year. My highlight of Dr Laura Sillar’s introduction to the exhibition was the Turner on Tees initiative, a major programme of exhibitions and activities held across the Tees Valley to accompany the Turner Prize at MIMA. Turner on Tees is a fantastic means of spreading the love and sharing the benefit of the Turner Prize across the region rather than containing the impact within one venue.
Curiosity as a virtue
I think I speak for everyone in the room when I say we expected Dawn Airey, Arts Council England’s new Chair, to talk about the National Portfolio Process which has just opened. Instead Dawn shared leadership lessons from her own experience at Sky, a failed start up and the Women's Super League. I’m taking away Dawn’s advice that in any circumstances, leaders must be honest, be present and understand an organisation as well as know that challenge and opportunity are deeply connected.
Middlesbrough’s bicentenary
Arriving in the Boro, as it’s known locally, the place feels distinctive. The town feels very English (specifically Victorian and industrial) while also feeling a bit American thanks to the grid layout. So it made total sense when I found out that the Middlesbrough we know today was built at almost the exact same time as Chicago. Both of which celebrate their bicentenaries in a few years time. I dipped my toe in the history of Middlesbrough, and if I’d had longer I’d take a deeper dive into what is clearly a fascinating story.
It’s now a few days later and I am returning to this blog to make the finishing touches. In the days that have passed since attending the conference I’ve attended an away day as a trustee and edited the governance section of a strategy we are working on. Governance is a regular topic when you’re working in the realm of cultural strategy and I hope I’ve been able to bring some fresh thinking to my work this week inspired by Governance Now 2026. I’m sure I’ll be back next year.
