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ACCELERATE

ACCELERATE is an innovative cultural leadership initiative for talented Indigenous Australians working in the creative industries.

Through an intensive, fully funded programme that includes individually tailored leadership development, mentoring and industry placements in Australia and the UK, it offers outstanding applicants a unique opportunity to develop as cultural leaders.

ACCELERATE is tailored to meet the needs of individual participants, with components taking place in Australia and the UK. Eight shortlisted applicants will take part in a cultural leadership workshop in Australia, with four applicants subsequently selected to travel to the UK on a formal professional visit.

ACCELERATE is open to applicants across Australia with at least five years experience in the arts and creative industries. Applications can made via an expression of interest form completed on this website. Organisations and community groups are also encouraged to nominate an individual for consideration.

About

ACCELERATE came about in response to the lack of representation of Indigenous Australians in positions of influence within the creative sector and mainstream media. It aims to empower its alumni with the recognition, skills and networks to drive their own careers, both internationally and at home. Drawing on the UK’s well-developed cultural leadership sector, it will work to refresh the cultural dialogue between the two nations.

A 2009 pilot programme was developed in partnership with the Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts and Cultural Development, Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne and the British Council in association with the Australia Council for the Arts and Virgin Atlantic Airways. Three winners were selected and you can read more about them at the bottom of this page.

The 2009 pilot programme was evaluated and the revised and the 2011 ACCELERATE programme, now on offer, has been developed.

Partners

ACCELERATE 2011 is presented by the British Council and the Australia Council for the Arts in association with the NSW Government through Arts NSW, the Queensland Government, the Victorian Government through Arts Victoria, the Western Australian Government and Virgin Atlantic Airways.

ACCELERATE design by Reko Rennie 2011.

THE PROGRAMME

ACCELERATE aims to be responsive and respectful to the needs of all participants and to develop with their consultation both in Australia and the UK.

STAGE ONE

1. Intensive three-day ‘cultural leadership’ workshop
(12-14 August 2011)
Prior to commencing ACCELERATE, eight shortlisted applicants will be invited to come together for a three day weekend workshop to assist develop their understanding of cultural leadership and to explore ideas for individual programmes.

This workshop will provide all attending a stronger understanding of what cultural leadership means in UK and Australian contexts; build the capacity for participants to vision their own leadership paths; introduce UK partners to the Australian context, and help shape the nature of the UK programmes. It will be delivered by our UK cultural leadership partner People Create (www.people-create.co.uk).

STAGE TWO

2. Weekend session for ACCELERATE leaders
(17 – 18 September 2011, location tbc)
From the shortlist of eight who took part in the introductory session, four applicants will be invited to take part in the next stage of the programme. Before they leave for the UK they’ll be invited to attend a follow-up weekend workshop to devise individual plans. They’ll work with mentors to build an understanding within the group of their leadership objectives.

3. Individually tailored UK visit
Each ACCELERATE leader’s itinerary will include professional placements, meetings and mentoring. Individuals may be in the UK for differing periods of time dependent on their own leadership objectives and personal circumstances. These itineraries will be devised with each individual prior to their departure to ensure appropriate matching of skills, expertise and experience within the UK.

4. UK Leadership Training
Whilst in the UK, all ACCELERATE leaders will be invited to undertake formal leadership development as a collective. This will be delivered by our UK cultural leadership partners, People Create (www.people-create.co.uk) and Action Learning Associates (www.actionlearningassociates.co.uk) and delivered at the mutually suitable time and location whilst all participants are in the UK.
Upon return to Australia participants will be join the ACCELERATE alumni and, it is hoped, be offered future opportunities which may involve publishing, public speaking or consultancies. ACCELERATE alumni will be asked to actively contribute to the ongoing development of the programme and offer advice for future applicants.

HOW TO APPLY

Submissions can be made via the online applications form here.

Individual, community groups and organisations are also encouraged to nominate individuals by downloading and submitting the form available for download below.

Expressions of interest close Friday 22 July 2011

For further details please read our FAQs or contact us (enquiries@britishcouncil.org.au) with any questions.

WHO SHOULD APPLY

ACCELERATE is looking for applicants from across Australia, working within the arts and creative industries. Participants should be poised to take the next step in the careers, at 5-10 years experience in their chosen field. They may be people with a public profile or those less well known but highly respected by their local communities. What they should all should possess is a strong social purpose and the potential to drive change. It is likely that they will have had some early leadership experience either in an organisational setting; a community setting; or as a practitioner.

Applicants may come from any art form or be creative entrepreneurs with a strong social change agenda. They could be practising creatives or managers.

Eligibility

ACCELERATE is a programme designed and managed specifically for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander applicants. Australian Indigenaity is a genuine qualification for this award and is authorised by Section 14 of the Anti-Discrimination Act, 1977.

The British Council Australia definition of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander is a person of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent who identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and is accepted as such by the community in which he or she lives.

There is no formal age limit for applicants.

Selection Process

There are two (2) stages for selection:

STAGE ONE

- National call for Expressions of Interest closes Friday 22 July 2011
- Expressions of Interest are shortlisted to eight individuals to attend the first Cultural Leadership Intensive weekend, 12-14 August 2011

In STAGE ONE, panels comprising of British Council, Australia Council, Arts NSW, Arts Queensland, Arts Victoria; an Indigenous Australian cultural leader; and a UK cultural leadership expert will shortlist eight individuals. This will be based on the written response to the Expression of Interest and the applicant’s CV.

Of the eight individuals shortlisted for STAGE ONE, two each will come from NSW, Queensland and Victoria and the remaining two from anywhere in Australia.

This is because of the funding arrangements secured for ACCELERATE.

STAGE TWO

- From the eight individuals chosen to attend the first Cultural Leadership Intensive weekend, four individuals are chosen to participate in the second Cultural Leadership Intensive weekend (17-18 September, location tbc) and travel to the UK for 3 weeks

In STAGE TWO, individuals will be asked to complete a short written piece or interview and will be assessed by the British Council; an Indigenous Australian cultural leader and UK cultural leadership expert. This selection will be based on a range of criteria including the applicants’ ability to clearly articulate their leadership plans; readiness for a UK experience and potential to make linkages in the UK.

Of the four individuals selected for STAGE TWO, one each will come from, NSW, Queensland and Victoria with the final person coming from anywhere in Australia.

This is because of the funding arrangements secured for ACCELERATE.