Research

"A good administrative infrastructure is essential to the proper functioning of all cultural organisations and it is often taken for granted until it goes wrong."

Supporting Leadership participant

Participants at a workshop helping to design the Supporting Leadership surveys.

Participants at a workshop helping to design the Supporting Leadership surveys.

The Supporting Leadership project examined the work of executive and administrative support staff in the cultural sector. It was initiated as a direct response to a knowledge gap and used a wide-reaching consultation to draw out new information about the vital function of support roles and their importance in enabling dynamic cultural sector leadership.

The findings of the consultation were published in the Supporting Leadership Report in June 2020. The report sets out sets out recommendations to increase understanding and awareness, and provides practical advice for both leaders and support staff through a series of tools focusing on role descriptions, working environments, recruitment processes, and development pathways.