Step Change

National Theatre & Royal Opera House’s career development programme
in partnership with the Young Vic, BAC and Nitro

STEP CHANGE...

is for individuals who:

  • have proven experience working with or for arts organisations (with at least two years’ experience).

  • have the ability or potential to play a management/producing role.

  • are passionate and ambitious about developing a career as a leader in the arts.

aims to:

  • broaden the scope of possibilities for people from a range of backgrounds who might not realise their potential.

  • offer structured development opportunities in different scales of organisations or artistic disciplines to those who might not otherwise gain this.

  • build relationships between larger and smaller companies.

  • encourage a greater diversity in the workforce of arts organisations.

  • provide a stepping-stone for talented people in the arts.

involves:

  • mcoaching, mentoring, masterclasses, a secondment and networking with peers.

 

Why STEP CHANGE?

Career development in the management of performing arts can be fairly haphazard. There are limited opportunities for people to acquire knowledge or practical experience other than through their day jobs; formal training opportunities, particularly for those working freelance, often occur by chance – being in the right place at the right time or knowing the right people.

This is an ineffective way of identifying talent and placing it in the most appropriate context; it tends to overlook people from certain backgrounds who may not yet have acquired the confidence or networks needed to negotiate a path through a forest of half-glimpsed opportunities; and it is not designed to enable people in the earlier stages of their careers gain experience in different scales of organisation or different disciplines.

A network of building-based organisations in London – initially the National Theatre, Royal Opera House, Young Vic and BAC – responded to this situation in 2006 by developing a programme of professional development for talented individuals in the early-mid stages of their career.  Step Change is now run by the National Theatre and co-funded by the National Theatre and the Royal Opera House, in partnership with Young Vic, BAC and Nitro. A fifth cohort of participants will be recruited in January 2012.

Interested in Applying?

“[The masterclass week was] a really wonderful week that has given me an enormous boost and made me remember all the reasons I wanted to work in the arts in the first place.”
Participant 10-11

The current cohort of participants began in March 2012. Details for the next intake of Step Change participants are yet to be announced. If you’d like to be informed of any updates and announcements, please contact the Step Change coordinator to be put on the mailing list.

CONTACT: Gemma Baxter, Step Change Coordinator
gbaxter@nationaltheatre.org.uk

Download: Case Studies of Previous Participants (PDF)

Interested in Hosting a Secondment?

 “We have been delighted to host two placements from Step Change. Both came with substantial experience and expertise that enabled them to learn quickly and take responsibility easily…. they've had input with their own ideas, often transferring skills from their own work experience that they have used with flair and ingenuity.”
Rachel Clare, Crying Out Loud, Host Organisation 2009-10, 2010-11

Step Change is always keen to hear from organisations who would like to take a participant from the programme on placements to work on discrete projects or productions. If your organisation is interested in hosting a secondment, please contact the Step Change coordinator.

CONTACT: Gemma Baxter, Step Change Coordinator
gbaxter@nationaltheatre.org.uk

Download: Information for Host Organisations (PDF)

Interested in becoming a Step Change Mentor?

“Mentoring is essential to Step Change as it helps enormously with tailoring the experience to your own personal needs.”
Jennifer Porteous, Participant 2010-11

Each year a significant number of experienced arts professionals are approached by Step Change participants to become their mentors for the year.

If you would be interested in volunteering your time (approximately six hours over a period of nine months) please email the Step Change coordinator including a short biography and your reasons for wanting to become a mentor.

CONTACT: Gemma Baxter, Step Change Coordinator
gbaxter@nationaltheatre.org.uk

Download: Information for Potential Mentors (PDF)


Participants from Year 3 (2009-10) with members of the Step Change steering group