New Call for Creative Mentorships to Support Plymouth’s Future Cultural Leaders
Plymouth Culture is inviting applications for a new round of its Creative Mentorship programme, supporting the next generation of creative and cultural leaders in the city.
The call is open to anyone working in the city’s creative sector who would benefit from tailored mentoring to develop their leadership skills, grow their networks, and move their practice or career to the next level.
As part of the programme, successful applicants will be carefully matched with experienced mentors, drawn from a wide range of creative industries and leadership backgrounds, ensuring personalised and strategic support throughout their development journey.
The Creative Mentorship programme forms part of Plymouth Culture’s broader Creative Leadership initiative, which was established to tackle barriers to career progression and empower a more diverse and resilient leadership pipeline across the sector.
An online information event will be held on Monday, 12 May 2025, providing an opportunity to hear about the experience of previous mentees, find out more about the programme’s aims, and learn how to apply.
People who are interested in the event, need to email Sophie on sophie@plymouthculture.co.uk to register a space.
Hannah Harris, CEO of Plymouth Culture, said: “We believe strongly in the power of mentoring to drive real, lasting change in Plymouth’s creative sector. Leadership is not about titles or job roles — it’s about building confidence, connection, and vision at every level.
This programme is designed to create the conditions for people from all backgrounds to develop their leadership potential and to grow a stronger, more inclusive creative community in the city.”
The mentoring programme is free to access, and Plymouth Culture particularly encourages applications from those who have faced barriers to progression, whether due to financial circumstances, systemic inequalities, or lack of existing networks within the sector.
Since its launch in 2021, Plymouth’s Creative Leadership programme has supported a growing cohort of early-career and emerging cultural leaders, helping to foster ambition, increase collaboration, and diversify the voices shaping the city’s cultural future.
The new mentoring call builds on the success of previous initiatives, which have included leadership workshops, network events, and opportunities for mentees to develop their confidence and visibility within Plymouth’s cultural community.
Applications for the Creative Mentorship programme close on Friday, 23 May 2025.
Find out more about the programme and how to apply at:
https://www.plymouthculture.co.uk/programmes/creative-leadership/mentoring
Plymouth Culture is the sector support organisation for culture and creatives in Plymouth, working to strengthen the city’s cultural ecology and support the next generation of artists, practitioners, and leaders.
Further Opportunities to Get Involved: Rethinking Leadership Event
As part of the wider Creative Leadership programme, Plymouth Culture is also hosting a free interactive workshop:
● RETHINKING LEADERSHIP: PATHWAYS TO DISTRIBUTED POWER
● Wednesday 21 May 2025, 10:30am – 1:00pm
● Ocean Studios, Royal William Yard, Plymouth
Led by creative leadership specialist Jamie Pett, this session will explore practical strategies for unlocking the potential of distributed leadership models. Through guided discussions and group activities, participants will:
● Map power dynamics in their organisations or practice
● Explore what 'healthy power' looks like
● Examine barriers and risks in challenging hierarchies
● Collaborate with peers and reflect on their own leadership roles
The workshop is open to all creative practitioners and leaders who want to rethink traditional models of power and leadership in their work and communities.
Free to attend, booking essential: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1336364244429