Artistic Directors of the Future announces closure

An organisation dedicated to creating change at leadership level in theatre has announced it will close this autumn.

Artistic Directors of the Future (ADF) was founded by Simeilia Hodge-Dallaway in 2014, before becoming a registered charity in 2016, and has worked to increase leadership representation and progress the careers of theatre practitioners who are Black, Asian or ethnically diverse.

A statement released to Arts Professional did not give any specific reason for the closure but thanked its funders, Arts Council England, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation and Aziz Foundation, for their support.

READ MORE:

ADF Transition Manager Pauline Walker, who is managing the closure, told Arts Professional that the funding climate over the last decade has been challenging for project-based organisations like ADF, but added the charity has “had a great impact on the diversity of leadership within the UK's theatre landscape”.

“As an organisation operating solely on project-funding, we've achieved a great deal within that model of funding, of which we're proud. We hope that our legacy will inspire future leaders and changemakers,” Walker added.

Since its formation, ADF has developed relationships with over 20 leading theatres and arts organisations across the UK, delivered 17 bespoke programmes, workshop and events and grew its membership base to over 500 in the UK and abroad.

Its UP Next programme, run in partnership with the Bush Theatre and Battersea Arts Centre (BAC), gave six global majority creatives leadership training, with all now in leadership positions. The programme's alumni include BAC Artistic Director and CEO Tarek Iskander and Artistic Director and CEO of New Art Exchange Saad-Eddine Said.

ADF’s final project, Think Tank: Agents of Change, is a research-based project exploring pathways to create equal opportunities and support landscape progression for Global Majority arts practitioners.

Chair Pooja Ghai said the charity’s programmes and initiatives have “redefined the landscape, narrative and values of what leadership looks and feels like”.

“The sector looks markedly different than it did when the organisation was founded in 2014 and the board and team are confident that this legacy will continue to resonate and inspire the next generation of Global Majority leaders and change makers”.

ADF's annoucement sees it become the latest diversity body to announce closure, after Inc Arts ceased trading last September.