The 2025 Chevening Clore Leadership Fellowship provides a unique opportunity for mid-career professionals in the arts and culture industry to enhance their leadership skills by participating in a customized, immersive program in the United Kingdom.
This esteemed fellowship, which is accepting applications until November 5, 2024, is a highly sought-after educational opportunity for cultural influencers worldwide. The fellowship, which is intended to foster leadership in the international arts and cultural sector, is a partnership between the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) and Clore Leadership.
Applicants from eligible nations, including Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Mexico, and South Africa, are currently invited to submit applications for the 2025-2026 cohort. This article provides a thorough analysis of the fellowship’s structure, benefits, and transformative qualities, as well as essential information about the application process.
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What constitutes the Chevening Clore Leadership Fellowship?
The Chevening Clore Leadership Fellowship is a personalized leadership development program that is specifically designed for professionals in the arts and culture sectors. It is intended for individuals who are involved in the visual and performing arts, museums, libraries, archives, heritage, film, digital media, cultural policy, and related fields. This program has been instrumental in the cultivation of exceptional cultural leaders for more than two decades, equipping them with the necessary expertise and competencies to drive innovation and effect positive change in their respective fields.
The fellowship annually selects a maximum of five foreign colleagues to join approximately 20 UK and international fellows. This global organization fosters a learning environment that is stimulating and encourages innovative thinking and cooperation by uniting a variety of perspectives.
Program Framework: Customized Leadership Advancement:
The fellowship will commence in September 2025 and will conclude in May 2026, after one year. Fellows engage in a leadership program that is tailored to their individual needs, which includes both residential and non-residential courses, during this time. Through a variety of components, the curriculum is intended to provide participants with a comprehensive educational experience:
- Residential Leadership Courses: Participants participate in two intensive leadership courses—one in September 2025 and the other in May 2026.
- The objectives of these residential courses are to establish a supportive environment for fellows to focus on their personal and professional development, promote self-reflection, and cultivate leadership abilities.
- Non-Residential Skills courses: In January 2025, fellows will engage in three-day, skills-oriented seminars that cover a variety of leadership and cultural management topics.
- 360° Leadership Profile: To identify their strengths and areas for improvement, fellowship participants will undergo a 360° leadership assessment. This profile aids companions in the customization of their educational experience and the establishment of specific, attainable objectives for their personal development.
- Secondment in the United Kingdom: Fellows will be assigned to a cultural organization located in the United Kingdom for a period of four to six weeks. This placement provides participants with the opportunity to participate in a genuine initiative and gain practical experience in a culturally diverse environment that is often significantly different from their typical employment.
- Online Climate Assembly: Participants will participate in a one-day Online Climate Assembly that addresses global environmental and cultural concerns. In this assembly, associates are afforded the opportunity to evaluate the cultural sector’s contribution to the resolution of pressing climate issues.
- Customized Learning Opportunities: The fellowship offers a variety of personalized learning experiences that are under the fellow’s research and interests. These activities may include networking with industry experts and colleagues, participating in conferences, and participating in training programs and study excursions.
- Mentoring and Coaching: Throughout the program, each colleague receives personalized support from a mentor or coach. This instruction is indispensable for personal growth, as it encompasses the perspectives and criticisms of experienced cultural leaders.
- Thought Leadership Initiative: Participants will contribute to thought leadership by composing a provocative paper. This written assignment allows participants to explore a domain of cultural leadership, policy, or practice that they are passionate about and to share their findings with the broader cultural community.
What are the reasons for applying to the Chevening Clore Leadership Fellowship?
The Chevening Clore Leadership Fellowship offers a transformative opportunity to individuals who are committed to the arts and cultural sector.
Each participant is guaranteed a personalized experience that aligns with their leadership trajectory through the fellowship’s unique framework, which incorporates residential courses, secondment opportunities, and customized learning.
Academic Level:
The Chevening Clore Leadership UK Fellowship 2025 (Fully Funded) is available for fellowship-level programs at universities in the United Kingdom.
Benefits of Chevening Clore Leadership Fellowship:
- Customized Learning Experience: Fellows are provided with a program that is specifically designed to meet their professional objectives. The fellowship encompasses training sessions, courses, and seminars that emphasize the cultivation of strategic thinking and essential leadership abilities in cultural management.
- Mentorship and Guidance: Each fellow is assigned a mentor, a senior leader in the cultural sector, who offers vital support, guidance, and insights. This mentorship is essential for development and personalized career advice.
- World-Class Learning Opportunities: Fellows participate in two residential courses in the United Kingdom, which address critical subjects in the arts and culture sectors, including leadership, management, and policy. This also encompasses the opportunity to participate in a brief placement at a prominent cultural institution in the United Kingdom, which enables associates to acquire knowledge directly from top-tier organizations.
- Increasing Professional Networks: The fellowship provides professionals with the opportunity to establish connections with influencers in the UK and global arts and culture communities. Fellows are granted access to both the Clore Leadership alumni network and the broader Chevening network, which provides a robust professional support system and potential for future collaboration.
- Financial Support and Funding: The fellowship offers a financial package that pays for tuition, travel, and accommodation expenses during the program, thereby increasing the accessibility of this professional development opportunity for international candidates.
- Enhanced Influence and Impact: Fellows can have a more significant impact on their organizations and communities by improving their leadership skills. The program provides them with the necessary tools to influence the arts and cultural sectors in their respective countries, inspire others, and promote change.
- Enhanced Global Perspective: Fellows acquire a more comprehensive comprehension of global issues and challenges in the cultural sector, as well as best practices from other countries, as a result of their residence and academic pursuits in the United Kingdom. This experience promotes innovation and cross-cultural understanding.
Nationalities That Qualify:
Students from the following institutions are eligible to receive this award:
- Brazil
- China
- Egypt
- India
- Jordan
- Lebanon
- Mexico
- South Africa
Eligibility Requirements:
To be eligible for the fellowship, applicants must satisfy the following criteria:
- Return to Home Country: Upon the conclusion of the fellowship, applicants must exhibit a commitment to returning to their home country.
- Educational and Professional Background: Applicants must have a degree that is equivalent to a UK second-class honors degree or demonstrate comparable professional experience. In addition, by the end of 2023, candidates must have a minimum of five years of professional experience.
- English Proficiency: Candidates must demonstrate a proficient understanding of the English language, which will be assessed during the application and interview processes.
- Ineligibility: Applicants must not hold British or dual British citizenship. Additionally, applicants who have been employed by His Majesty’s Government or affiliated organizations within the previous two years are ineligible to apply.
Application Process:
This is an occasion to apply for one of the most prestigious cultural fellowships in the world. Applications are being accepted until November 5, 2024; submit your application today to embark on a transformative journey.
Frequently Asked Questions:
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Who is eligible for the Clore Fellowship?
Hold a degree that is equivalent to at least a good UK second-class honors degree or have equivalent professional training and/or experience. Have completed at least five years’ work, or equivalent experience, by the end of 2024. Meet the minimum requirements by the main fellowships scheme.
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What is the difference between scholarship and fellowship in Chevening?
It is merit-based, but generally not need-based. Fellowship funding is generally discretionary for student awardees to use as they see fit to support themselves while pursuing graduate study. They often come with a stipend. Scholarships are usually based on merit and are sometimes need-based.
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How do I apply for a fellowship?
Do an early and honest appraisal of your achievements and focus on any potential weaknesses or concerns evaluators may see in your profile. As this may include a need to improve your publication record, many research support experts suggest looking into fellowships two years before you expect to apply.
