Arts Leaders Winter Residency

Get Sh*t done, differently.

Monday 2 - Friday 6 December 2024

Are you an arts leader who wants to, or is finding they need to, work differently? Do you need space to think, reset and reconnect? Improbable’s first ever Arts Leaders Winter Residency could be for you.  

A residential programme at our new home-to-be: the beautiful Bore Place, in the North Kent Downs. The week is focused on bringing together a community of arts leaders who want to connect, converse and grapple with their knottiest topics. The week will be a mixture of sharing ideas and issues, getting sh*t done together and if you need it, giving you space to get sh*t done alone. 

Arts leaders are not often afforded the time and space for connection, reflection and action. Our unique approach will use Improbable’s acclaimed practice to enable you to step away from the day to day to zero in on the important work that never gets done. 

At the heart of our practice is improvisation; this binds together all of our work. Whether on stage, in someone else’s workplace or our own, the practice and philosophy of improvisation is at the core of our creative process. This process has led to award-winning productions like My Neighbour Totoro, Akhnaten, Lifegame and many more. It is also used in our work with business, charities, councils and across the cultural sector to hold space for people to have the time they need to make positive change. 

By 'improvisation' we mean any emergent or iterative process that seeks to bring awareness to each unfolding moment and an understanding that positive change comes not from one person, group, or ideology but will grow from the symbiotic interactions between us.  

This flows through to how we view leadership, not as a top-down dictation but a ground up, empowering, collaborative process that welcomes the unknown and embraces change rather than shutting it/people/spirits down to meet the mission statement.   

This inaugural Winter Residency is for everyone who considers themselves a leader – anyone who has an idea, a spark, a need to do or to dream. 

Join us for the week and become part of a transformative journey that will shape the future of the arts sector, one inspired leader at a time. 

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN. To apply, please complete the application form here by Monday 21st October 2024.

 

Other Improbable Workshops

Chrysalis retreat

20-24 January 2025

A space to rest and transform. Supported by Varshini Pichemuthu and SL Grange, this nurturing space is a cocoon for your own ideas and projects.  

Feedback from previous Improbable residencies:

“Overall, my week spent with all these amazing people in the most beautiful setting was most certainly 10/10 and with the opportunity to return, I'd be there in a heartbeat.” – Summer Workshops participant 2024 

“There were a lot of invitations for reflection, and a lot of the time this reflection had the potential to become rather deep, maybe leading to a door you’d missed in your mind because you’d been too busy walking up and down the mental corridor to notice it. Patience gently started entering my body and a space to express myself the way I express myself, which in other spaces is a hell of a lot harder to do. The learning from the week has continued on after.” - Summer Workshops 2024 participant 

  • Monday 2 – Friday 6 December 2024

    The week will run from Monday lunchtime – Friday lunchtime with time to travel to and from. Further details on the schedule will be shared as applications open.  

  • The Arts Leaders Winter Residency is residential at Bore Place. We will stay in the Old Stables and sessions will take place in the Large Barn and across the site.  

    All food is provided in partnership with Bore Place and communal cooking and eating will be part of our time together. All dietary requirements can be catered for.  

    Transport will be provided from Sevenoaks station at the start and end of the week or you are free to make your own way to us, there is free parking onsite.  

    Address: Bore Place Road, Chiddingstone, Edenbridge TN8 7AR

  • We will use Open Space Technology to guide our week and together will make our timetable. This will be a mix of provocations, collaborative and solo working sessions. You will be able to move in and out of these at your choosing, it will be flexible. The week will include;  

    • Up to twelve sessions across the five days led by Improbable’s Executive Director Ellie Claughton and Executive producer, Kathryn Bilyard along with other members of the team.  

    • 4 nights’ accommodation at Bore Place. There will be options for single or shared rooms with different price points. You will be able to make preferences for this as you apply. Bathrooms are shared.    

    • All meals and refreshments throughout the week are catered for. You will also have access to the kitchen if you wish to use it too. Communal cooking and eating will be part of our time together.  

    • Transport to/from Sevenoaks station on arrival and departure days.

    We will be running an online information session on the week commencing 1st October 2024. To sign up for the session, please click here.

  • £1495+VAT for a single room  

    £995+VAT for a shared room  

  • Full information on the accessibility of the site at Bore Place can be found on the Bore Place websitehere.

    There will be a section on the application form for you to let us know what you need to work best. If you would like to discuss your access requirements, or have any questions about the site or the week before you apply then please get in touch with us on kathryn@improbable.co.uk.  

  • Applications are open!

    APPLY HERE

    There is ashort application formto complete and we may also invite you to have a follow up conversation with us. On application you will be able to tell us about your access requirements and also give preferences for accommodation options.   

    A PDF version of the application questions is available to download here.

    Applications will close on Monday 21st October 2024.