The Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF) is excited to collaborate with Creative Australia to strengthen leadership capability across the creative sector, starting with the sponsorship of emerging artists and arts workers to join the TRAIL Emerging Leaders Program in 2027.
Through this collaboration, eight creatives will join the TRAIL program, learning alongside leaders from a range of sectors, strengthening their influence, resilience and capacity to shape meaningful community outcomes, particularly in rural, regional and remote settings.
“At Creative Australia, we are building a leadership development model that is equitable, accessible and future oriented. We’re thrilled to be providing scholarship places in the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation’s TRAIL Emerging Leaders Program to support a new generation of thinkers and leaders to drive change, collaboration and capability across the cultural and creative sector,” said Creative Australia Director Capability Development, Adam McGowan.
As part of a broader leadership initiative Creative Australia is changing the way it supports leadership capability development in the arts. With a new $1 million investment it is working with sector experts to build leadership capability that advances shared priorities and responds to contemporary challenges shaping our future. This investment will help strengthen the skills, networks and confidence creatives need to thrive within a rapidly shifting cultural, social and economic landscape.
“Artists and creative practitioners have a remarkable ability to connect people, challenge perspectives and spark new ways of thinking – all qualities that strong leadership depends on,” notes ARLF Chief Executive Matt Linnegar. “Their creativity and insight play an important role in helping rural, regional and remote communities to tell their stories and help to imagine different futures – making them powerful changemakers.”
Together, ARLF and Creative Australia are working to ensure artists and creative workers are equipped with the skills, networks and confidence needed to lead through uncertainty and create meaningful change in rural, regional and remote communities.
