Who can apply: a-n Artist members, Joint (Artist and Arts Organiser), Arts Organiser members.
What: 3 x 1 hour fully subsidised coaching sessions with an accredited coach.
When: Coaching sessions will start in November 2019 and take place over 3-6 months. When each session takes place is for you and your mentor/coach to decide.
Deadline for applications: 12 noon, Thursday 12 September 2019.
Overview
The a-n Coaching programme is a strand of professional development support for a-n members. Since 2016, a-n has trained 20 Artist and Arts Organiser members as accredited coaches through our Visual Arts Coaching Course in partnership with RD1st. We are now working with these coaches to offer the benefits of coaching to the wider a-n membership.
Coaching sessions are offered remotely, with contact by either phone or video calling software, making sessions flexible and accessible. Each of the 3 sessions will last 1 hour and will be undertaken over 3-6 months.
Alongside this coaching opportunity, a-n is also offering a one-year Mentoring programme. Mentoring and coaching are sometimes discussed as though they are interchangeable, but this isn’t the case. To help understand which might be the best fit for you, find out more about the benefits and differences between mentoring and coaching in a-n’s Resource guide Coaching or Mentoring: which is right for you?.
What is Coaching?
Coaching provides a safe, confidential, developmental space within which to explore specific issues (known or as they arise), aspirations and challenges. Coaching concentrates on where we are now and what we are willing to do to get where we want to be in the future. This process is supported by the coach’s interventions, support and application of the coaching process.
In each session, the participant identifies the focus of conversation, while the coach listens, reflects and questions. Coaches will not evaluate, judge, offer unsolicited advice or set targets for you. Your coach trusts that you are your own best resource. Coaching can help bring vital support to those seeking change, a shift in gear and renewed focus.
All a-n coaches work within the visual arts sector and are trained and accredited as Relational Dynamic Coaches through a-n’s Visual Arts Coaching Course. The coaches for our 2019 Bursaries are: Holly Davey, Anna Hart, Tessa Waite, Helene Roberts and Jo Clements.
Areas that you might want to explore through coaching are (but aren’t limited to):
- Develop leadership skills, define the leadership qualities that are crucial to your success
- Reignite your personal or organisational focus and culture
- Enhance performance and effectiveness
- Strengthen and build personal and professional relationships
- Improve communication, both interpersonal and professional
- Facilitate a career change
- Challenge and break repeat patterns in work or life
- Increase self-awareness, confidence and resilience
Coaching can provide a space to:
- Develop new perspectives through exploration, curiosity and a questioning of attitudes
- Identify areas for change and improvement
- Respond effectively to challenges
- Apply the insights and learning from one situation to another
- Reignite plans and vision
- Grow and strengthen confidence and resilience
- Increase motivation
- Provide space and support for effective decision making
While undertaking coaching can be valuable at any stage of your professional development, coaching may be better suited if you are further along in your career to support you in developing insight, strategies, and enhanced performance around specific tasks or behaviours. If you are able to identify specific needs you want to explore in depth, this is a good starting point for coaching. If you feel you are at the stage of needing knowledge and advice, then mentoring may be more appropriate.
Deadline for applicants: 12 noon, Thursday 12 September 2019.
How to apply
Applications are submitted via this form.
You must be logged in to access the form. Only current Artist, Joint (Artist and Arts Organiser) and Arts Organiser members can apply. The form is available until 12 noon, Thursday 12 September 2019.
You will be asked for the following:
1. Your contact details.
2. Provide a short artist statement about your practice (up to 150 words).
3. Why is taking part in this coaching programme critical to your artistic and professional development? (up to 150 words).
4. Why is now the right time for you to take part in this coaching programme? (up to 150 words).
5. What would you like to achieve through these coaching sessions?
6. Health or access needs. Please let us know if you have any health or access needs that you want a-n and the allocated mentor to be aware of. This information will be treated confidentially. a-n asks that you take full responsibility and care for your physical and mental well-being during the mentoring programme.
7. Upload of your current CV (in pdf format – max file size 5mb) and link to your website.
8. Equality and Diversity monitoring information (this information is separated, anonymised and does not form part of the selection process).
Further information
1. Who can apply?
Current a-n Artist, Joint (Artist and Arts Organiser) and Arts Organiser members.
Become an member here.
Alongside applying for the a-n Coaching programme, a-n members are also welcome to apply for the a-n Mentoring and Writer Development Programme opportunities currently available. However successful applicants will only be offered a place on one of these programmes.
2. What is the selection process?
Applicants will be reviewed against the following criteria:
Applicants will hear back if their submission has been successful or unsuccessful by 11 October 2019.
- The impact coaching will have on the applicant’s practice and continuing professional development.
- The need for support. Is this the right time for the applicant to benefit significantly from coaching?
- Does the applicant have clear goals for the coaching programme?
3. Why does a-n offer coaching?
a-n Coaching and Mentoring opportunities aim to:
- Support members’ practices and ongoing professional development.
- Enable members to self-determine and tailor professional development to their needs.
- Maintain and develop a more diverse, engaged and resilient professional membership.
4. What can’t be supported?
- Application from students on an undergraduate course.
- Applications from members without a current a-n membership.
- Applications from members who have already accepted an a-n Artist Bursary 2019.
- Any incomplete applications or applications received after the deadline of Thursday 12 September 2019, 12 noon.
5. Conditions and notes:
- In submitting an application, you confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria (See FAQ ‘Who can apply’) and are not excluded by any of the exclusions (See FAQ ‘What Can’t Be Supported?’).
- Unfortunately, a-n can’t respond to requests for advice in shaping applications.
- We advise not leaving the sending of your application to the last day.
- The decision to award or not is at the discretion of a-n The Artists Information Company.
- Accepting an offer of mentoring comes with the obligation to commit to three x 1 hour sessions during the programme. a-n will share guidance for coaches and coachees to all successful applicants to clarify expectations and boundaries for the sessions.
- Successful applicants will be asked to complete a short survey prior to the sessions beginning to set a baseline for evaluation.
- By accepting a bursary offer you commit to taking part in evaluation of the bursary programme and providing feedback following activity completion.
- Members will only be able to accept one a-n member opportunity each in 2019.
- All conversations between a-n members and coaches will be treated privately