Join Culture Central to support colleagues working across the cultural sector in the West Midlands to ensure that we have a dynamic, resilient, equitable and inclusive sector.

In October 2023, we relaunched our successful mentoring programme, developed initially as part of the ‘Culture Response Unit’ and began recruiting mentors for the relaunch interested in taking an active role in supporting the cultural sector to connect, learn and grow. We have refined our offer, training and support for mentors and mentees. Grow, is our updated regional mentoring scheme that works across art forms, skills and experience levels.

In a sector that often relies on ‘who’ you know, rather than ‘what’ you know, Grow connects those working in the cultural sector across the West Midlands with expert knowledge and skills to support the development of the whole ecology of culture for the benefit of the people and places of the West Midlands. 

Whether you are an artist, creative, curator, arts administrator or cultural entrepreneur, this rolling programme offers a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and grow with the guidance of cultural and corporate sector leaders and experts.

Why become a mentor as part of Grow?

  • To make a meaningful impact - by sharing your expertise, knowledge and experience you can help mentees navigate challenges and unlock their full potential.

  • To foster professional growth, mentors often find that the experience enhances their leadership and communication skills, expands their networks, and keeps them engaged with fresh perspectives.

  • To make the sector a more equitable place; mentors play a pivotal role in fostering inclusivity, offering guidance and contributing to a more diverse creative community.

  • Build lasting connections that can extend beyond the mentoring relationship and lead to collaborations, partnerships, and friendships.

  • Actively shape the future of the cultural sector; a mentor’s guidance can influence trends, innovations, and the overall direction of the sector.

  • A flexible commitment to support the sector, your mentoring offer could take various formats such as one-on-one meetings, group discussions, workshops, or online interactions

  • Recognition and exposure, as Culture Central develops Grow, we want to profile and acknowledge the valuable contributions that our mentors make; including features on our website, newsletters, and social media; as well as being included in CVs as a skill.

  • Join a community of mentors - Mentors will become part of a community of like-minded individuals who are passionate about nurturing the next generation of cultural leaders, supported and developed by Culture Central.

  • For personal fulfilment, many mentors get a sense of personal satisfaction and reward that comes from witnessing mentees' growth and achievements, knowing they played a crucial role in those successes.

Get involved

To join our community of mentors, fill out the form linked here.

Why become a mentee as part of Grow?

Unlock Your Potential  

  • Unlock growth opportunities and advance your career with personalised guidance from experienced mentors from the cultural and corporate sectors.

  • Get one-on-one support tailored to your goals. 

  • Build lasting relationships and expand your network while gaining invaluable insights. 

Navigate Your Career Confidently 

  • Receive guidance in making informed career decisions. 

  • Overcome challenges with the support of experienced mentors. 

Skills Boost, Knowledge Transfer 

  • Enhance your skills and knowledge through hands-on mentorship. 

  • Learn from real-world experiences to stay ahead in your field. 

Connect and Thrive 

  • Build lasting relationships and expand your network while gaining invaluable insights. 

  • Join a community of like-minded individuals. 

  • Collaborate, share experiences, and grow together in a supportive environment. 

Continuous Learning, Continuous Success 

  • Enjoy a continuous learning journey beyond a one-time experience. 

  • Your feedback shapes the program, ensuring it evolves to meet your needs. 

Flexibility and Accessibility 

  • Grow is a rolling programme, that allows for sufficient time and flexibility for mentees to build trust and benefit from the mentorship experience. Our mentors all offer their time voluntarily and are made up of experts and leaders from across the cultural sector in the West Midlands. 
    We expect there to be a minimum of 6 sessions over the programme duration with each session lasting for approximately 1.5 hours to include time for feedback from both mentor and mentee. These can be carried out in person or online, to suit any accessibility requirements.
    Before the mentoring process begins, Culture Central sets up an online ‘check-in’ meeting where the mentor and mentee can meet without obligation to ensure they will be able to support each other. 

Get involved

To join our community of mentees, please fill out the form linked here.

This work is funded as part of our Arts Council England IPSO work.

This project is ongoing. We look forward to sharing the outcomes and reflections as the cohorts progress.