Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Deadline: February 5, 2026
The Chevening Clore Leadership Fellowship 2027 is a prestigious, fully funded leadership development programme designed for mid-career professionals working in the cultural, creative, and public sectors. Delivered through a partnership between the UK Government’s Chevening programme and Clore Leadership, the fellowship offers a unique opportunity to strengthen leadership capacity, influence policy, and drive systemic change within cultural and creative ecosystems globally.
The fellowship combines academic study, leadership training, work placements, mentoring, and international networking in the United Kingdom. It is aimed at professionals who already hold leadership roles or demonstrate strong leadership potential and who are committed to contributing to the development of their home countries upon completion of the programme.
Benefits
The Chevening Clore Leadership Fellowship is fully funded and offers an extensive benefits package, including:
- Full coverage of tuition and programme fees
- Monthly living allowance to cover accommodation and living expenses in the UK
- Return airfare to and from the United Kingdom
- Costs for leadership training, workshops, and placements
- Access to senior mentors and industry leaders
- Participation in the global Chevening alumni network
- Professional development support and leadership coaching
Fellows also benefit from exposure to UK cultural institutions, policymaking frameworks, and international best practices in leadership.
SEE ALSO: South African Fulbright Foreign Student Program 2027/2028 for South African Graduates (Fully Funded to the United States)
Programme Details
The Clore Fellowship takes place between September 2026 and May 2027 and includes:
- Two 5 – 10 day residential courses and 3 days of workshops, including travel, accommodation, meals, and refreshments. You’ll learn about yourself, your leadership, and explore the skills and strategies of leadership. You’ll work with facilitators, Clore Leadership staff, associates, and speakers. You’ll hear from a range of guest leaders about their leadership journeys.
- Fellows’ Assembly – connecting with leaders in the UK and internationally around global leadership issues.
- A 360° leadership profile – to explore what that means for you and your leadership.
- A secondment – usually 6 to 8 weeks in a UK-based cultural organisation, in a field different from your own, to stretch your leadership learning.
- Up to £4,000 development budget – to spend on your learning and associated costs (e.g. conferences, courses, study visits or books).
- £14,000 bursary – financial support for time away from work during the Fellowship, paid to you or your employer (as appropriate). For UK Fellows only.
- Mentor or coach support – a package of individual support as you journey through your learning
- A provocation piece – you will produce a piece of research on a leadership topic of your choice
- A collaborative enquiry project – alongside members of your cohort you will explore contemporary leadership learning questions, and present your findings at the second residential.
- Access budget provision for D/deaf or disabled and neurodivergent Fellows, or for those with caring responsibilities.
Funding
The Fellowship Programme is generously supported by a range of funding partners. The cost of all Fellowships, with the exception of self or employer-funded Fellowships, is fully funded.
Included in your funded Fellowship:
- The cost of two residential programmes, including tuition and all course materials.
- Travel to and fro,m plus accommodation, meals and refreshments for the duration of the residential courses.
- Travel to and from, plus accommodation and associated content costs for skills-based workshops.
- Support from a mentor or coach.
- Development budget of up to £4,000 towards the costs of your individual development programme. This is available to all Fellows (including employer-supported Fellowships)
- An access budget supporting the needs of D/deaf, disabled or neurodivergent Fellows or those with caring responsibilities
- Central support from the Clore Leadership team
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants to the Fellowship need to be able to demonstrate the following:
- Have been working in a leadership or change-making role in arts and culture for a minimum of 7 years. The only exception to this is our Excellerate Fellowships for early-career leaders, which require 5 years’ experience. You will be asked in the application to provide a CV that demonstrates you meet the required level of experience.
- Demonstrate that you have an ambition to lead and are making a significant impact through your work/practice.
- Demonstrate a deep commitment, passion, and understanding of the cultural sector and its broader context
- Demonstrate an understanding of your leadership potential.
- Demonstrate curiosity, self-reflection, self-awareness and openness to learning about yourself and others.
- Be in a position to influence practice and/or policy and effect change in your organisation, sector and beyond, as an artist or cultural professional.
- Specialist Fellowships may have additional eligibility criteria. You will be asked how you meet these criteria within the application.
- Be open to sharing your learning with others.
Application Process and Documents Required
Applications are submitted through the official Chevening application portal. Required documents typically include:
- Completed online application form
- Personal statement and leadership essays
- Detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Two professional references
- Proof of academic qualifications
- Evidence of English language proficiency (if required)
Shortlisted candidates are invited for interviews conducted by Chevening panels.
