Artistic Directors of the Future Up Next

The revolutionary up next leadership initiative

The revolutionary Up Next leadership initiative

Artistic Director’s of the Future catapult six extraordinary ADF members, from a wide range of culturally diverse backgrounds, into positions of leadership to create tomorrow’s arts and culture landscape.

“This no hand-holding initiative presents a one of a kind opportunity for ADF members to take the keys, take the budgets, take the space and change the game.”

Artistic Directors of the Future (ADF) launched their revolutionary leadership programme Up Next, in partnership with Battersea Arts Centre and Bush Theatre, supported by Arts Council England Sustained Theatre Fund.

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Up Next Success Stories

We are proud to announce that our ADF Up Next Artistic Directors, Tarek Iskander has been appointed Artistic Director of Battersea Arts Centre, read the the article in the Guardian Newspaper or Guardian Newspaper article. 

Find out more about Tarek and all our artistic directors here:

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The Takeover Season

Homegrown Festival: Occupy
18 Mar 2019 – 12 Apr 2019
Battersea Art Centre

An invitation for young artists, collectives, entrepreneurs, activists and local communities to occupy BAC over the period that the UK may exit the EU.

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Babylon Beyond Borders
15 Feb 2019 – 16 Feb 2019
Bush Theatre

Four extraordinary theatres around the world, each deeply rooted in their own community, explore their relationship to home, language and migration

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Babylon Festival
4 Feb 2019 – 16 Feb 2019
Bush Theatre

A two-week festival celebrating the contemporary local and global influences and experiences of Black and Brown people.

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Superblackman
16 Nov 2018 – 1 Dec 2018
Battersea Art Centre

Al has a secret. He can fly. To break the news to his family and friends, he’s made a graphic novel and is going to turn it into a blockbuster movie.

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  • Up Next is revolutionary in its thinking and execution. Unlike, the conventional observerships or trainee programmes for resident associate directors, our Up Next programme presents a new pathway to leadership by placing our ADF members up front and centre to lead the existing teams at reputable theatres and implement their vision
    Simeilia Hodge-Dallaway
    Founder & CEO, Artistic Directors of the Future
  • From conversations over dinner tables, in coffee shops and a steady stream of meetings across the city, I am so thrilled that we are finally here and launching UP NEXT. It has been a joy working with Simeilia and David in designing this hands on and uncompromising leadership programme that has been created to nurture the next generation of Artistic Directors.
    Madani Younis
    Artistic Director at Bush Theatre
  • The opportunity to work with Artistic Directors of the Future (ADF) and the Bush Theatre on Up Next is a privilege. Both organisations are making a big difference to the wider sector. We have lots to learn from Simeilia’s and Madani’s inspired leadership. In Battersea, Lekan, Tarek and Saad are exciting everyone they meet and it is brilliant to experience the impact of their work: before, during and after their takeover season of work.
    David Jubb
    Artistic Director at Battersea Arts Centre

Get Involved

Get in touch with us today to see how you can hand over the keys and power of your organisation to support and nurture the next generation of artistic leaders.

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