Space for Exchange

Free, eight-month peer-learning programme for cultural sector professionals working with children & young people.

Space for Exchange is a unique CPD offer, in which peers will be paired up over an eight-month process, with the goal of strengthening cultural education leadership through connection and reflection; why the individuals do what they do. Participants will explore why they/their peers do what they do; what is 'good work', and who benefits from it - with the overall aim of developing insight and practice. 

“Peer exchange of this kind - intentional pairings, minimal prescription, space for genuine conversation - delivers value that traditional training and networking events often do not. Participants reported deeper thinking, fresh perspectives, and lasting connections.” - John Riches (top takeaways from a peer learning programme)

We recognise the challenge for leaders to carve out a space to network and flexible opportunities to gain first-hand experience of different leadership cultures and creative practices. Space for Exchange gives participants permission to create this space and time, to learn, to reflect on our work, and share best practice with peers.

  • This programme is for you if:
    • You run a creative learning department or work creatively with young people
    • You are interested in learning from interdisciplinary practice
    • You want to connect to peers across arts, culture and youth sectors
    • You need space and time to reflect on your work and processes
    • You want inspiration from others doing similar work
  • Who leads the programme?

    Sheryl is a Theatre Practitioner, who has over twenty years’ experience as a facilitator, director, devisor, Theatre-In-Education actor and project producer.

    Sheryl enjoyed her role as Participation Manager and Youth Director after graduating Royal Central School of Speech and Drama

    Sheryl has devised programmes for the Young Vic, A New Direction and Chichester Festival Theatre.

    Her work centres around creating joy whilst learning and working with stakeholders in the creative industries.

    Sheryl believes that the exploration of drama encourages creativity, empathy and curiosity.

  • Programme Structure
    • Introductory, in-person session on Wednesday 15 July 2026
    • 4 x Exchanges – 2 hosted by each peer partner
    • Online mid-way check in on Tuesday-Wednesday 10 to 11 November 2026
    • Creative encounter (with peer partner)
    • Final, in-person session on Wednesday 24 February 2027
  • The pilot programme (25-26)

    A small-scale pilot of the programme ran in 2025-2026 and was initially developed out of our Space for Change programme which ran for four years. We noticed that after each iteration, all cohorts voiced the importance of sharing, learning and reflecting with peers. You can read more about the discoveries from that pilot here.

    Download John Riches Essay: Insights from the First Space for Exchange

    “The model worked because it trusted participants to know what they needed. It provided structure without prescription, and peer relationships without hierarchy. The learning was not delivered from above but generated between people doing similar work in different contexts.”
  • Organisations which took part in the 2025 pilot:
    • Barbican 
    • Coin Street  
    • Eastside Educational Trust 
    • Fairbeats Music 
    • Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts 
    • Rosetta Arts 
    • The British Museum 
    • WEST Youth Zone 
  • What previous participants have shared:
    “I feel that I bring new perspective to the work - thinking about how I might use other techniques and ethos that I learned from my peers. Taking the time to evaluate my own practice so that I can improve and expand!” 
    “Well, it does what it says on the tin. You really are given the space to exchange - with your exchange partner, with a group of cultural education leaders, and with yourself. It's supportive, reflective and gives you the space to decide how, what, when and where you want to share and reflect with your partner.” 
    “Informative, inspirational, expanding your network more meaningfully, learning about other peoples work and organisations, warm, welcoming, everyone open to learning, supportive.” 
    “It facilitated a real breadth of conversation. By not focusing on a specific theme or project, it allowed thoughts on more topics to be exchanged. It felt more self-reflective as a process - less outcome focused and more about the experience of the exchange, and the perhaps slower benefits of that.”  
    “It sowed lots of seeds of thought that didn't need to be turned into a public presentation but that I know will be quietly growing over the coming months”

The application deadline to express interest for this year's programme is now closed. For updates on the programme, check out our blog and sign up to our newsletter.