Are you a creative practitioner with leadership ambitions?
Do you want to help shape the future of the creative and cultural sector in the South of Scotland?
DG Unlimited invites applications from creatives who would like to be part of Leaders Unlimited: The Third Wave, a four-day, full funded, residential creative leadership programme for emerging leaders from across Dumfries and Galloway, the Scottish Borders and Ayrshire (North, South, and East).
What is Leaders Unlimited?
Leaders Unlimited is DG Unlimited’s flagship leadership development programme for the creative sector. Following two highly successful editions between 2019 and 2023, The Third Wave marks a new chapter – offering an immersive, rural-based, peer-led experience focused on confidence, creativity, collaboration and leadership in practice. Leaders Unlimited takes place in CAMPLE LINE Thornhill in Dumfries and Galloway.
Led by DG Unlimited, Leaders Unlimited: The Third Wave offers you the chance to:
- Take part in an intensive residential programme
- Develop your creative leadership skills with creative and cultural professionals
- Learn alongside a supportive cohort of peers
- Reflect on your leadership style and ambitions
- Build lasting networks across the South of Scotland
- Experience a special away day with the whole Leaders Unlimited team and members of the previous cohorts.
- Receive a Leaders Unlimited Award and be part of a celebration showcase at our annual Conference.
Who can apply?
We welcome applications from creative practitioners over 18 years who:
- Are working in or aspiring to leadership roles
- Are based in the South of Scotland
- Work across any artform or discipline
- Are committed to contributing to the creative sector
We encourage applications from those who face barriers to accessing professional development, including people from rural or isolated communities in the south of Scotland, individuals who experience social or economic exclusion, and those who identify as belonging to underrepresented communities or groups or with protected characteristics.
Access & Inclusion
DG Unlimited is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and to removing barriers to participation. We are always happy to discuss access needs and make reasonable adjustments to ensure this programme is fully inclusive and supportive for all participants.
The interviews and introductory sessions are conducted online to cut down on travel. We are happy to discuss access needs and make reasonable adjustments to ensure those invited to interview, or offered a place on the programme, are able to do so.
Leader Unlimited: The Third Wave – Key dates
6th March – Closing date for applications
10th March – Interviews, via zoom
12th March – Leaders Cohort Announced
24th March – Leaders Introductory, 3pm – 4pm via zoom
20th April – 22nd April based in CAMPLE LINE 10am – 4pm daily, with some evenings.
23rd April creative and cultural visit to Glasgow
What the programme includes
- B&B accommodation is available for participants who live more than 40 miles from Thornhill Dumfriesshire, or outside reasonable commuting distance.
- Refreshments, lunch and two special dinners are provided for all.
- A travel stipend is available on a case-by-case basis.
- Workshops and facilitated sessions and creative exercises based in CAMPLE LINE.
- Peer learning and collaborative group exchange.
- One creative away day to creative and cultural venues in Glasgow.
- Creative reflection for your personal leadership development portfolio.
- Upon completion, recognition through a Leaders Unlimited Award and participation in a Leaders Showcase at our Conference 26.
How to apply
- Send us your CV.
- Submit a short statement of up to a maximum 500 words outlining:
- why you want to take part in Leaders Unlimited: The Third Wave,
- what creative and cultural leadership means to you and your career and,
- how you hope to contribute to the creative & cultural sector in the south of Scotland.
We warmly encourage you to be as creative as you are! Give us a sense of you and your creative practice. You may submit your statement in written, audio or video format as long as it can be easily emailed to us as a digital attachment. We are unable to accept applicaiotns via WeTransfer.
Email your CV and personal creative statement to comms.dgu@gmail.com by 5pm on the 6th March 2026.