Anti-racist, inclusive and decolonial practice for arts, heritage and cultural organisations
Practical systems for leadership, governance and day-to-day decision making
This site is for organisations working to turn commitments into everyday practice.
Most organisations don't struggle with intent. They struggle with implementation. Commitments are made. Training happens. Then daily pressures take over. In-boxes fill up. Priorities compete. Capacity is limited. Progress becomes uneven.
The question I hear most often is: how do we make this work in the real day-to-day of our organisation? Where do we start? Who leads? How do we prioritise? What does 'good' look like in practice?
The Take the Space Implementation System gives you a structured route from principle to practice.
It brings into one place: frameworks, tools, training and practical support - built from 30-years of work in cultural organisations.
1. Frameworks
Structured organisational routes with three entry points - Foundation, Embedded and Integrated - for organisations at different stages of anti-racist, inclusive and decolonial practice.
Used to set direction, clarify priorities and establish accountability.
Explore the 3 Frameworks2. Training
Practical training for boards, leaders and teams, tailored to how different departments actually work.
Covers EDI foundations, anti-racist practice, cultural resilience and safeguarding, visitor experience and incident response.
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View Training3. Resources Library
An ever-growing library of practical tools, templates and guidance resources for cultural organisations.
Designed to support follow-through, consistency and organisational memory beyond individual roles.
Browse Resources (coming soon)
4. Consultation & Coaching
Structred support when deeper alignment is needed across governance, leadership and delivery.
Includes bespoke multi-year partnerships, facilitation, governance support, working group, leadership development and1:1 coaching.
Jenny has led two amazing sessions for our team and is a fantastic trainer. She is passionate about Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and skilled at creating a safe space where sensitive issues can be explored. We really appreciated the permission she gave us to “get things wrong” in the sessions. Above all, despite the importance of the subjects we were discussing, the sessions were also lively and fun. I would thoroughly recommend training with Jenny.
South East Dance
Why this approach works
Organisations use the Implementation System in different ways.
Some begin with a Framework to establish direction, priorities and provide clarity. Others use training and coaching options to support leadership, managers and teams through specific challenges or periods of project development. Tools and resources then support follow-through, so progress does not depend on one or two individuals.
The Implementation System has been shaped from work in real organisations, where leaders need proportionate, practical routes rather than another plan or statement.
Ways you can use the Implementation System:
- If you are at early stages or operating project-by-project Start with the Foundational Framework.
- If you need a structured route for leadership and teams Choose either the Embedded or Integrated Frameworks
- If you hold colonial collections or are under external scrutiny Consider tailored consultancy alongside the Integrated Framework
- If your inclusion priorities are already agreed and you need accountability You can access resources and templates eg the Public Accountability Framework (Resources section) supported by an annual critical-friend review
- If you are working in publicly visible, sensitive or complex areas Use the Cultural Resilience and Safeguarding toolkit - a specialist framework for organisations managing pressure, challenge and public accountability. Opt for supported training for Front of House and public-facing teams.
- If you are recruiting for new staff or trustees download the inclusive recruitment and retention checklist.
One Place. One implementation system.
Need support building your System?
If you're not sure where to start, book a 20-mins clarity call to map practical next steps and identify the best route for your organisation.
Book a clarity callAbout the work
I have spent over 30-years working in and alongside arts and heritage organisations. Expectations on cultural organisations have shifted significantly - in language, accountability, audience relationships and the growing need to address decolonial practice alongside anti-racist and inclusive work.
From decades of senior leadership and advisory experience, I know this work cannot be sustained through isolated training, ad-hoc toolkits or individual effort.
It requires systems, structures, priorities and processes that hold practice in place over time, including under scrutiny.
This is why I have developed the Take the Space Implementation System - bringing together frameworks, training, tools, and support into a coherent structure for the sector.
More About Jenny
We want to share a big, Marly thank you to Jenny Williams of Take the Space as this week, the team at Marlborough Productions took part in Anti Racism Training.
We explored what anti racist practice is and how it requires us to identify where racism exists in systems, organisations, structures, policies in practices and attitudes, and the ways and areas in which we can effect change.
The day’s training allowed us to reflect deeply, leading to a range of insightful discussions and a space to consider how we can further implement best practice across our projects, audiences, at board level and in collaboration with partners moving forward. The training highlighted current challenges working within the arts and cultural sector, and empowered the team to build anti-racist practice into all areas of our work.
Marlborough Productions
