ACMI’s CEO Digital Mentoring Program partners senior leaders of arts and cultural organisations with sector-recognised technology experts to develop their digital mindsets. By supporting senior leaders, the program aims to improve the internal capabilities of cultural organisations to undergo digital transformation.

The program responds to the cultural sector’s well-documented diversity in digital capabilities. While there have been numerous programs generated in response to this unevenness—especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic—these initiatives have typically focussed on bottom-up approaches. Interventions have sought to upskill existing and future staff, with little attention paid to the needs of those in the highest positions. By targeting cultural leaders, the CEO Digital Mentoring Program offers a response to this gap.

Developed and initiated by ACMI in 2021 after a conversation between ACMI’s Seb Chan and then-Ian Potter Foundation’s Subhadra Mistry, the first round of the program was funded by the Ian Potter Foundation and delivered in conjunction with the Australia Council for the Arts’ national Cultural Digital Program. In 2022, an expanded second round was funded by the Ian Potter Foundation and the Australia Council. Across both rounds, the program has mentored 26 leaders of 22 organisations.

Drawing on findings from the qualitative and quantitative research evaluation conducted alongside the program, this report evidences program need, outcomes and challenges.