Authentic Leadership & Cultural Innovation with Tarek Iskander of Battersea Arts Centre

From growing up in the Middle East where theatre was banned to leading one of London's most innovative cultural spaces, Tarek Iskander's journey is a masterclass in transformative leadership. In this candid conversation, he reveals how his NHS background shapes his mission driven approach at Battersea Arts Centre, championing bold, experimental work while making art accessible through initiatives like "pay-what-you-can" ticketing. His insights on nurturing youth creativity, navigating institutional challenges, and reimagining the arts sector's future offer invaluable lessons for anyone interested in cultural leadership and social impact. KEY TAKEAWAYS Tarek had to radically shift his natural coaching leadership style during COVID-19. He took on more direct control to protect his team from difficult decisions, showing how crisis management can push leaders outside their comfort zones. Through Battersea Arts Centre youth programs, Tarek discovered that having staff who came from local communities mattered more than architectural changes or pricing strategies. His street teams of young people recruiting other young people proved more effective than traditional outreach. Having grown up where the theatre was banned, Tarek's conviction about art's vital role in society led him to transform BAC into a vaccine hub during lockdown while maintaining creative programming - demonstrating how arts venues can serve multiple community needs. Coming from outside the traditional theatre world, Tarek leveraged his outsider perspective to restructure BAC's financial model, generating 50% of income from private business while making performances accessible through pay-what-you-can ticketing. When faced with pressure to post black squares during Black Lives Matter, Tarek chose to commission Black artists to respond creatively instead of making performative gestures. This was a decision that initially received pushback but was later vindicated. Despite ticking only two of the ten criteria for the Arts Council job, Tarek spent a week preparing intensively for the interview, demonstrating his belief that hard work can overcome perceived qualification gaps. Rather than trying to do everything, Tarek made tough decisions to stop running BAC's museum and co-working space to focus on the core missions of supporting creativity in young people and artists. As someone who describes himself as "incredibly shy," Tarek had to overcome significant self-doubt to take on public-facing leadership roles, learning that internal demons often pose bigger challenges than external ones. BEST MOMENTS "Growing up in the Middle East where pretty much most of theatre or live performance was banned for most of my childhood... I had very little exposure to the arts." "I think we never think of our next gen or youth programs as an end to something else... If you believe that the world can be a better place, those new creative ideas are going to come from that next generation." "The biggest obstacles ahead of us are the ones we put up ourselves." "BAC is small enough to be naughty and not have to play by the rules necessarily, but maybe big enough that people often take notice when something happens." "I'm very allergic to things that feel performative or just words.” "Art and performance is so vital that keeping it going and supporting artists and audiences and young people to engage in those ways feels like really critical work." "Don't let the barriers up yourself. Let other people put them up for you." "Sometimes the demons within are probably much tougher than the demons without." EPISODE RESOURCES Instagram: @batterseaartscentre Facebook: @BatterseaArtsCentre bac.org.uk PODCAST HOST BIO With over 30 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. **** Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? 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