Activators are a group of 60 artists who have chosen to develop their artistic practices at CDS, and form a core leadership group in the community.
The group is made up of artists who identify as Global Majority Heritage, and/or Disabled/ Neurodivergent - voices who have previously been excluded from decision-making in the sector.
These artists feed in at Activator Gatherings, where they build our community and engage in collective decision making to shape CDS’ programmes.
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Read the 2025 Activator welcome email here
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There is no concrete commitment. By joining as an Activator, you are choosing to engage regularly with CDS’ activity for a period of up to two years - whatever that means for you. We hope that you’ll come to some Activator Gatherings, and take part in other activities in the building when you can. It might take time to figure out how to get stuck in, and that is ok!
To say thank you for your input, we reserve our most precious and scarce resources like residencies and support schemes for Activators. You can read more about what CDS can and can’t offer in the Resources section.
These events combine social time, shared food, and collective decision-making. They are a way to get to know fellow artists and build community. These take place in person at CDS every 2-3 months, typically on Weds or Thurs evenings from 7pm. Check the home page for the next event!
Staff are here to listen to where you think we should put our time, energy and resources. We decide together what support you need, and then staff will go away and fundraise to make your ideas happen.
We recognise that you are doing labour by inputting in this way. The whole community and the organisation benefit from it. We do not have the ability to pay you for your time, so as a thank you we always provide food and make them fun!
At 4 points during the year we host events bringing together Activators and Collaborators. Read more here.