Development Lab

Sea Change Development Lab 2022

21-23 September Isle of Tiree

I have come away feeling like I have a whole new support network which is precious in a precarious and financially stretched industry. I have been inspired by so many individuals here, too many to detail, but each brought something unique’ (Feedback from a previous participant)  

Sea Change is a professional development lab celebrating and supporting women in film, taking place on the beautiful and remote Isle of Tiree from Wednesday 21 – Friday 23 September 2022. 

Get in touch to find out more by emailing info@screenargyll.co.uk or by filling out an expression of interest form by the 15th of July 2022: https://forms.gle/Aimbb4yjcMkmTE7A6 

Screen Argyll will bring together experienced practitioners and respected  industry experts to inspire participants to explore new ways of working, promote discussion and facilitate learning around the challenges and barriers facing women in the UK screen industries. 

The lab enables attendees from across the UK to share their experiences, make connections, and have space to reflect personally and professionally with daily coaching, wrap-around outdoor activities and industry speaker-led sessions. 

The location and setting will bring fresh air and insight to the participants’ immediate and distant horizons. Sea Change allows us to make new connections and build a stronger network with women working in the screen industries here in the UK and further afield with several other film festivals including, for 2022, the Midnight Sun Film Festival and The Finnish Institute. 

Sessions will help participants explore new ideas and solutions to developing new audiences for film, gain new programming ideas and insights from industry leaders as to how we can enable positive change within our industry and our own working environments to create welcoming, inclusive and accessible spaces.  

You will be supported by some amazing female mentors over the three days, all of whom have attended previous Sea Change Development Labs and have many years experience in film exhibition and include Rachel Hayward (HOME in Manchester), Sally Griffith (formerly of Chapter Arts, Cardiff) and Holly Tarquini (Film Bath and F Rated).

Themes this year include:

  • How Can We Best Lead and Work By Our Own Values
  • Inclusion
  • Building A Stronger Community
  • Curating from the Archives

Confirmed speakers include: 

Sessions will be based at An Talla, the island’s community centre just over the road from one of the island’s many  beautiful white beaches enabling us to include wrap around beach walk sessions, wild swimming and pilates on the beach led by local instructor, Bella, the animator who designed Jessica Rabbit! 

The Sea Change Development Lab will run from 21-23 September (inclusive). The fee for 2022 is £350 per person and includes one weeks shared accommodation (from Tuesday 20 – Monday 26 September), development lab fees and catering from Wednesday evening to Friday evening.

Daily outdoor swimming sessions will be provided by Tiree Polar Bears and pilates sessions by Bella Bremner. The shared accommodation allows participants to stay on Tiree for our public film festival and to explore the island. 

Development Lab participants can buy a festival pass at the discounted rate of £35 for the full weekend.

Here’s a taste of the development lab from 2018

Feedback on Sea Change Development Lab from previous participants:

‘I thought there were some great women in the industry already, now I know a whole new raft of people who are shaping the sector: this is inspiring.’

‘The passion and openness of the organisers helped set the tone which meant the group embraces the process so quickly. The location was also incredible, it helped the lab feel almost magical which helped create a very special experience.’

‘I was surprised at how quickly I went from being terrified of coming, to making a huge decision to share something I keep hidden. I learnt that opening yourself up and showing vulnerability can be an empowering and shared experience.’

‘I have come away feeling like I have a whole new support network which is precious in a precarious and financially stretched industry. I have been inspired by so many individuals here, too many to detail, but each brought something unique.’

‘I feel like I have been dropped momentarily into a utopia of supportive, strong, caring, and talented women and it was an honour to learn from their collective experiences. I would love this group to continue a relationship and have a date in the future to reconnect. Thank you, Jen, for creating this, you are the beating heart that fuels it.’ 

‘It’s so difficult to articulate why and how Sea Change has been such an inspiration, useful and essential. It’s a combination of: the women here have fed my mind, Tiree had fed my soul and Lizzie and the team have nourished my body. I had no idea how much I needed these days, I feel reinvigorated, I have fallen in love with my job and feel incredibly lucky.’