Two women including a Bridport resident have been selected for a pioneering arts leadership programme and will be joining a Dorchester-based organisation as part of their training.

Women Leaders South West (WLSW), which aims to address the gender imbalance in the arts and cultural sector, has chosen 16 'associates' from more than 350 applications for a training opportunity at eight arts organisations in the south west.

One of these is Dorset's Activate Performing Arts which will host two women over the next 18 months, supported by social entrepreneurship and business training from Southampton Business School and mentoring from Jude Kelly and The WOW (Women of the World) Foundation. The programme is funded by the Arts Council’s Transforming Leadership scheme.

The two associates who will be training with Activate are Natasha Nixon and Ruth Pitter.

Natasha is an international theatre director and practitioner based in Bridport. Her previous projects include an experimental dance theatre show, a queer adaptation of Macbeth, circus, new writing and mask projects, as well as a broad range of outreach work. Her experience in the theatre industry includes work as a staff director at the National Theatre and as an associate for the National Youth Theatre.

Natasha said: "The programme offers the vital infrastructure needed to allow artists like myself to expand their practise and make long lasting connections with other leading women in the community. It has given me the courage and belief to finally make a step change and transfer my current leadership skills into new and exciting territories.”

Ruth is based in Bristol and co-founder of Black Women Let Loose Theatre Company, Breathing Fire Black Women's Playback Theatre Company, and ‘Our Stories Make Waves’ collective for artists of African Diaspora heritage. She has performed, written, produced, taught and directed productions locally, nationally and internationally.

Ruth said: “I'm delighted to be selected as an associate to spur on and expand my leadership skills. This training is essential for supporting and shining a light on women like myself, enabling us to demonstrate we can soar higher particularly when we are believed in, and invested in.”

Kate Wood, Executive and Artistic Director at Activate Performing Arts, said: “We are delighted to have Ruth and Natasha join our team as part of their training. We will learn lots from these inspiring and dynamic women and will support them in developing their leadership skills over the coming months and beyond.”