Welcome to Spectra – a new programme from Neuk Collective.
Spectra is a paid year-long leadership and creative development programme for neurodivergent artists and creatives across Scotland.
Over 12 months, six creatives will come together for a mix of group learning and reflection, one-to-one mentoring, and a collaborative creative project exploring what leadership can look like when it grows from neurodivergent ways of thinking.
This page tells you everything you need to know about the programme, how it works, and how to apply. You can also access the Spectra Quick Guide, Easy Read guide, or video guide, download this text as a Word doc, or read the FAQs.
What: A paid leadership and creative development programme
Who: Neurodivergent creatives (18+) based in Scotland – no diagnosis required
Places: 6 participants (with 1 place reserved for a Person of Colour and 1 for a working-class creative)
When: March 2026 – February 2027. Sessions take place on Monday evenings.
Format: Monthly online sessions, mentoring, and a group creative project
Payment: £1,545 total + mentoring support
Apply by: Friday 6 February 2026
About Spectra
Spectra is a paid leadership and creative development programme for neurodivergent creatives. It offers space to explore what leadership means – personally, creatively, and collectively.
Through workshops, reflection, and peer support, participants build confidence, learn practical tools, and connect with others who share their experiences.
Spectra isn’t about traditional leadership. It centres neurodivergent ways of thinking – deep focus, creativity, and care – to help participants shape their own approach.
By the end, we hope to grow a small network of neurodivergent leaders who can advocate for access, justice, and neuroaffirmative practice in the arts, helping to shift the sector towards valuing neurodivergent people as leaders, collaborators, and decision-makers.
Spectra is open to neurodivergent creatives of any discipline who want to explore leadership in the arts.
You don’t need to have a formal leadership role already, or even a clear project idea. You might be leading a small collective, mentoring others, running community events, or simply feeling ready to take the next step in your creative practice.
We’ll also support participants who want to grow into leadership roles – whether that means starting new initiatives, taking on decision-making positions, or shaping work within existing organisations or groups – including Neuk Collective.
Spectra is for people who are curious about how change happens – and how we can lead it together, on our own terms.
Many neurodivergent people already lead – but not always in ways that are recognised.
Traditional leadership spaces often reward confidence, speed, and social ease, which can make them hard to access even when we have the skills and insight to lead well.
Spectra is our response to the exclusion of neurodivergent people from leadership spaces. It creates time to pause, reflect, and imagine leadership differently – valuing difference as a source of strength.
How it works
Spectra isn’t just about individuals – it builds a network. The connections, skills, and confidence developed here will help you take up space in the arts sector, influence access and inclusion, and support others to do the same.
Across nine online sessions, participants explore ideas and tools for neuroaffirmative leadership – from understanding values and access to managing energy, planning projects, and preventing burnout. Sessions build gradually, starting with trust and reflection before moving into practical skills and real-world application.
Each participant also receives one-to-one mentoring from an experienced neurodivergent creative or leader, plus a professional consultation tailored to their needs and interests.
Between sessions, the group stays in touch through a private WhatsApp or Discord space – whichever the group prefers – to share reflections, ideas, and mutual support in an informal way.
Towards the end of the programme, the group will co-create a small collaborative creative work that reflects their shared learning and values. The form this takes will be decided by the group.
Spectra is designed to be flexible, paced accessibly, and grounded in care. It gives time to reflect, learn, and connect while building confidence, skills, and peer support that continue long after the programme ends.
Practical details
Spectra is open to six neurodivergent creatives based in Scotland. You do not need a formal diagnosis – self identification is fine.
There are two reserved places for people from groups that are currently underrepresented in both neurodivergent spaces and leadership roles:
- One place is reserved for a Person of Colour
- One place is reserved for a working-class creative.
You don’t need to have a formal leadership role to apply – just an interest in exploring how leadership can look and feel when it works for neurodivergent people.
Group sessions run from April 2026 – February 2027, once a month on a Monday evening.
Session dates are:
Monday 6th April
Monday 4th May
Monday 8th June
Monday 6th July
Monday 3rd August
Monday 7th September
Monday 5th October
Monday 2nd November
(2 month break for creative project)
Monday 15th February 2027 (sharing session)
There will also be a couple of one-to-one evaluation sessions in March 2026 and March 2027.
All sessions take place online on Zoom. The programme includes:
- 9 group learning sessions (2 hours each, including breaks)
- 8 one-to-one mentoring sessions per participant
- A 1-hour professional consultation per participant
- A collaborative creative project shared publicly in February 2027
- Reflective and creative activities
If you are selected for Spectra, we ask you to commit to attending all sessions where possible. We know that illness and emergencies can happen, and we’ll always approach this with understanding and flexibility.
At the same time, the peer group is central to Spectra – the programme depends on trust, consistency, and shared presence. When someone misses a session, it affects the flow and connection of the whole group.
Please treat the programme as a paid work commitment and do your best to attend every session. If something unavoidable comes up, just let us know as soon as you can. We’ll work with you to find solutions, share materials, or adjust where needed so you can stay involved.
Spectra is about collective care as much as individual access – showing up for each other is part of what makes it work.
Participants receive:
- £100 per session (£900 total)
- £360 for their work on the group creative project (1 day equivalent)
- £135 for evaluation sessions (3 × £45 sessions at the start, midpoint, and end)
- £150 materials budget
- In-kind support including 8 hours of mentoring and a professional consultation up to the value of £100
Spectra is designed with access at its heart. We know that neurodivergent people have different communication styles, energy levels, and sensory needs – and that these can change from day to day. We aim to make the programme flexible, supportive, and responsive so everyone can take part fully.
At the same time, the group itself is part of the access structure. The peer network is central to Spectra – it relies on consistency, trust, and shared presence. We ask everyone to do their best to attend all sessions and to let us know as soon as possible if something unavoidable comes up.
We’ll work with you to make attending realistic – for example by adjusting schedules, providing extra breaks, or finding ways to catch up if you miss part of a session – but regular attendance is vital for the group to function well.
All sessions take place online over Zoom, with breaks built in. We share slides and notes in advance and record sessions (where everyone agrees) so you can revisit them later. Sessions are captioned with Otter.ai. Supporting materials are designed to support different learning styles – visual, written, and tactile.
We have an access budget to provide other access support as needed. If you have an access rider or specific communication preferences, we’ll work with you to make sure these are met.
We also want to make our programmes accessible to parents and carers – if you need help with care costs in order to take part, please let us know.
How to Apply
Applications are open to neurodivergent creatives based in Scotland.
You can apply through our written application form, or by using VideoAsk to record an audio or video application.
We’ve kept the process simple – we’re not looking for polished applications, just a sense of who you are, why you’re interested, and what you hope to explore.
If you need support to apply, please contact us at neuk@doorinthewall.co.uk
This is a traditional online application form. You can write your answers, or upload audio/video for some questions.
This is something new we are trying. With VideoAsk, you can do the whole application process in video or audio.
This is an Easy Read form. Fill in the PDF, and send it back by email.
Important Dates
Applications open – Monday 1st December 2025
Information sessions on Zoom – Wednesday 17th December (this will be recorded)
Spectra application deadline – Friday 6th February 2026
We will email you with the results by – Friday 13th February 2026
Shortlist
We will make a shortlist of around 10 people. If we put you on the shortlist, we will invite you to an informal chat, which will take place during the week of 23rd February 2026
We will let you know if you have been selected by Friday 6th March.
First group session – Monday 6th April
Finding more information
We will have an information session on Zoom:
Wednesday 17th December
7 – 8pm
Come along to hear more about the programme, and ask questions. This session will be recorded.
Sign up for the session here: Spectra Information Session
You are also welcome to contact us at neuk@doorinthewall.co.uk if you have any questions.