22 May 26

Podcast: Listening Works | Rehearsing Governance

Listening Works | Rehearsing Governance is a three-episode podcast exploring listening as an institutional practice. Developed through Stella Sideli’s Research Curator residency at FACT Liverpool (2024-2025), the series documents a set of live, artist-led interventions that reimagined how boards and organisations meet, speak and make decisions. It blends sound, conversation and reflection, offering an intimate look at governance as a shared, embodied and creative process. It is for artists, cultural workers, researchers, trustees and anyone interested in equity, participation and new models of institutional change.

Stella’s residency is generously supported by the John Ellerman Foundation. At FACT, we believe curatorial knowledge is crucial for understanding the significance and potential of artistic practice and making it accessible to a wide audience. Now in its third year, our resident curators—each at a different stage in their careers—have become invaluable contributors. They lead research initiatives and help enrich FACT's cultural landscape.

Ep 1: Listening Works | Rehearsing Governance (Problem)

What happens when artists enter the boardroom?

Three interventions unsettle governance, revealing how listening is shaped by rhythm, space and attention.

Ep 2: Listening Works | Rehearsing Governance (Practice)

What happens when listening becomes a shared public encounter?

A live event explores listening as a collective, embodied practice.

Ep 3: Listening Works | Rehearsing Governance (Method)

What begins to shift when listening becomes a condition of how institutions operate?

This episode introduces SCORE, a framework for rethinking listening across governance, staff culture and public practice.

Thank you for making this possible: FACT Liverpool staff and trustees, Olivia Graham, Vivienne Griffin, Lola de la Mata, Adi Lerer, Xiaowen Zhu, Laura Cugusi, Rob Taliesin Owen, Valerio Mirone.

The residency was made possible through funding from the John Ellerman Foundation, which has supported FACT’s multi-year curatorial development programme for curators at different stages of their careers. FACT is funded by Arts Council England, Liverpool City Council and Culture Liverpool.