Emerging Leaders of Color (ELC) Professional Development Program

The Emerging Leaders of Color (ELC) Professional Development Program promotes representative leadership and equity in the arts by:

Building a cohort of cultural leaders of color in the southern United States who are committed to the advancement of the arts.
Engaging diverse emerging leaders in coursework and activities designed to strengthen competencies and prepare participants for leadership positions in the field.
Providing opportunities for promising arts professionals to establish networks that support their careers.
Advocating for the cultural interests of the communities participants represent and serve.
Deepening participants’ understanding of the arts in the United States and how public support sustains the vibrancy of the sector.  
Between 11 and 13 participants will be selected for this partnership program between South Arts and its colleague Regional Arts Organization WESTAF (Western States Arts Federation). This is a Southern pilot of the Emerging Leaders of Color (ELC) program for cultural workers and arts administrators located in seven states in the southern region. Building on the success of WESTAF’s ELC program which has been attracting, training, networking and promoting a new generation of diverse arts leaders since 2010, the South Arts program will serve to advance Southern vitality through the arts through leadership development.

Who is this program designed for?

Candidates will meet the following criteria:
- With some exceptions, be under the age of 35
- Have less than ten years of experience working in the arts
- Self-identify as a person of color
- Are employed as a cultural worker, arts/cultural programs administrator or be a significantly arts-interested community member such as a volunteer or a public official (the program is not designed to serve individual artists.)
- Have not had an opportunity to participate in high-quality professional development sessions
- Is a current resident of the following states in the South Arts region (Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee)

This inaugural convening will include between 11 and 13 participants, whose expenses are paid. At least one participant from each of these seven states will be selected.

What does the program offer?
Selected individuals will participate in a professional development and team-building workshop at no cost to themselves. The program is designed to:
Build a cohort of cultural leaders of color in the southeastern United States who are committed to the advancement of the arts.
Engage diverse emerging leaders in coursework and activities designed to strengthen competencies and prepare participants for leadership positions in the field.
Provide opportunities for promising arts professionals to establish networks that support their careers and the cultural interests of the communities they represent and serve.
Deepen participants’ understanding of the arts in the United States and how public support sustains the vibrancy of the sector.
Applications must be submitted through Formstack. You will be asked for your contact information, and a written/audio/video (your choice) response to this prompt: #InequalityIs: Jeff Chang on race, culture, and inequality. Applicants are also required to upload a letter of endorsement from a colleague as a PDF.

Important Dates:
Application deadline: September 15, 2020

Applicant Notification: Late September, 2020

Program Dates: Late fall 2020