The Incubator for Executive Leaders of Color 2022

Through the generous support of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) is pleased to announce the second edition of The Incubator for Executive Leaders of Color, a free program that will provide leadership training and community support for up to 16 arts administrators from April – September 2022. NYFA is implementing the learnings from the inaugural session to enhance program outcomes for this second session. By fostering the professional development of leaders of Color, we aim to encourage the sustainability and success of their organizations, and the equitability and diversity of the arts industry.

NYFA will work with facilitators from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. The curriculum will be designed through the lens of inclusion and racial equity, and we will work diligently with partner organizations and external consultants to ensure that we meet the needs of our participants.

The goals of the program are to:

• Serve as an incubator for exploring new models and trends in Arts Administration in New York City.
• Increase an individual’s leadership capacity so that they can have a greater influence on the arts and cultural organization for which they work as well as the arts community as a whole.
• Provide arts and cultural organizations with the means to sustain themselves long-term and thrive by training their current or future leadership staff with the core competencies they need for success.
• Offer individual and group activities that focus on arts leadership and networking, leading to support and collaboration among participants and sparking new ideas.
• Provide space to discuss issues specific to BIPOC leaders and move toward solutions.
• Facilitate an opportunity to engage with a variety of nationwide leaders in the arts.

Selected participants will benefit from:

• A peer cohort-based learning model that relies on shared experiences to explore and develop a greater awareness of your personal leadership style.
• Case studies, guest speakers, panel discussions, and group exercises that focus on purpose-centered leadership, including diversity, equity, and inclusion; negotiation skills; and decision-making frameworks.
• Peer-to-peer exchange and transferable resources which will further develop your organization in the long term and better support the communities you serve.
• Technical workshops and panels related to HR management, strategic planning, fundraising, and board development.
• Through NYFA’s arts leaders network and alumni, each selected participant can access a dedicated peer advisor for 6-8 hours during the program.

Program Dates:
Mandatory Sessions:*

• Intro Meeting: Thursday, April 14, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM EDT
• One-day intensives: Thursday, April 28 and Thursday, September 22, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM EDT
• Check-in meetings and Technical Assistance Workshops: Thursdays from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM EDT Dates: May 12, June 9, July 7, July 21, August 4, August 11, and September 8

*Attendance is mandatory for all sessions, so please check your calendar before applying.

Requirements

• Self identify as a leader of Color.
• Executive Leaders from non-profit arts and cultural organizations with all size budgets. (e.g. Executive Director, Artistic Director, Deputy Director, Program Director, Development Director, Finance Director)
• Commitment to mandatory attendance to all sessions.
• Open to participants from the five boroughs of New York City.

*We acknowledge there are different organizational models in New York City, so if you have any questions about eligibility, please contact us at learning@nyfa.org.

Application Instructions

Application Link: Click here to apply via Submittable

First-time users will need to register with Submittable to access the application portal.

Application Deadline: Monday, March 14, 11:59 PM EDT

Guidelines:

For the application, we ask you to provide:

• Organization information (i.e. organization mission, focus, website, and operational budget).
• Why you are interested in applying to this program and a list of goals relative to your leadership career path within the next 5+ years.
• Your current role and responsibilities.
• A particular challenge in your current organization that participating in this program could help you address.
• A narrative bio of your professional career.
• Contact details of a Board member or an Advisory committee member of your organization.***

*We will only contact them if you are selected for the program. This is to ask for their support for the time commitment involved.

Applications will be reviewed by alumni of NYFA’s Emerging Leaders program and outside executive professionals and local art leaders of Color.

Notification: Applicants will be notified on or before Monday, March 28.

Questions? [Contact NYFA](Learning@nyfa.org) and include “The Incubator for Executive Leaders of Color” in the subject line.