The Incubator for Executive Leaders of Color
- Executive Leaders of Color
- Arts Administrators
Image Credit: Maria Baranova
This program provides six months of free leadership development and community support to 18 executive-level arts administrators in NYC. The program supports leaders who are uniquely positioned to influence the culture and operations of their organization, informed by guest workshop facilitators from BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities.
The 2025 program, for which we are currently accepting applications, will take place from April to September 2025. It is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
By fostering the professional development of leaders of Color, we aim to encourage the equitability and diversity of the arts industry. The program is slightly modified year-to-year to implement the learnings of the previous editions, which were generously supported by the Altman Foundation and Rockefeller Brothers Fund.
- Self-identify as a leader of Color.
- Executive Leaders from non-profit arts and cultural organizations with all size budgets. (i.e. Executive Director, Artistic Director, Deputy Director, Program Director)*
- Commitment to mandatory attendance at 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 [email protected].
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 to ask for their support for the time commitment involved.
The application is now open, with a deadline of 5:00 PM February 26.
ApplyTo request an accommodation or assistance in applying, please email [email protected] or call NYFA Learning at 212-366-6900 Ext. 265. We ask that requests for accommodation be made as soon as possible or by Wednesday, February 12 to allow adequate time for staff to support you in submitting an application before the deadline.
Questions? Contact NYFA at [email protected] and include “The Incubator for Executive Leaders of Color” in the subject line.
Applications will be reviewed by alumni of NYFA’s Incubator program and outside executive professionals and local art leaders of Color.
2025 program applicants will be notified on or before Friday, April 4, 2025.
- Intro Meeting: Thursday, April 24, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM ET
- Two-Day Opening and Closing Intensives:
- Thu, May 8-Fri May 9, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM ET
- Thu, Sept 25-Fri, Sept 26, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM ET
- Virtual Workshops: Thursdays from 10 AM – 12:30 PM ET
- May 22, June 5, June 19, July 24, August 28, Sept 11
- Incubator Mixers: (optional evening social gatherings)
- July 10
- August 14
The program is designed to be hybrid. The two-day intensives are planned to be held in-person, and check-in meetings and technical assistance workshops will take place online on Zoom. We continue to monitor Covid-19 and in-person meetings will be moved online if necessary.
Attendance is mandatory for all sessions, so please check your calendar before applying.
Since 2013, NYFA Learning has supported the careers of arts administrators from over 300 arts and culture organizations in the New York City area and around the state by providing professional development that is tailored to the challenges of this vital profession.
NYFA believes that investing in cultural infrastructure improves the sustainability and success of arts organizations, and ultimately builds stronger connections between artists and administrators, which benefits the entire field. The programs particularly support administrators of color, and organizations which are BIPOC-led, community-based, or rural. Programs are application-based and offered free to participants who are selected by panels of expert colleagues in the field.
