Apply Now | Emerging Leaders Boot Camp Program

Arts administrators from all disciplines within commuting distance to New York City are encouraged to apply by January 30.

Through the support of American Express, The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) is pleased to announce the fifth session of its Emerging Leaders Boot Camp, a free program that provides leadership training for arts administrators over nine months. NYFA believes an investment in the cultural infrastructure will benefit the entire field, building stronger links and shared knowledge between artists and arts administrators.

Since its inception, more than 100 arts administrators have participated in the program, coming from a diverse range of arts organizations that serve a wide variety of disciplines and constituents. The Emerging Leaders Boot Camp is led by Felicity Hogan, Director of NYFA Learning, who has managed the program since 2013. 

The core objective of the program is to provide participants with skills that will assist them in their current roles in order to be more effective within their own organization, as well as offer training that will help them assume more executive roles in the future. 

Please visit this link for more information about the program and a list of past participants. 

Selected participants will benefit from:

• Dedicated alumni advisors for individual guidance and support
• Core coaching skill training, group coaching, and peer coaching facilitated by Meryl Moritz, Chief Coaching Officer of Meryl Moritz Resources, LLC, who holds a global Master Certified Coach credential from the International Coach Federation
• Leadership concepts including personal vision and mission articulation, along with individual self-assessment tools
• Technical workshops and panels related to management, equity and inclusion, strategic planning, fundraising, and board development
• Balanced focus on hard and soft skills, such as emotional intelligence (EQ); coaching; managing conflict; enhancing one’s communication style portfolio; and managing up, down, and side-ways
• Exposure to key influencers within the arts and cultural communities, including site visits
• A peer cohort of 25 arts administrators
• Alumni network

The program structure includes a five-day intensive with a rigorous blend of presentations, formal lectures, and break-out groups. Additionally, the program includes half-day check-ins, an alumni mixer, final sessions, and a follow-up reunion event.

NYFA is seeking applicants who are committed to the arts with clear long-term leadership goals that are willing to engage in self-reflection and step outside of their comfort zone to learn new skills. We integrate creativity into the program, with a flexible and adaptive approach that adjusts to the needs of the cohort throughout.

Administrators of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Deadline to Apply:

Wednesday, January 30, 2019, 11:59 PM (EST)

Program Dates:

All sessions will take place at The New York Foundation for the Arts, 20 Jay Street, Suite 740, Brooklyn, NY 11201, unless otherwise notified. 

Attendance is mandatory to all sessions. Please check your calendar before applying.

Monday, March 11, 2019
Intro and Orientation: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Monday, March 25 – Friday, March 29, 2019
5-Day Intensive: Monday and Friday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Tuesday – Thursday, 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM

Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Check In: 10:00 AM -1:30 PM

Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Check In: 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM

Wednesday, July 17, 2019
Alumni Mixer: 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Check In: 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM

November 5 and 6, 2019
Final Sessions: 1:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Wednesday, February 12, 2020
Reunion: 10:00AM – 12:30 PM

How to Apply:

Apply via Submittable by Wednesday, January 30, 2019, 11:59 PM (EST). First-time users will need to register with Submittable to access the application portal.

Eligibility:

• Open to mid-level administrators employed by nonprofit arts organizations with budgets over $250,000
• Executive Directors from non-profit arts organizations with budgets under $250,000
• Commitment to mandatory attendance to all sessions
• Open to participants from the five boroughs of New York City and Metropolitan area, within commuting distance of New York City

Guidelines:

For the application, we ask you to provide:

• Organization Information
• Why you are interested in applying to this program and goals relative to your leadership career path within the next 2-5 years
• Your current role and responsibilities
• Identify 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 your supervisor and confirmed permission to participate

Application Review:

Applications are reviewed by alumni of the program and outside executive professionals.

Notification: Applicants will be notified on or before February 21, 2019

Questions? Contact the NYFA Learning team at [email protected] with “Emerging Leaders Boot Camp” in the subject line. We understand that arts organizations can be structured in a variety of ways, so please contact us for any eligibility clarifications.

Testimonials:

This program truly expanded my mind. I hadn’t thought about leadership from so many different perspectives. The sessions were productive and transformative, and I appreciated the extremely supportive environment. I feel that I can take many of the lessons we learned and apply it to real experiences on the job. But the program also helped me identify some of the limitations and challenges to overcome, and that’s just as valuable for setting realistic goals that I can work toward. I am so grateful for having had this experience! – Gabriel de Guzman, Curator & Director of Exhibitions, Smack Mellon

Beyond offering me an opportunity to maintain a commitment to lifelong learning, the Emerging Leaders Boot Camp Program connected me to a cohort of lifelong colleagues and friends. I am so grateful for this experience. – Eliza Coviello, Finance and Administrative Manager, Women Make Movies

The Emerging Leaders Boot Camp is made possible with the generous support of American Express.

Image: Alumni Mixer, Emerging Leaders Boot Camp, October 2018, Photo Credit: Zahra Banyamerian for NYFA