South Arts: Emerging Leaders of Color

A recent cohort from Emerging Leaders of Color. Photo by Chrissy Deal, WESTAF

South Arts has launched the Emerging Leaders of Color program. Designed to nurture the next generation of diverse cultural leaders in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, this professional development initiative will help promising arts professionals to establish networks, build their skills, support their careers and advocate for the cultural interests of the communities they represent and serve.

South Arts has recruited applicants of color under the age of 35 with fewer than 10 years of experience working in the arts. Twelve emerging leaders have been selected for the inaugural cohort and will participate in online trainings and convenings starting in fall 2020. Participants will be announced in mid-October. The curriculum will address current issues as well as developmental topics such as leadership styles, team building, designing inclusive systems and cultural democracy.

The program is modeled after—and offered in collaboration with—the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) Emerging Leaders of Color program, which has had a successful track record for more than 10 years. For more information, contact Ethan Messere at South Arts or Madalena Salazar at WESTAF.