Leadership Programs for Arts & Culture Leaders

Leadership Programs

Inspiring Innovation and Building Resilience

Inspired by the arts and grounded in a world in transition, CultureSource’s leadership programs support individuals, organizations, and communities as they navigate complexity, change, and growth across the arts and culture sector. Through adaptive leadership, peer learning, strategic guidance, and innovation-centered practice, these programs help strengthen the resilience, capacity, and long-term sustainability of cultural leaders and organizations.

Our leadership work is informed by the legacy of EmcArts, a national nonprofit arts consulting and leadership organization acquired by CultureSource in 2022. For more than 20 years, EmcArts engaged over 2,500 individuals, 250 organizations, and numerous communities across the United States and Canada to advance innovation and adaptive change in the arts sector. Today, CultureSource continues and evolves that work by connecting national leadership practice with our deep regional roots in Southeast Michigan, using our local cultural ecosystem as both a testing ground and a source of insight for the broader national arts field.

Changemaking Participants

Cities

Changemaking programs take place in cities across the country, including; Tucson, Phoenix, College Park, Washington DC, North Bethesda, New York City, Houston, Providence, East Providence, Westerly, Detroit, Ann Arbor, Mount Clemens, Dearborn, Wyandotte, Grosse Pointe Farms, and Hamtramck.

Organizations

Leaders

“Attending the facilitation training program was an incredibly enriching experience! The interactive sessions were engaging and thought-provoking, allowing me to hone my facilitation abilities in a supportive environment. The instructors were knowledgeable and supportive, providing valuable feedback and guidance throughout the program. Highly recommended!”
Christina PerkinsPrincipal Consultant, Knowledge Consulting Services

“When I learned about the Facilitator training, I jumped at the opportunity—even though I’ve been a Facilitator for years. It was a breath of fresh air to be in a cohort with other facilitators, to think about our craft, and to learn new activities for engaging participants when leading events.”
Mary Gladstone-HighlandCEO, Spark Consulting Group

Programs

Collaborative R&D Labs

Develop practical strategies, build digital expertise, and establish a network of peers. Participants progress through three integrated tracks that build from exploration to application. Starting with dynamic Labs on digital technology, the program evolves into workshops focused on leadership skills and culminates in consulting support for implementing organizational experiments.

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Arts Leaders as Cultural Innovators

Arts Leaders as Cultural Innovators (ALACI) is a nationally renowned leadership development program consisting of seminars, executive coaching, virtual learning, and practicums that equip leaders to navigate complexity, and seek opportunities for change in their organizations. Participants learn explore strategies to support innovation and adaptive changemaking.

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Facilitator Training

The CultureSource Facilitator’s Institute helps multidisciplinary consultants, facilitators, trainers, speakers, and/or change-agents develop their understanding of organizational effectiveness. This program provides an opportunity to add the adaptive changemaking framework to their toolkit and strengthen their ability to help organizations grapple with complexity.

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Adapting to Digital Tech in the Arts

The arts are evolving, and technological fluency is key. Our new eight-month leadership development program, Adapting to Digital Tech in the Arts, helps arts professionals explore emerging tools, strengthen digital strategies, and drive innovation. No leadership title is needed to participate—just a desire to make an impact.

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Tri-City Leaders Lab

Tri-City Leaders Lab is a six-month professional development program for arts and culture executives in Charlotte, Philadelphia, and Detroit. Through immersive seminars, executive coaching, asynchronous learning, and small experiments, participants strengthen adaptive leadership practices, build digital fluency, and develop strategies for navigating change shaped by emerging technologies, algorithms, and AI.