Applications are now open for our Tri-City Leaders Lab (Charlotte, Philadelphia, and Detroit), a transformative six-month program for arts executives navigating accelerating complexity and uncertainty amid emerging technologies. Anchored in adaptive leadership practices, this program empowers leaders to manage change being spurred by constant algorithmic and AI evolutions.
Participation includes immersive seminars in Charlotte, Philadelphia, and Detroit, plus executive coaching and asynchronous learning
In partnership with the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
Why This Program?
Leaders Lab is a fully funded professional development opportunity that will feature 15 cohort members –– representing their arts and culture organization –– across Detroit, MI, Philadelphia, PA, and Charlotte, NC for a rich cross-regional and multi-modal experience. Travel, meals, lodging, and program expenses are funded.
The elements of the program are designed to reinforce each other and achieve maximum impact for participants and for their communities. The fundamental design principle of Leaders Lab is to move back and forth between group learning (in both content areas of adaptive leadership and digital tech) via multi-day seminars, and individual practice of new approaches, skills and digital technologies within each participant’s work environment, organization, and greater community.
Key Elements:
- Adaptive Leadership: Move beyond “technical fixes” to solve complex, systemic challenges.
- Digital Fluency: Gain exposure to diverse technologies currently shaping the non-profit and arts fields.
- Small Experiments (SERIs): Implement “Small Experiments with Radical Intent” to test new ideas in a low stakes manner.
- Collaborative Cohort: Join a peer network of up to 15 leaders from across Detroit, Charlotte, and Philadelphia.
The Multi-Modal Learning Experience
- 3 In-Person Seminars: Facilitated, multi-day workshops held across three cities, focusing on individual leadership roles and organizational culture.
- 2 Virtual Sessions: Short intensive online session for participants to collaborate and organize around professional and organizational development goals.
- 1 Virtual Group Coaching: Participants bring together their organization’s leadership and extended team for a virtual Adaptive Leadership and team effectiveness workshop.
- 1:1 Executive Coaching: Private one-hour sessions for participants to develop personal Adaptive Leadership Learning goals with executive coaches and technologists.
- Online Resources: Access to LearningSource, an online platform with resources, readings, and insights to support group learning.
- Funded Experimentation: Launch of first-round Small Experiments with Radical Intent (SERIs) with available funding.
Program Schedule
Participants must be available for in-person program dates outlined below.
| Session | Location | Themes | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session 1 | Charlotte, NC | The Individual | May 5-6, 2026 (2 days) |
| Session 2 | Virtual | Focus on Small Experiments with Radical Intent (SERIs) (Individual) | TBC (1 hr) |
| Session 3 | Philadelphia, PA | The Organization | June 23-24, 2026 (2 days) |
| Session 4 | Virtual | Experiments with your team (Organization) | TBC (2 hr) |
| Session 5 | Virtual | Funding Innovation | TBC (1 hr) |
| Session 6 | Detroit, MI | The Community | Sept. 15-16, 2026 (2 days) |
Who Should Apply?
We are looking for executive directors, senior staff, and leaders at medium-to-large arts and culture organizations. Ideal candidates are those tasked with developing strategy for their organizations and managing a team who are ready to lean in and navigate ambiguity with courage and vulnerability.
Expected Outcomes
Participants will be able to:
- Identify and move forward on specific complex challenges facing you and your organization.
- Develop a new personalized leadership skillset using key frameworks and narrative concepts to unlock what is possible (i.e. Cynefin Framework)
- Renew an adaptive and resilient mindset anchored by approaches like the Action Learning Loop: Design → Implement → Reflect → Redesign.
- Bridge the gap between individual leadership, organizational mission and digital innovation.
Program Staff
Lead Facilitators: Erin McClarty, Zlato Fagundes
Program Design & Execution: Melissa Dibble, Tierra Christian, Audrey Rosier
Executive Coaching: Melissa Dibble
Program Cost
The full value of this leadership program is approximately $12,000 per participant. With support from the Knight Foundation, CultureSource is able to offer this experience at no cost to selected arts and culture leaders.
Ready to Lead?
Applications are now open for this 15-person cohort.
Apply by Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at 5:00pm. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. CultureSource members will receive priority consideration.
Participants will learn about program context and content and meet program facilitators. The meeting will finish with a live Q&A. A recording will be posted here after the event.