EMERGING LEADER PROGRAM

The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council (ARAC) Board, Community, and Staff have placed an emphasis on reaching all corners of the Arrowhead Region during the 2023-2025 biennial/strategic plan. In response to a need, we have developed a six month program designed to advance emerging leaders within our underserved communities. 

The Emerging Leader Program is a strategic leadership development program for individuals in our underserved communities in the Arrowhead region, who are committed to the advancement of the arts.

Individuals in underserved communities include folks who are Black, Indigenous, People of Color, People with Disabilities, people over 65, military veterans, and/or Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual/Agender, Two-Spirit (LGBTQIA2+). Historically, these people and their voices have been oppressed, unseen, and unheard. ARAC seeks to raise these voices up.

The program will concentrate on teaching participants about nonprofit organizations, community building, and community service within the arts ecosystem in the region. 

ARAC is seeking 2 individuals, for a 6 month program.

Dates: July 2024 – December 2024 for one individual, and January 2025 – June 2025 for the second individual. 

The ARAC Emerging Leader Program is a leadership development program for folks who have promise and/or demonstrated performance aligned with learning about a nonprofit organization within the Arrowhead region. 

ARAC will accept two individuals for the Leadership Program, the program seeks to work with these individuals to help develop leadership skills as an artist. The program will offer a combination of hands-on work, individual coaching, and assist with finding appropriate formal training. The idea is that many underserved artists are reluctant to step forward to take leadership posts, either as board members or administrators because they have traditionally been left out of leadership positions. This program will attempt to create a path that will provide leaders/artists with training and experience, as well as an expanding resume and cv of each participant. 

The program participant will receive an orientation/onboarding, then will be asked to participate in a series of leadership activities that would show them a broad spectrum of arts leadership, including but not limited to participating on ARAC’s grant review panels, attending ARAC board meetings, meeting with ARAC staff before board meetings, attending ARAC committee meetings, and other meetings/events as appropriate. The end program result is the participant would be qualified to join the board of an arts organization, take a position at an arts organization, or advance their leadership skills. After the orientation, each participant would identify a personal series of benchmarks that would make up their program.

To Apply: Email a cover letter and resume to director@aracouncil.org

Deadline to Apply: Friday, August 30, 2024

The desired outcomes will be: 

  • Building emerging leaders in the Arrowhead Region who are committed to the advancement of the arts for everyone in the community. 

  • Engaging leaders in coursework and activities designed to strengthen competencies and prepare participants for leadership positions in the field. 

  • Providing opportunities for promising art professionals to establish networks that support their careers and the cultural interests of the communities they represent and serve. 

  • Developing or expanding the individuals understanding of the arts in the region and how the public supports and sustains the art ecosystem. 

Duration: 6 months for each participant

Location: 332 W Superior St., Suite 204, Duluth, MN 55802

Stipend: $4000 paid to individuals upon successful completion of the program, and will have $1000 for education/training to use during the program. 

Successful program completion will consist of: 

  • Detailed plan with goals created by participants, due within the first two weeks of program start. 

  • Work on a recruitment plan to help find the second participant. 

  • ARAC Leadership presentation to the Board & staff of their work completed during their program. What did you learn and how will it help you grow as a leader?