Southern Arts Federation - Established 1975 contact usSupport SAF
Supporting and promoting the arts in the south

 


Emerging Arts Leaders of Atlanta

Emerging Arts Leaders of Atlanta logo

As of July 2008 the Emerging Arts Leaders of Atlanta (EALA) network has new leadership:

NEWS RELEASE

New Outlook for Atlanta Emerging Arts Professionals

Atlanta, Georgia – After three years serving as the local host for the Americans for the Arts-affiliated Emerging Leaders program, the Southern Arts Federation (SAF) has appointed the Metropolitan Atlanta Arts & Culture Coalition (MAACC) to provide local emerging arts professionals with new opportunities. MAACC will now serve as the host for the Emerging Arts Leaders of Atlanta (EALA), while SAF will focus on supporting the development of new Emerging Arts Leader chapters across the Southeast.

EALA is one of approximately twenty chapters within the national Emerging Leader network, which blossomed following a directive from the Washington D.C.-based advocacy group Americans for the Arts in 2005. The national directive urged the arts community to mentor the next generation of leaders – those under age thirty-five and/or employed as arts administrators for less than five years - prior to the retirements of many current arts leaders.

EALA was originally launched in November of 2005 when staff members at the Southern Arts Federation decided to host the first round of professional development workshops and networking events in Atlanta.

“When David Dombrosky and I created EALA, the primary purpose was to help cultivate the next generation of leaders in the Metro-Atlanta arts community by connecting them with highly-respected, established leaders in the field through forums, conversations, and mentoring. We wanted to provide unique opportunities to discuss issues.” said Nikki Estes, co-founder of the Atlanta chapter of Emerging Arts Leaders and presenting and touring director of the Southern Arts Federation.

MAACC plans to expand current EALA member opportunities by connecting these emerging professionals with alumni members of their successful Arts Leaders of Metro Atlanta (ALMA) program, composed of executive-level corporate, civic, government and arts leaders taking active steps to learn about issues and challenges facing the region’s arts and culture community.

“We plan to continue and build upon SAF’s work in providing professional development, networking and mentoring opportunities to Atlanta’s ever-growing sector of talented and emerging arts administrators” says Nicole Jones, MAACC’s director of marketing and communications and EALA member.

MAACC plans to celebrate the transition and honor SAF’s work with a special monthly meet-up scheduled for 6 pm on Tuesday, July 8 at the Wren’s Nest in Atlanta’s historic West End. Email EALA@metroatlantaarts.org to sign up for the listserv.


Metro Atlanta Arts & Cultural Coalition is the region’s primary advocacy organization engaging local governments, business, foundations and arts leaders in supporting arts and culture across the region. MAACC conducts three major programs 1) a comprehensive online guide to arts and cultural entertainment www.AtlantaPlanIt.com. 2) a mailing list exchange program that helps cultural organizations reach out to new audiences and 3) the Metro Atlanta Arts Leaders program, a series of four day-long seminars aimed civic, arts and business leaders, focusing on a wide array of arts issues.


 ###