National Leaders of Color Fellowship

A professional development and networking opportunity for arts and cultural workers of color.

About the National Leaders of Color Fellowship

The National Leaders of Color Fellowship (LoCF) takes place completely online from late fall through early summer. During this free eight-month fellowship, selected fellows receive access to specialists in the field, strategic learning objectives determined to deepen thought on anti-racist and culturally-oriented leadership practices, and national-level network and cohort building. Upon completion of this program, participants transition to alumni status and have opportunities to collaborate with the US Regional Art Organization in their region as advisors, funding panelists, and/or other professional capacities.

This partnership program between South Arts and its colleague Regional Arts Organizations led by WESTAF (Western States Arts Federation) provides tools, continued learning opportunities and a network to administrators of color who seek to move into leadership positions in the arts and culture sector. Through this cohort-based learning model, LoCF has been attracting, training, networking, and promoting a new generation of diverse arts leaders since 2010.

Who is this program designed for? 

Applicants, selected by a panel of program staff, faculty and alumni, will meet the following criteria: 

• Self-identify as Black, Indigenous and/or a person of color; 
• Self-identify as an early or mid-career leader in the field of arts and culture; 
• Is an arts administrator or a significantly arts-interested member such as a volunteer or a public official; 
• Current resident of the United States, including U.S. Jurisdictions (American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands); and
• Have not participated in or have participated in limited amounts of high-quality professional leadership development opportunities.

LGBTQIA2S+ individuals, disabled people, low-income and individuals residing in rural, remote or frontier areas are encouraged to apply. 

What does the program offer? 

Selected individuals will participate in a professional development and team-building workshop at no cost to themselves. The program is designed to: 

• Build a cohort of cultural leaders of color in the southeastern United States who are committed to the advancement of the arts. 
• Engage diverse emerging leaders in coursework and activities designed to strengthen competencies and prepare participants for leadership positions in the field. 
• Provide opportunities for promising arts professionals to establish networks that support their careers and the cultural interests of the communities they represent and serve. 

Deepen participants’ understanding of the arts in the United States and how public support sustains the vibrancy of the sector. 

Important Dates: 

• Application Opens: September 16, 2024
• Information Session: September 26, 2024, 7:00 p.m. ET
• Application Deadline: October 13, 2024 | Extended to October 20, 2024 for applicants in the South Arts region.
• Applicant Notification: November 22, 2024
• Program Dates: December 2024 through July 2025

Visit the application portal on the bottom of this page to begin or edit your application.

Due to the extraordinary devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, the deadline for applicants in the South Arts region (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee) has been extended to Sunday, October 20 at 11:59 p.m. MDT.

Information Session 

The goal will be to ensure that applicants are set up to successfully complete the LoCF application.

The information session will be on September 26, 2024, 7:00 p.m. ET.

 register for the Information Session