Fostering Equity in the Arts: Leaders of Color Fellowship Unites Change-Makers

Leaders of color often feel isolated and overburdened by the demands of their work, especially when it involves navigating systemic inequities. 

The National Leaders of Color Fellowship (LoCF) aims to address those concerns. The fellowship is more than a professional development program; it is a call to action for leaders of color to take up space, challenge inequity, and advocate for a more just and inclusive cultural future.

Curated by M-AAA’s sibling Regional Arts Organization Creative West, LoCF is an eight-month online leadership development experience that supports multicultural leadership in our nation’s creative and cultural sector. The summit, as a program capstone, provided space for the fellows to lead conversations with their Regional Arts Organizations, discuss regional and national trends in the nonprofit sector, and share what they learned from the LoCF program. 

Opening Conversations and Commitments

The summit in July opened with a deep acknowledgment of shared commitments, as articulated by Anika Tené, director of grants, awards, and programs at Creative West, which included values of humility, active listening, mutual support, and accessibility in leadership. These principles grounded the participants in the moment, helping to create a space where leaders can engage authentically and confront systemic challenges with openness and grace. This practice occurred at every monthly session, emphasizing the importance of building trust with communities that have experienced historical trauma while ensuring that the program remains focused on long-term impacts.

Leadership Development and Building Collaborative Networks

At the heart of the LoCF program is a commitment to leadership development for arts leaders of color. Throughout the program, fellows engaged in workshops and discussions that challenged them to reflect on their leadership styles, strengths, and opportunities for improvement. 

Fellows worked together in regional breakout rooms, engaging in deep conversations about their communities’ unique challenges. This regional focus helped fellows tailor their strategies to their specific cultural, political, and socioeconomic landscapes. The peer-to-peer learning and collaboration led to the beginning of lasting professional networks.

The Role of Arts and Advocacy

In the Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) regional breakout room, LoCF fellows, Devin Hursey and Pamela Hart were joined by M-AAA’s Todd Stein, president and CEO; Christine Bial, director of arts and humanities grant programs; Carris Adams, director of organizational services; and Kathy Liao, organizational services program officer. The fellowship seeks to empower participants not only to lead within their respective organizations but also to become vocal advocates for equity on a broader scale. M-AAA fellows led a conversation with our RAO staff around definitions of rural versus urban, strategic planning, and arts and health programming. Topics discussed included the changing landscape of state and federal arts funding, potential impacts of cuts to the National Endowment for the Arts, and region-specific concerns regarding assaults to freedom of expression. 

Devin Hursey, who works at the intersection of arts and social justice, brought forward the need for advocacy on a local level. Devin’s work with Kansas City’s Black LGBTQ+ community illustrates how arts can be a tool for both expression and political engagement, especially in marginalized communities. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between arts organizations and grassroots movements to achieve long-term equity and social justice.

The next LoCF application deadline is October 13, 2024. Apply at artslead.org.

Mental Health and Sustainable Leadership

Mental health, sustainability, and balance were frequently mentioned topics during the program as well. 

“The LoCF program is the best common sense education I have received,” said Pamela in a statement to M-AAA. “The information and support from the mentors, presenters, and other fellows boosted my confidence 300% and gave me permission to be different, bold, and my true self . . . I am better at balancing my work and life. Learning to rest has boosted my business acumen and artistic creativity at the same time.”

Culture of care is a curriculum topic that encourages fellows to focus on self-care as a crucial part of sustainable leadership. Many fellows recognize that creative expression is not just a professional skill but a critical outlet for maintaining mental well-being.

The summit provided a supportive environment where fellows could share their personal challenges and aspirations, reinforcing the idea that being vulnerable and seeking support are signs of strength, not weakness. This focus on wellness and mental health is essential for leaders who are frequently called upon to advocate for others and push for systemic change.

The Future of Leadership in Arts and Culture

The National Leaders of Color Fellow program represents a vital movement toward more equitable leadership in the arts and culture sector. By bringing together a diverse group of BIPOC leaders, the fellowship creates a community of change-makers dedicated to advancing cultural equity, fostering collaboration, and advocating for systemic transformation. Now heading into the third year of this national program, the connections and insights developed among the growing alumni network of the LoCF fellows continue to ripple outward, influencing organizations, policies, and communities nationwide. 

One of the participants from sibling RAO Mid Atlantic Arts uplifted a quote from faculty Margie Reese, “You don’t need to be invited to the space to have the power to exist in the space.” 

As the summit concluded, the fellows expressed gratitude for an authentically inclusive environment, for the knowledge gained through shared learning, and committed to staying connected regionally and nationally after the fellowship. Participants left with a shared vision for what the future of leadership in the arts can look like—one where diversity is not just an afterthought but a fundamental building block of creative and organizational success.

The application for the next LoCF cohort is open now. Apply by October 13. 

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