New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) is pleased to announce the sixth edition of The Incubator for Executive Leaders of Color, a free program that will provide leadership training and community support for up to 18 arts administrators from April to October 2026. By fostering the professional development of leaders of color, we aim to encourage the sustainability and success of their organizations, and the equitability and diversity of the arts industry.

NYFA works with guest workshop facilitators from BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities to cover various leadership topics. The curriculum is designed through the lens of inclusion and racial equity, to resource leaders who influence the culture at their organizations according to these principles. In order to enhance participant outcomes, we slightly modify the program year to year to implement the learnings of the previous editions, which were generously supported by the Altman Foundation and Rockefeller Brothers Fund. 

The goals of the program are:

• Serve as an incubator for each individual’s leadership development.
• Explore new frameworks and trends in leadership and apply them to the Arts Administration context in New York City.
• Provide space to discuss issues specific to BIPOC leaders and move toward solutions.
• Increase sustainability at arts and culture organizations by exploring processual changes leaders can practice
• Increase participants’ influence on the arts and cultural organization for which they work, as well as the arts community as a whole.
• Offer individual and group activities that strengthen arts leadership and networking.
• Foster support and collaboration among participants.
• Facilitate an opportunity to engage with a variety of leaders in the arts and spark new ideas.

Selected participants will benefit from:

• A peer cohort-based learning model that relies on shared experiences to explore and develop a greater awareness of your personal leadership style.
• Tools and methods for evoking personal and organizational change.
• Case studies, guest speakers, and group exercises that focus on purpose-centered leadership, including diversity, equity, and inclusion and decision-making frameworks.
• Peer-to-peer exchange and transferable resources which will further develop your organization in the long term and better support the communities you serve.
• An Advisor to meet throughout the program one-on-one, selected from NYFA’s network of arts leaders network and alumni.

Mandatory Program Dates:*

Intro Meeting: Thursday, April 23, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM EDT

Two-Day Opening and Closing Intensives:  

• Thu, May 7-Fri May 8, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM EDT
• Thu, Oct 1-Fri, Oct 2, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM EDT

Virtual Workshops: Thursdays from 10 AM – 12:30 PM EDT 

• May 21, June 4, June 18, July 23, August 27, Sept 10

Incubator Mixers: (optional evening social gatherings) 

• July 9, August 13

The program is designed to be hybrid. The two Two-day intensives are planned to be held in-person, and Check-in meetings and Technical Assistance Workshops will take place online on Zoom. 

*Attendance is mandatory for all sessions, so please check your calendar before applying.

Application Deadline: Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 11:59 PM ET

Eligibility:

• Self-identify as a leader of Color.
• Executive Leaders from non-profit arts and cultural organizations with all size budgets.** (i.e. Executive Director, Artistic Director, Deputy Director, Program Director)
• Commitment to mandatory attendance to all sessions.
• Open to participants from the five boroughs of New York City.

** We acknowledge there are different organizational models in New York City, so if you have any questions about eligibility, please contact us at learning@nyfa.org.

Guidelines:

For the application, we ask you to provide:

• Organization information (i.e. organization mission, focus, website and operational budget.)
• Why you are interested in applying to this program and a list of goals relative to your leadership career path within the next 5+ years.
• Your current role and responsibilities.
• A particular challenge in your current organization that participating in this program could help you address.
• A narrative bio of your professional career.
• Contact details of a Board member or an Advisory committee member of your organization. ***

*** We will only contact them if you are selected into the program. This is to ask for their support for the time commitment involved.

Applications will be reviewed by alumni of NYFA’s Emerging Leaders program and outside executive professionals and local art leaders of Color.

Notification: Applicants will be notified on or before Friday, April 3, 2026.

Questions? Contact NYFA and include “The Incubator for Executive Leaders of Color” in the subject line.

Testimonials:

"Participating in the NYFA Incubator Program for Executive Leaders of Color has been an extraordinary opportunity for professional and personal growth. The program’s thoughtful design and engaging sessions strengthened my leadership skills while fostering collaboration among a diverse cohort of arts professionals. I am deeply grateful for the experience and look forward to continuing my journey as a proud alum—committed to giving back to the community that has so generously invested in me."

Cynthia Carrion, Director of Government and Community Affairs, El Museo del Barrio

2025 Incubator Participant

“It was such a balm to be connected to leaders of color navigating a range of organizational structures, experience levels and leadership models. I felt less alone in this journey and received deeply valuable insight, encouragement and inspiration from the folks in my cohort. The workshops held a lovely balance of practical tools and self reflection and the facilitators offered gracious insight from their experience to round out our learning.”

Shamilia Tocruray, Director of Education, Brooklyn Museum

2025 Incubator Participant