Leadership Program

The Australia Council Leadership Program offers a suite of dynamic development opportunities for arts leaders at all career stages, including the Arts Leaders, Future Leaders, Arts Governance and Leadership Exchange programs.

Leadership Program

The Australia Council Leadership Program is dedicated to transforming our sector’s knowledge, skills and capabilities by supporting emerging and established leaders.

Our program recognises the diverse nature of leadership and builds on the rich knowledge and experience already within our sector. We partner with respected facilitators to foster personal and professional development through sharing and connecting people across Australia and internationally.

Grounded in respect, generosity and listening, we tackle the big issues and opportunities faced by our sector. The program is designed to explore new ways of thinking and enact the potential of the arts for change. We are guided by a commitment to our First Nations people(s) as our cultural Elders and leaders.

As a participant in our programs, you will share experiences, form new connections, develop skills and build confidence in your own capabilities. You will benefit from longer-term outcomes for yourself, your practice, your organisation and your community.

We host a suite of programs to nurture creative development and ongoing sustainability within the arts. These programs are designed to address the needs of our diverse sector, from small to large, emerging to established, from independent to organisations. We invite leaders from various backgrounds, careers levels and geographies to get involved.

Our core leadership programs are:

First Nations Leadership Program

Arts Leaders Program

Future Leaders Program

International Leadership Program

Our partnership leadership programs are:

Milparanga Australia Council Scholarship

Chief Executive Program

ISPA Australia Fellowship

Creative Community Fellows

Our associated programs for organisations and alumni are:

Arts Governance Program

Alumni Collaborations Fund

Business Model Innovation Lab

Mentoring Program

Our Facilitators

Arts Leaders Program Professor Judith McLean, QUT

Future Leaders Program Annie Talvé,
Project Sisu

Kevin du Preez, Australia Council.

Our Participants

Meet the arts leaders currently
participating in our program.

An active alumni from across
Australia and now abroad

What Our Alumni Say

Lia Pa’apa’a, Leadership Exchange participant

“Attending the Leadership Exchange in Cairns allowed me to connect to the greater Arts sector here in Cairns as well as position us within the national dialogue.”

Nina Miall, Arts Leaders Program (2017–18) participant

“I've found it a rich and rewarding experience that has fundamentally altered my perspective on what good arts leadership looks like and how it can be practised.”

Simon Abrahams, Arts Leaders Program (2016–17) participant

"Participating in the program gave me new insights into the sector and into my own leadership practice - as well as a cohort of industry peers who are now trusted colleagues, friends and confidantes."

Sara Strachan, Future Leaders (2017–18) participant

"The future leaders program gave me the opportunity, time and space to think deeply about leadership and how I can be a more conscious and confident cultural leader. It also breathed new life into my arts practice and I made lifelong friends along the way."

About the program

The Australia Council for
the Arts has a strong history in
providing professional
development opportunities
to Australian arts leaders and
organisations.

Frequently asked questions.

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Contact us

For more information about the Leadership Program please contact us via phone on 02 9215 9036 or email leadershipprogram@australiacouncil.gov.au