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2026-2027 Executive Leadership Program

Nurturing Excellence in Arts, Culture, and Heritage Leadership

Building on the success of previous years, Business / Arts is pleased to present the 2026-2027 Executive Leadership Program—a networking initiative dedicated to empowering the next generation of senior leaders in Canada’s arts, culture, and heritage sector.

This program will support 10 leaders who are shaping the future of Canada’s cultural landscape, providing them with mentorship and networking to advance their careers.

Key Components

From April 2026 to May 2027, this program will provide career development opportunities for 10 arts leaders across Canada.

Designed for individuals aspiring to senior roles in large arts, culture, and heritage organizations, the program emphasizes mentorship, and knowledge exchange, connecting participants with established leaders from Canada’s largest cultural organizations.

2026 Canadian Arts Summit Participation: 

The cohort will launch at the 2026 Canadian Arts Summit, taking place from April 9-11 at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Participants will have the opportunity to connect with their mentors, engage in Summit programming, and build meaningful networks within the arts community.

Participants will receive: 

  • Complimentary registration for the 2026 Canadian Arts Summit (valued at $999)
  • Accommodation for three nights in Banff provided by Business / Arts (valued at $810)
  • A travel subsidy of up to $1000 (participants from Northern Territories or Atlantic Canada may receive up to $1,500)

Mentorship from Summit Delegates:

Participants will be paired with a mentor from the Canadian Arts Summit delegation for monthly one-on-one sessions. These mentors, senior leaders from prominent cultural organizations, will provide valuable guidance, insights, and support tailored to the participant’s professional goals.

Knowledge-Sharing Sessions:

Throughout the year, participants will engage in quarterly peer-to-peer (P2P) meetings. These sessions will facilitate reciprocal learning, foster collaboration, and enhance leadership skills, creating a dynamic and supportive learning environment.

Call for Recommendations

Business / Arts is seeking recommendations from Canadian Arts Summit delegates to identify 10 arts leaders for this one-year program (one recommendation per delegate). These leaders should have a strong interest in pursuing senior roles within large arts, culture, and heritage organizations.

Recommendations close on Thursday, January 8, 2026.

Eligibility:

To qualify for the program, individuals must:

  • Be a professional arts worker (part-time or full-time)
  • Be a permanent resident of Canada
  • Be available to attend the Canadian Arts Summit from April 9-11, 2026, at the Banff Centre
  • Be able to commit to monthly mentorship and quarterly peer-to-peer-sessions
  • Have demonstrated leadership experience within a medium (approximately $1.5 to $3M) or large (over $3M) arts, culture, or heritage organizations in Canada*
  • Aspire to hold a senior leadership role within a large Canadian arts, culture, or heritage organization
  • Have not previously participated in Business / Arts’ Emerging Leadership program

There is no age limit for participation and we welcome individuals from diverse backgrounds and positions within the arts sector, including executive leaders, directors of departments such as development, communications and marketing, public programming, and more. 

The Executive Leadership program is delivered primarily in English. Requests for a bilingual mentor will be taken into consideration, but cannot be guaranteed.

*Please note that these size categories are guidelines, and the mentioned financial thresholds serve as approximations rather than strict criteria.

Business / Arts is committed to equity in our policies, practices, and programs and encourages recommendations of individuals who identify as Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQ+, living with a disability, or part of a religious minority.

Submitting a Recommendation: 

In 2026, we are only accepting recommendations from Canadian Arts Summit delegates. Each delegate is invited to make one recommendation.

The form requires:

  • Contact information
  • An up-to-date CV
  • A one-page bio

Please submit the candidate’s CV and bio as a single PDF file titled: Name_Application_EL_2026

The form may be completed between Friday, November 21, 2025, and Thursday, January 8, 2026.

Please contact siqi@businessforthearts.org with any questions.