Emerging Arts Leaders: Philadelphia's Creative Conversation is our flagship event, a dynamic mini-symposium held in October in chorus with emerging arts leaders networks throughout the country as encouraged by Americans for the Arts.  Our sixth annual Creative Conversation will feature engaging keynote and breakout presentations, as well as opportunities for attendees to share their thoughts.

Our keynote speaker, James Claiborne, Public Programming Manager for the African American Museum in Philadelphia, is a connected, passionate and results-driven leader from the Philadelphia creative sector. Claiborne will look beyond current best practices to anticipate shifts that impact artists and arts leaders in a wide variety of creative institutions. 

Breakout Sessions

Davinica Nemtzow, Founder and Executive Director of Creating United Empowerment (CUE)
Build Your Own Seat at the Table: Addressing Underrepresentation in the Arts will address why representation matters, look at the impact of a few successful grassroots arts organizations, and guide you through the creation of your own inclusive spaces. Participants will leave this session with a few leadership tools and action items to help them create their own inclusive spaces, for themselves and others.

Lansie Sylvia, Senior Strategist for J2 Design
Storytelling For Impact will leave participants knowing how to tell better stories themselves and train employees, board members, and volunteers in the art of storytelling. Key principles from this workshop can be applied across a variety of channels, from emails to social media to your annual report.

Melissa Hamilton, Engagement Director at CultureWorks & Jamaine Smith, Chief Commons Director at CultureWorks

WHAM! Deconstructing Power Dynamics Between Funders + Artists will use Design Thinking – a methodology providing solution-based approaches to solving complex problems – to help us deconstruct and understand how funders and artists can become more transparent with each other and recognize how each brings equally necessary resources. 

Schedule

10:00AM: Pre-Event Resume Review, Registration
11:00AM: Welcome, Keynote Presentation
12:00PM: Lunch & Networking
12:50PM: Breakout Session 1
1:40PM: Breakout Session 2
2:30PM: End

Bonus: Resume Review
Whether you’re fresh out of school, changing careers, or just looking to make some updates, make an appointment with one of our resume reviewers: in just fifteen minutes, we’ll give you essential, customized tips for making your skills and experience stand out.

Hosting Sponsor – Drexel University Arts Administration & Museum Leadership Program