Cultural Leadership Training

ASC’s Cultural Leadership Training (CLT) Program is designed to identify emerging leaders and help them develop into productive volunteers and board candidates for cultural organizations across our community.

Purpose

During a nine-month period, participants gain a deeper understanding of the cultural community through classroom educational sessions, cultural events and programs, and placement with a Mecklenburg County cultural organization as either a one-year apprentice or as a full-term board member at the conclusion of the program.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2023-24 Cultural Leadership Training Program. The application deadline is 5 p.m. Monday, June 12, 2023.

Potential applicants are encouraged to preview the Cultural Leadership Training Program application before beginning the application process. Those interested in the program are also encouraged to join ASC for a Virtual Info Session.

Cultural Leadership Training Program Virtual Info Session
12-1 p.m. Friday, May 12
Register for Virtual Info Session

Participants: Up to 30 emerging leaders living and/or working in Mecklenburg County.

Eligibility: Participants must live or work in Mecklenburg County, N.C. Current or prior members of boards of directors for Charlotte-area nonprofit arts, science, and history organizations are not eligible for this program. Current staff members of nonprofit arts, science, and history organizations are not eligible for this program. ASC provides other training opportunities for existing board and staff members serving area arts, science and history organizations. Visit Capacity Building for more information.

Selection Process & Criteria: Class members are chosen by the CLT Selection Committee, which seeks participants representing a wide range of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, experiences and geographic distribution across Mecklenburg County. Committee members review and score all online applications and then schedule interviews with finalists. You will be notified in early July whether or not you have been selected as a finalist. The Committee will choose up to 30 participants for the class, and all finalists will receive written notification of the Committee’s decision by mid-August. The Selection Committee is ultimately looking for individuals who are prepared to accept leadership roles as volunteers within arts and cultural organizations. As such, criteria for admission to CLT include demonstrated leadership abilities, strong personal initiative and motivation, and the ability to work well on teams that include varying viewpoints. Candidates should also have a strong commitment to the arts and/or other cultural disciplines.

Time Commitment: The program runs from September through May and requires approximately 32 hours over nine educational sessions held at arts and cultural venues; board observations; social gatherings; and a culminating graduation event. At the end of the program, ASC places graduates on a board of directors as either an apprentice (typically a one-year term), committee member or as a full-term board member, personally working to find a good fit of interests and skills.

Admission to this program is extremely competitive and, as such, the success of the CLT program depends on the full commitment of each participant to attend all program sessions, arrive on time, and participate fully. While we recognize that emergencies do arise, more than two unexcused absences may result in dismissal from the program and forfeiture of tuition.

Program Fee: $1,500 for corporate professionals – $1,000 for nonprofit professionals or full-time volunteers. Partial scholarships are available and awarded based on need. We are also happy to arrange payment plans.

FAQ’s about the CLT program

Who runs the CLT program?

CLT is run by the Arts & Science Council of Charlotte/Mecklenburg (ASC) and is the only program in the region that specializes in training and placing community members on boards of nonprofit arts and cultural organizations. ASC staff members plan and execute all aspects of the CLT program, with assistance from staff and board from Charlotte-area cultural organizations as well as CLT alumni.

Organized in 1958, ASC serves as the designated “Office of Cultural Resources” for the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and six suburban towns by combining resources from local and state government with those of the private sector to provide advocacy, cultural planning, fundraising, grant making, public art and workshops and trainings for the cultural community.

We recognize a need for projects that will occur in Charlotte/Mecklenburg communities beyond the Center City area.

We seek programs that engage communities in scientific and historic curiosity.

We look for participatory audience experiences.

How does the CLT program work?

The curriculum includes nine educational sessions led by local nonprofit experts in partnership with cultural organizations. Sessions are held at different arts and cultural venues and usually incorporate a site tour or experiential activity and guided discussions/Q&A about key issues facing the nonprofit cultural field. Most sessions are designed to showcase a discipline (visual art, history, dance, performing arts), exploring the depth of program offerings in our community, and deliver content about key roles, responsibilities and challenges of board members. (NOTE: If meeting in person continues to be a challenge due to COVID-19, sessions will be delivered virtually.)

As a primary program outcome, ASC facilitates placement of each class member on a board of directors as either an apprentice (typically a one-year term), committee member or as a full-term board member, personally working to find a good fit of interests and skills. CLT alumni also receive continued mentoring and support from ASC staff.

What do the training sessions cover?

The program provides thorough and rich training with a limited number of participants to promote more effective learning. Sample topics include: an overview of ASC and Charlotte’s cultural sector, risk management, legal and fiduciary obligations of the board, crash course in fundraising, understanding nonprofit financial statements, community engagement, board/staff relations, advocacy, and finding the right fit for your own board service.

Which organizations will accept CLT graduates on their boards?

CLT alumni have joined organizations like the Charlotte Symphony, Children’s Theatre, Clayworks, Carolina Voices, McColl Center for Art + Innovation, Festival in the Park, Charlotte Ballet, Levine Museum of the New South, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Arts+, Sustain Charlotte, Jazz Arts Charlotte, and many others.

Why is there an attendance requirement?

Admission to this program is extremely competitive and, as such, success of the CLT program depends on the full commitment of each participant to attend all program sessions, arrive on time and participate fully. Considering that there are only 9 sessions over 9 months, missing just 2 sessions is equivalent to missing more than 20 percent of the program. Given this requirement, if you are not able to commit to attending the scheduled sessions (i.e. you have frequent, unexpected personal “crises” that disrupt your schedule or your job includes considerable travel, etc), it may not be in your best interest to apply.

Is the program free?

Because this is a serious training program, there is a fee of $1,500 for corporate professionals and $1,000 for nonprofit professionals or full-time volunteers. ASC evaluated similar programs elsewhere in the country as well as comparable leadership development programs here in Charlotte when determining our fee structure. Many employers underwrite the cost because of the obvious value to the individual, the company and the community relations that the program builds; however, partial scholarships are available and will be awarded based on need. In the event a scholarship is not available, we are also willing to work out payment plans with participants on a case-by-case basis. Please see the application form for additional information.

What CLT alumni have to say about their experience in the program…

Additional Questions

Contact Katherine Mooring at cltprogram@artsandscience.org.

The ASC’s CLT program is an invaluable asset and provides immeasurable benefits to participants, nonprofit organizations and the Greater Charlotte community. The CLT program develops and supports the next generation of civic leaders and goes a step further to provide opportunities for board service that might not otherwise be available. Through the CLT program, I was able to gain my first true board experience and subsequently have the opportunity to serve on many other boards, including boards of state and national organizations. I am so grateful for this program and recommend it to everyone.

My participation in the CLT Program prepared me to become an effective board member of a not for profit organization. The program also introduces you to many not for profit organizations so you can make an educated decision on where you will fit best as a board member. By going through this program, you will be sought after to participate on boards in the Charlotte area.

CLT has been such a great experience, as expected. As a relative newcomer to Charlotte, I was looking for involvement opportunities that immersed me in the community, developed my leadership skills and aligned with my personal interests. The cultural focus of this program is spot on, and I have learned so much and met some truly dynamic people along the way. I would highly recommend CLT to those interested in having a future impact on Charlotte's thriving cultural sector.

My participation in the CLT Program allowed me to truly identify where my passion lies and where I want to spend my volunteer time. Going into the program, I was sure that I knew what type of organization I wanted to join, but after being exposed to the numerous organizations across the county, I found one whose mission truly spoke to me. I ended up in a smaller organization that targeted a different audience than I’d been seeking initially. I am now very engaged in the organization and dedicated to helping achieve its mission. Thanks to the CLT Program for providing me with access to such a diverse group of organizations!

One of the best programs, I have attended! This program gave me an amazing foundation of my role as a board member and the responsibility to the non-profit whether it is a working board, a member, or an affiliate. The key highlights that I enjoyed were digging into the mission and vision of the organization, understanding the financials, realizing how I can impact the organization, and how it is more than just a position or a title. Lastly, it was a great framework, to understand the cycle of a non-profit, so you know where and how you can give an immediate lift or insight.

As a native Charlottean, I thought I had a really strong grasp of the arts and cultural offerings in Charlotte. I was wrong…dead wrong. ASC’s CLT program blew me away. Each session introduces you to a new facet of Charlotte’s vibrant cultural community through informational lectures and hands-on experiences. The CLT program invigorated my passion for the arts and community service. The program not only prepared me to serve on the board of an arts and cultural organization, it opened my eyes to see the power of art in my community.

Serving on a non-profit board has been a leadership goal of mine for years. My biggest hurdle was understanding what the needs of the Charlotte community currently are, and marrying those needs to non-profit boards who are seeking new board members. This is where the CLT leadership program through the Arts and Science Council has come into play. The program has allowed me to learn about how non-profit boards function, the financial obligations that come with serving on a non-profit board, as well as the legal obligations that are essential for all board members to understand. I feel prepared as I embark upon the journey of serving on a non-profit board later this year, and my future board membership opportunities would not have been possible without the CLT leadership program.

Although I had lived in Charlotte for many years, I never took the time to contribute to the cultural community. Participating in the CLT Program opened my eyes to the many cultural organizations in the Charlotte region and prepared me to be a board member for an organization I am very excited about. The CLT program was fun, and I met a lot of really cool people by participating in it.