ROZSA FOUNDATIONS OF ARTS LEADERSHIP
Presented in partnership with
The Rozsa Foundation has partnered with the University of Calgary's Haskayne School of Business Executive & Professional Development to provide this professional development program for arts managers & leaders to help ensure Alberta’s vibrant arts and culture sector continues to enrich us all.
Rozsa Foundations of Arts Leadership is a cohort-based program that provides practical customized content taught by Haskayne business faculty and Alberta arts and non-profit professionals.
Foundations is an evolution of the Rozsa Arts Management Program (RAMP), which has been offered through Executive Education - Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary since 2012.
2026-2027 PROGRAM
The 2026-2027 program will be offered with some sessions presented virtually and others presented in person in Calgary. There will be in-person gatherings in addition to the program content to allow for networking.
Sessions this year will include the following: Indigenous Worldviews, Personal Leadership, Building Your Brand, Community Engagement, Building Better Teams, and Strategic Thinking, along with the four Intersections listed in the schedule below.
WHO WILL BENEFIT
Arts professionals with 3+ years of experience from all disciplines and roles including (but not limited to): program administrators, project coordinators, general managers, artistic directors/producers, arts business owners, community builders, arts volunteers, and board members.
Rozsa Foundations of Arts Leadership
at a Glance
Who should apply?
Arts professionals with 3+ years of experience
When is Foundations?
The next Rozsa Foundations of Arts Leadership takes place from
September 23, 2026 to April 8, 2027.
What is the tuition for Foundations?
Tuition for 2026-2027 is between $200-$1500, depending on the budget size of the applicant's affiliated organization.
When can I apply?
Applications for Foundations 2026-2027 are now open, and the deadline to apply is June 26, 2026. Eligible Applications received after this date will be placed on a waiting list.
The Rozsa Foundation acknowledges that systemic barriers to equity exist when it comes to the Training application process. We encourage you to contact Director of Training, Samantha MacDonald if we may provide additional supports or alternative application methods.
DESCRIPTION
Rozsa Foundations of Arts Leadership (previously known as Rozsa Arts Management Program ) offers developing arts leaders an exploration of leadership capacities, team development, organizational relationships, and community connections – all moving from the context of the individual to the collective. The program investigates theories of leadership and strategic frameworks while developing practical skills like building organizational brand, financial literacy, advocacy, governance, and more.
Foundations is a unique program designed to address the specific needs of arts managers and leaders through content that is both relevant and practical and while providing an important opportunity for peers to network and learn together.
Graduates of the program receive a certificate of completion that signifies a commitment to organizational excellence and professional development. On a macro scale, this program aims to increase sector standards by supporting consistency in best practices and providing a transferable framework for excellence in arts management.
Rozsa Foundations of Arts Leadership culminates in a Capstone Project designed by the participant (in consultation with a program advisor) that builds on program learnings with a practical application. This Capstone Project is intended to address a meaningful challenge or opportunity for the participant within their organizational or individual context.
The Foundations program consists of six core sessions and four Intersections sessions. Intersections are four-hour in-person training opportunities that offer a chance for arts leaders at varying stages of their career from across the sector to learn together. By opening Intersections to both our training participants and the greater arts leadership community, our hope is to foster collaborative learning, problem solving, and knowledge exchange.
Find out more about Intersections here: https://www.rozsafoundation.com/intersections
Snippets from the 2024–2025 RAMP Graduation Celebration
Photos by Mike Tan
FOUNDATIONS LEARNING OUTCOMES
-
Identify practical strategies to move your organization forward including through brand building and community engagement
-
Apply strategic thinking to tangible projects within your organization
-
Practice leadership in a values-led, ethical way
-
Foster an inclusive, respectful work culture
-
Implement collaborative learning principles to allow ongoing knowledge exchange
MORE ABOUT THE CAPSTONE PROJECTS
A critical success measure for the Foundations program is that learnings are applied to real, relevant, and timely challenges and opportunities. The Capstone Projects provide a meaningful way for participants to practically apply program content, assess knowledge gained, and utilize critical thinking and effective communication to drive a project forward. Your Capstone Project offers a tangible outcome for you and/or your organization. Informed by the Foundations and Intersections sessions, and in consultation with a program advisor, your unique project will be crafted over your time in the program and presented in-person on the final day to your cohort, faculty, and staff of the Rozsa Foundation and Haskayne School of Business, Executive Education.
Foundations graduates may be eligible to apply for funding to support the realization of their Capstone Project through the Rozsa Foundation’s Capstone Funding program.
Find out more about the Capstone Projects here: https://www.rozsafoundation.com/capstone
TUITION
The Rozsa Foundation requires a financial investment from individuals or the organizations they work with in order to secure their spot in the program. Please note that the amount that an organization pays depends on the organization's operating budget:
-
$200 - Individual (currently not working in a non-profit or registered charity)
-
$300 - Non-profit/Registered Charity: Operating Budget less than $300,000
-
$750 - Non-profit/Registered Charity: Operating Budget between $300,001-$1,000,000
-
$1500 - Non-profit/Registered Charity: Operating Budget more than $1,000,001
Applicants may contact the Rozsa Foundation for information on further subsidies (this includes board members and contracted staff of arts organizations).
For those participants who will be traveling to Calgary for the in person sessions the Foundation will have subsidies available for travel and accommodation.
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
**indicates an in-person session in Calgary
Core Sessions & Intersections
NOTE: The Foundations program requires a time commitment of approximately 90 hours over 7 months, including both contact and self-directed hours.
Core sessions typically occur on Wednesdays from 10:00 am - 2:30 pm
Intersections typically occur on Wednesdays from 10:00 am - 3 pm
-
September 23: Welcome and Orientation (10am-12pm)
-
October 7: Core Session 1 - Indigenous Worldviews**
-
October 8: Core Session 2 – Personal Leadership**
-
October 21: Intersections 1 – Financial Literacy
-
November 18: Intersections 2 – Revenue Strategies**
-
December 2: Core Session 3 – Building Your Brand
-
January 6: Core Session 4 – Community Engagement
-
February 3: Intersections 3 – Boards & Governance**
-
February 17: Core Session 5 – Building Better Teams
-
March 3: Intersections 4 - Arts Advocacy for Impact
-
March 17: Core Session 6 – Strategic Thinking
Capstone Project Coaching Dates
There are three coaching sessions presented during the Foundations course: two 75-minute coaching sessions with your assigned Capstone learning group, and one half-day full-cohort coaching and shareback session. Capstone groups will be assigned a 75-minute timeslot on one of the two dates listed below (sessions 1 & 3):
-
Coaching #1
-
November 4 (9:30 am-1:15 pm)
-
November 5 (12-3:45 pm)
-
-
Coaching #2
-
December 9 (10am-5 pm)** [full cohort coaching and shareback]
-
-
Coaching #3
-
January 20 (9:30 am-1:15 pm)
-
January 21 (12-3:45 pm)
-
Capstone Project Presentations
-
April 8 (10 am-3 pm)**
Other In-Person Events
-
October 7: Reception (3:30-5 pm)
-
December 9: Winter Social (6:30-9 pm)
-
April 8: Certificate Ceremony & Celebration (3-5 pm)
ATTENDANCE AND PROGRAM COMPLETION:
The Rozsa Foundation is making an investment in the success of Foundations participants by heavily subsidizing tuition for the program. In exchange for this support, participants are expected to commit themselves to this program and their peers. A participant is considered a program graduate after the following has been completed:
-
Attendance at the live online Orientation Session
-
Attendance at 4 live online core sessions (absences may be permitted in exceptional circumstances)
-
Attendance at 3 in-person sessions including two core (one two-day session) & two Capstone
-
Attendance at 4 Intersections sessions*
-
Attendance at 2 live online Capstone Project coaching sessions
-
Beneficial and supportive engagement with cohort, notably the Capstone Project learning group.
-
Completion of Capstone Project and shareback to Foundations cohort and Faculty
-
Completion of the Foundations program’s final evaluation (20-minute commitment)
If you have concerns about attendance, please contact Director of Training, Samantha MacDonald.
* Participants may have the option to opt out of one Intersections session dependent on prior experience.
WHAT PAST PARTICIPANTS HAVE SAID:
It felt great to learn new skills and challenge myself on how to apply them in my work; my confidence in leadership improved and I think my confidence overall has improved as well.
Foundations 25/26
Participant
Foundations gave me a much stronger base of knowledge about each key aspect of arts orgs and pushed me to think deeper about our processes and what we can do to improve...
Foundations 25/26Participant
I appreciated the spirit of flexibility, warmth, and support that was maintained throughout the program. My sense of belonging was continuously affirmed.
Foundations 25/26Participant
As a new generation of creative leaders emerge, programs like RAMP help grow their capacity, confidence and clarity of vision. Thank you.
Laurel Green,
High Performance Rodeo
RAMP has been helpful and eye-opening in helping me improve what I know about the arts and what I am doing.
Brian Batista
Atelier Artista
RAMP gave me a good understanding of the challenges faced by other members of my organization and encouraged me to try harder to apply leadership principles from within our team.
Amanda MacKay
Leighton Art Centre