Discover the New Horizons of Arts Leadership

by Lisa Mackay

After a year of research, interviews, and community consultation, the Rozsa Foundation recently launched our latest professional development training program: Rozsa Horizons of Arts Leadership. This program is new to the community, so I asked Rozsa's Director of Training, Samantha MacDonald, to describe it in detail for our readers. Below is a short interview to explore the program and its underlying philosophy.

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Understanding Rozsa Horizons of Arts Leadership

Lisa: Samantha, what can you tell us about Rozsa Horizons of Arts Leadership?

Samantha: Horizons is the newest addition to the Rozsa Foundation's professional development offerings. Like our other formal training programs, it’s a cohort-based intensive format. However, Horizons specifically targets experienced, senior leadership within arts organizations in Alberta.

Transitioning from Previous Programs

Lisa: I know that our shorter foundational program, previously called Rozsa Admin Fundamentals Training or RAFT, is now the Essentials of Arts Leadership program. Similarly, the Rozsa Art Management Program, or RAMP, is now called Foundations of Arts Management. Is Horizons of Arts Management the same as the previous Rozsa Executive Arts Leadership (REAL) program?

Samantha: Actually, none of the programs are just about renaming. Both Essentials and Foundations have been redesigned and updated significantly. Horizons is entirely new. We started from scratch and conducted extensive consultations for this program. We aimed to understand what experienced, senior arts leaders seek in their professional development and the challenges they face. Our goal is to meet arts leaders where they are in 2025, a time marked by complexity and ever-changing landscapes in funding, audiences, programming, and community relevance. The program emphasizes readiness for change. Participants will leave knowing what changes may be necessary within their organizations and how to implement those changes. After the program, we plan to create a supportive environment for them to test change models they develop.

The Concept of a Supported Environment

Lisa: What does a “supported environment” look like?

Samantha: Great question! After completing the program, we will ask graduates to identify a small change-based experiment that has potential future implications for their organization. They will have the opportunity to test it out without risking their budgets. This setup is similar to the funding we offer Foundations participants to bring their Capstone projects to life. Horizons graduates can apply for funding to undertake their experiments and receive one-on-one coaching from our Organizational Strategy Advisor, Jennifer DeDominicis, to support their efforts.

The Importance of Change Readiness

Lisa: Wow, that sounds exciting! Can I ask why the new program focuses so much on change and readiness for change?

Samantha: In our community consultations, it became clear that arts managers and leaders feel they are at a unique and pivotal moment. Arts organizations are facing tightening financial realities, shifting cultural values, and the cumulative impact of burnout. Existing systems and structures are no longer suitable. As a sector, we need to explore how we can shift, innovate, and find renewal. We hope to offer arts leaders new horizons to aim for.

Program Structure and Sessions

Lisa: Can you tell me a little more about the program and how it will catalyze this conversation about change?

Samantha: Absolutely! I will take you through the program from beginning to end. We were deliberate in how we built each session on the previous one. Beginning in November, the Horizons cohort will meet in person four times over seven months, with each convening consisting of a two-day session.

We start with Cultural Awareness in Leadership, led by the extraordinary Nikki Shaffeeullah. During this session, we will explore how to balance sustainability with flexibility to ensure healthy, just communities. We will also discuss how to welcome generative conflict and build leaderful, creative, and resilient teams.

For the next gathering, on the first day, Jeanne LeSage will lead Leading through Change: The People Side. Here, participants will focus on the people in the organizational ecology and how to balance strategic and operational goals while considering the needs of the team.

We couldn’t build a program about change in 2025 without discussing AI and the ethical issues, risks, and opportunities associated with it. On the second day, Katrina Ingram will lead Ethical AI, guiding participants through dilemmas around AI and how to develop policies for appropriate AI use in the arts.

At the third gathering, Annalise Klingbeil and Alex Middleton of Champion Communications will spend a day unpacking how to navigate communications with boards, staff, and the community in the current socio-political climate, especially during uncertainty or controversy, in Strategic Communications. The second day will focus on using embodied practice to explore leadership models and examine our patterns in Relational Leadership in Action, led by Shannon Litzenberger.

Finally, we will conclude the program with Jennifer DeDominicis, Brian Loevner, and our own Simon Mallett in a two-day session titled Shaping the Shift: Designing Change in the Arts. This session will synthesize key learnings from the broader program. Participants will leave with frameworks and insights around leading change with confidence. We hope this final session will help leaders chart realistic, actionable paths forward.

Application Process and Deadlines

Lisa: It sounds fantastic! How do people apply? And what’s the deadline?

Samantha: They can apply through the Rozsa Foundation website: rozsafoundation.com/horizons, and they have until 3 October. In Edmonton and Calgary, participants will have half of their tuition covered through the generosity of the Edmonton Arts Council and Calgary Arts Development. People are welcome to contact me with any questions!

Thanks to Samantha for taking the time to walk me through the program! For those with great enthusiasm and little time to read, here’s the TL;DR:

• Horizons is a completely new program for experienced senior arts leaders.

• It begins in November 2025.

• It comprises four two-day gatherings, covering six different sessions.

• The program centers on high-level discussions about managing change in the arts.

• It culminates in a post-program funding opportunity with one-on-one coaching.

• Applications close on October 3, 2025.

  
  

If you are applying in Edmonton or Calgary, the wonderful Edmonton Arts Council and Calgary Arts Development have both offered to fund HALF of your tuition. A big thank you to them for supporting arts leaders!

If you have more questions, please check the website at rozsafoundation.com/horizons or send Samantha an email.

Check out Horizons!