ROZSA ESSENTIALS OF ARTS ADMINISTRATION
(Formerly Rozsa Admin Fundamentals Training or RAFT)
PURPOSE
We recognize that there are many paths to arts administration. Some may enter the field as a practicing artist, a volunteer in an arts organization, or as a passionate supporter of the arts.
Wherever you are coming from, the Essentials program is for:
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Anyone working or volunteering in the arts for less than 3 years looking to gain more knowledge on arts management
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Founders of new arts or community organizations who seek knowledge in organizational development
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Arts professionals seeking knowledge in project management, career growth, community engagement and developing new networks.
DESCRIPTION
Essentials is designed to provide skills and knowledge needed by early career art professionals. This includes, but is not limited to, artists, culture professionals, arts managers, consultants, and community leaders.
Participants will acquire skills through the lens of a fictional case-study story facilitated through speaking roles, discussions, role-playing, and a small group presentation.
Topics covered include:
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Organizational structure (non-profit vs charitable status)
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Board development and staff relations
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Financial statements and budgeting
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Strategic planning (mission, vision, values, goals, objectives, SWOT analysis, and evaluation)
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Project planning and management
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Community engagement
Upon successful completion of the Rozsa Essentials of Arts Administration program, you will be able to:
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Explain the real-life challenges and opportunities of being a not-for-profit art organization.
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Review a financial statement presented at a not-for-profit board.
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Evaluate an organization’s mission, vision, and value statement.
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Identify the main components that make up a strategic plan.
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Discuss the importance of doing evaluations.
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Construct a project plan based on answering the questions of who, what, where, when, why, and how much for organizations
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Develop and manage individual artistic projects and or programs.
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Rozsa Essentials of Arts
Administration
at a Glance
Who should apply?
Early career staff/volunteers of arts organizations with 0-3 years of work/volunteer experience.
How is Rozsa Essentials of Arts Administration delivered?
In-person Essentials is a 2-day convening, including 15 hours of instruction time, and up to 2.5 hours of asynchronous (self-directed) homework/group work,taking place in Calgary.
Virtual Essentials is a 20-hour program; including 17.5 hours of real-time (synchronous) and 2.5 hours of asynchronous (self-directed) homework/group work,taking place over 4 days.
When is the next Essentials program?
September 25 & 26, 2026
(In-person)
9am to 5pm
Application deadline: Friday, August 14, 2026
by 5 pm Mountain Time*
Attendance at each session is required for completion.
Capacity is limited and applications are processed in the order they are received.
FUTURE SESSIONS
January 11, 13, 18 & 20, 2027
(Virtual)
10am to 2pm
February 19, 20, 26 & 27, 2027
(Virtual)
10am to 2pm
April 9 & 10, 2027
(In-person)
9am to 5pm
May 28 & 29, June 4 & 5, 2027
(Virtual)
10am to 2pm
What is the tuition for Essentials?:
$100/person**
*The Rozsa Foundation acknowledges that systemic barriers to equity exist when it comes to the Training application process and program experience.
**We recognize that a tuition fee may present a barrier to participation. A limited number of tuition waivers are available.
The Rozsa Foundation commits to offering one ASL accessible Essentials session per year. For 2025/2026 our January session will be offering this support, as needed. Please let us know how we can support you.
Please email Samantha MacDonald, Director of Training, should you need support in these areas.
Toyin Oladele instructs RAFT Fall 2023 in the Atelier Artista art studio at cSPACE Marda Loop.
Photo by Motif Photography.
OUR FACILITATORS
Kodie Rollan (he/him)
Kodie Rollan is a Philippine-born, Scarborough-raised, Mohkins’tsis-based playwright, dramaturg, lyricist, and producer. He is very excited to continue his work with the Rozsa Foundation and growing in his arts leadership practice. As an arts leader, Kodie is passionate about community-building, creating spaces for shared storytelling, and arts equity within the nonprofit sector.
He received his Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and his Masters in Arts Leadership from Queen’s University. He is currently the Artistic Director of Chromatic Theatre and was recently the Assistant Dramaturg for the Playwrights Lab at the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity. Outside of the artistic world, Kodie is an avid basketball fan who still continuously celebrates the 2019 NBA Champions, the Toronto Raptors.
Toyin Oladele (she/her)
Toyin Oladele is a global practitioner working at the intersection of arts and culture, service design, social impact, and systems thinking. Rooted in her journey from Nigeria to Canada, she brings over a decade of experience in innovation, cultural leadership, and human‑centred transformation.
Toyin’s work blends cultural intelligence, trauma‑informed practice, and people‑centred leadership to help organizations and leaders navigate complexity with clarity and care.
Toyin founded the Immigrant Council for Arts Innovation, where she has led community‑engaged arts initiatives, supported immigrant and equity‑seeking arts professionals, and strengthened cultural institutions through programs that centre belonging, identity, and creative expression.
Through Lamas Consulting Inc., she supports nonprofits, arts organizations, and foundations in redesigning systems, building resilient teams, and embedding culturally grounded leadership practices.
Her contributions have been recognized through the John Hobday Award in Arts Management, Avenue Calgary Top 40 Under 40, the City of Calgary Award, and the ATB/Calgary Arts Development Cultural Leaders Legacy Award.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in French Language and Literature and an Executive MBA from Queen’s University.
The Rozsa Foundation values equity, diversity and inclusion in our programs. We welcome and encourage applications for the Rozsa Essentials of Arts Administration from arts leaders who identify as 2SLGBTQQIA+ (Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, + other sexual or gender minority identities), Indigenous people, Persons of Colour, New Canadians, Deaf Persons, Persons with Disabilities, and Persons Living with Mental Illness.