DeVos Global Executive Arts Management Fellowship

The DeVos Global Executive Arts Management Fellowship is a three-year professional development programme for senior leaders responsible for managing arts, cultural, heritage and humanities organisations.

Led by DeVos Institute Chairman Michael M. Kaiser and President Brett Egan, the fellowship combines intensive management training with peer learning, professional networking, strategic reflection and direct application within each Fellow's organisation.

Fellows attend a four-week residency each summer for three consecutive years. The 2027 residency will take place in Washington, D.C. from 6 to 30 July 2027. Dates for the 2028 and 2029 residencies are expected to follow a similar pattern but have not yet been confirmed.

The curriculum covers areas including strategic planning, leadership, fundraising, marketing, governance, financial management, human resources, organisational sustainability, organisational turnarounds and current developments affecting arts management.

The programme is grounded in the DeVos Institute's management philosophy, The Cycle. Fellows use their own organisations as the context for developing and refining practical strategies throughout the fellowship.

Participants also engage with experienced arts and cultural leaders, visiting specialists, case studies, site visits and other Fellows from different countries and artistic disciplines.

• Currently work in a full-time, paid and permanent executive position within an arts, culture, heritage or humanities non-profit organisation.
• Hold a role such as CEO, President, Executive Director, General Director, Managing Director, General Manager, Deputy Director, Vice President or a comparable senior leadership position.
• Report directly to the organisation's Board of Directors or equivalent, or to the CEO or equivalent.
• Have strategic responsibility across the organisation's core functions.
• Work for an organisation with at least three full-time staff members or equivalent.
• Work for an organisation with an operating budget of at least US$250,000 or €220,000 equivalent.
• Have an excellent command of written and spoken business English.
• Be able to commit to the complete three-year fellowship.
• Be available for approximately four weeks in July or early August for three consecutive summers.
• Be currently employed; the fellowship is not designed for applicants who are unemployed.
• Be working in executive rather than solely artistic leadership.

• Fully subsidized participation in the fellowship programme.
• Air and ground transportation between the fellowship residency and the Fellow's state or country of residence.
• Lodging during the residency.
• Private studio accommodation with an efficiency kitchen for eligible non-local Fellows.
• Per diem to cover meals and incidental living expenses during the residency.
• Visa sponsorship for international Fellows.
• Reimbursement of necessary visa charges, subject to appropriate documentation.
• Programme materials.
• Intensive executive training in arts and non-profit management.
• Strategic planning exercises and organisational case-based learning.
• Access to experienced DeVos Institute leadership and visiting practitioners.
• Peer learning and networking with senior arts executives from different countries.
• Engagement with multiple fellowship cohorts across the three-year programme.

The official public programme page does not provide a detailed checklist of supporting documents required within the application.

Applicants should complete:

• The official online fellowship application form.
• Any supporting information or documents specifically requested within the Qualtrics application portal.

• Senior executive responsibility within an eligible organisation.
• Strategic responsibility across core organisational functions.
• A position from which fellowship learning can be applied directly to the organisation.
• Readiness to develop and refine long-term organisational strategies.
• Strong engagement with arts, culture, heritage or humanities leadership.
• Ability to benefit from strategic training, mentorship, peer learning and reflection.
• Curiosity and willingness to engage deeply with an intensive collaborative programme.
• Strong business-English communication.
• Ability to commit fully to the three-year fellowship structure.

• Receive intensive executive training specifically designed for arts and cultural leaders.
• Apply strategic learning directly to challenges within your current organisation.
• Strengthen skills in leadership, fundraising, marketing, governance and financial management.
• Learn from experienced international arts-management practitioners.
• Develop long-term organisational strategies over three consecutive years.
• Build relationships with senior cultural leaders from different countries and sectors.
• Engage with several fellowship cohorts across the programme.
• Become part of an established global network of DeVos Institute Fellows and alumni.