National Leaders of Color Fellowship
An eight-month online leadership development experience, curated by Creative West (formerly WESTAF).
About The National Leaders of Color Fellowship
Arts Midwest is partnering with the other United States Regional Arts Organizations (USRAOs) for The National Leaders of Color Fellowship program (LoCF). LoCF is a transformative leadership development experience curated by Creative West (formerly WESTAF) to establish multicultural leadership in the creative and cultural sector.
During this no-cost eight-month fellowship, selected fellows receive:
- Access to specialists in the field
- Strategic learning objectives to deepen thought on anti-racist and culturally-oriented leadership practices, and
- National-level network and cohort building.
Upon completion of this program, participants are granted alumni status and have opportunities to collaborate with the USRAO in their region.
The 2024–25 fellowship takes place online and will run from late fall 2024 through early summer of 2025.
We expect that fellows will spend approximately 10 hours a month on the program, including meeting dates listed on the National Leaders of Color Fellowship website and ongoing opportunities to connect with your USRAO.
Applications are due by Sunday, October 13, 2024. Click here to apply.
Get Ready to Apply
Explore application information and a list of resources that applicants may find helpful on the National Leaders of Color Fellowship website.
Join an Information Session
Join Creative West for an information session on September 26 at 5 p.m. MDT.
You’ll get an overview of the LoCF program, a walkthrough the application process and application system, and have a chance to ask questions.
National Leaders of Color Fellowship Stories and Updates
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September 18, 2024
Now Accepting Applications: 2024–25 National Leaders of Color Fellowship
Arts Midwest and the other United States Regional Arts Organizations are now accepting applications for an eight-month leadership development experience for leaders of color.
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Reflections from the Midwestern National Leaders of Color Fellows
May 8, 2024
Anna Gonzalez, L Sam Zhang, and Wakinyan Chief reflect on their work and their experiences thus far in the National Leaders of Color Fellowship.
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Announcing the 2023-24 Midwestern National Leaders of Color Fellows
December 13, 2023
The 8 fellows from Arts Midwest’s region will convene virtually with other Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) arts leaders from across the country in this 8-month program.
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Announcing the 2022-23 Midwestern National Leaders of Color Fellows
October 24, 2022
Today, the six U.S. Regional Arts Organizations announced the 2022-2023 National Leaders of Color Fellowship cohort. Fifty-three fellows from communities across the U.S. were selected to participate in this fellowship to build…