Leading with Purpose (Banff Centre)

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AFA News All disciplines Southern Alberta Residencies

DEADLINE: November 3, 2026 - 5:00 pm

Application Deadline: November 3, 2026
Program Dates: January 17 to 22, 2027

Overview  

Whether leading a capital campaign, guiding organizational transformation, launching a major initiative, or preparing for a larger role, arts and cultural leaders need practical frameworks, trusted peers, and the ability to make sound decisions under pressure. This program helps participants expand their organizational leadership capacity and prepare for the responsibilities that accompany growth, change, and increased accountability.

As a complement to Banff Centre's Wise Practices in Arts Leadership course, Leading with Purpose explores how purpose, self-awareness, and relationship-centred leadership inform strategic decision-making, resource stewardship, and organizational effectiveness. Through real-world case studies, experiential learning, peer learning, and practical application, participants will gain the tools and perspectives needed to guide teams, navigate uncertainty, and create lasting impact.

Description

Drawing on real-world leadership dilemmas, the course challenges participants to think beyond operational management and toward organizational leadership. Topics include team development, fundraising as a leadership function, strategic choice-making, audience relevance, organizational resilience, and navigating uncertainty in a rapidly changing environment. Participants will also examine the dynamics of senior leadership teams, exploring how power, influence, competing priorities, and organizational tensions shape decision-making, and how these forces can be harnessed to strengthen alignment, purpose, and performance.

Program highlights

  • Develop executive leadership and organizational management skills for increasingly complex environments
  • Explore purpose-driven approaches to strategic decision-making
  • Strengthen your capacity to align teams, nurture relationships, shape culture, navigate power, and steward change
  • Examine fundraising, audience engagement, and strategy through a leadership lens
  • Learn practical approaches to managing resources, priorities, and organizational growth
  • Work through real-world case studies drawn from the arts and cultural sector
  • Connect with peers navigating similar leadership challenges

Requirements

This program is designed for arts, heritage, and creative industries professionals working in organizations of any size and across all art forms, including visual arts, galleries, museums, theatre, dance, opera, film, music, and literature. 

Limited funding is available. For more information and to apply.