Cultural Leadership: Reflecting Forward with Wise Practices - November 2026

What does it mean to lead well in today's arts and culture sector? How do you know you're making the right decision for yourself, your organization, and your community? What does it look like to be strategic and thoughtful while managing risk in a rapidly evolving sector?

Leadership in the arts and culture sector is complex, dynamic, and deeply connected to community. This program invites emerging and experienced leaders to explore leadership through the lens of Indigenous wise practices, right relations, deep listening, self-inquiry, and leadership as a means, not a destination.

Over six days, participants will reflect on their leadership values and experiences while learning alongside a peer cohort of cultural leaders. Participants will be given an opportunity to bring cultural challenges into the room and work through them using wise practice principles.

Together, we will delve into areas such as governance, strategic thinking, organizational development, cultural policy and protocols, and community engagement — not as isolated skills, but as interconnected elements of resilient, values-based leadership.

Program highlights:

• Wise Practices Leadership Competencies
• Leadership as Practice
• Designing for Action: Social Network Mapping
• Strategic Thinking in a Changing Sector
• Self-inquiry, Reflection, Land-based Deep Listening
• Collaborative Decision Making
• Insights from the Inside: Converse with CEOs