Performances + Events
New England Conservatory is proud to announce the 2026 Arts Leadership Institute: Summer Intensive, a two-week program designed for those who aspire to lead in the arts-management field. The course will be offered in two parts, beginning online, June 15 through June 20, and continuing in person on the NEC campus June 21 through June 27.
The Arts Leadership Institute, geared toward recent college graduates and early career professionals (ages 18 and older), will be taught by some of the most respected and admired leaders from across the performing arts. Guest faculty include independent consultant and mentor Lydia Connolly, 21C Media Group Founding Partner and Managing Director Jessica Lustig, Boston Symphony Orchestra General Manager Tyler Rand, former WGBH Music General Manager Tony Rudel, Boston Lyric Opera Artistic Director Nina Yoshida Nelsen, and Intermusica New York Director Martin Wittenberg, among others.
“Leadership in our field requires strategic, innovative thinking, versatility, and meaningful collaboration,” Conservatory President Andrea Kalyn said. “Through the Arts Leadership Institute, aspiring administrators will gain invaluable insight into our industry’s best practices and the opportunities and challenges that come with creative leadership in an ever-changing performing-arts landscape.”
“We think the impact can be greatest on those who are embarking today on arts-management careers,” Dean and Chief Artistic Officer Hank Mou said. “We want them to shape the future of our industry.”
Thirty participants will gain invaluable insight into performing-arts administration, marketing, and artist management through an immersive curriculum featuring interactive panel discussions, real-world case studies, individualized advising sessions, and collaborative project work. Participants will be grouped in small cohorts to foster peer learning and professional networking.
The experience, culminating in group presentations, will equip emerging arts leaders with the strategic knowledge, practical skills, and industry perspective needed to navigate and shape the future of the performing arts.
Learn more about and apply to the Arts Leadership Institute: Summer Intensive.
