Leadership Programs

Exchanges and residencies for young professionals in the arts and culture serve several purposes: they are a tool for professional development, an incentive to careers in the arts and arts management, and a stimulus to international cooperation.

Open World: Russian Cultural Leaders
 Since 1999, the Open World Russian Leadership Program of the U.S. Congress has brought groups of young Russian professionals in different fields to the United States. Open World’s goal is to provide opportunities for the future generation of Russian leaders in such fields as justice, legislative work and business to meet and network with their U.S. counterparts and to experience American life and culture firsthand. In the summer of 2003, the program expanded to include cultural leaders: young Russian artists and arts managers. Support for the cultural program is provided through partnership and funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Arts Leadership Fellows (ALF)
 This new program seeks to strengthen Arts Management and infrastructure for supporting the arts in Russia and Central Asia, through a professional exchange program for arts managers.

Jubilee Fellowships (2003-2006)
 A U.S. cultural exchange initiative for young, mid-career arts managers from Russia. Competitively selected participants were placed at U.S. arts organizations for month-long residencies and attended a professional conference or workshop in their field. This program was replaced with CEC ArtsLink's ALF Program (see above).