Environmental Scan and Evaluations of Cultural Leadership Programs
The Canada Council for the Arts engaged Prairie Research Associates (PRA) to research cultural leadership and to evaluate two of its international cultural leadership programs.
Research goal
PRA conducted an environmental scan focused on the current state of arts leadership development in Canada and elsewhere, including gaps, needs, successful models, and best practices.
PRA also undertook evaluations of two international cultural leadership programs:
- The International Society for the Performing Arts Canadian Fellowship Program, and
- The Salzburg Global Forum for Young Cultural Innovators.
The evaluations were conducted to support the Canada Council in understanding the relevance and effectiveness of these programs and to identify areas of improvement.
Methods
The environmental scan included a literature review focussed on recent scholarship related to cultural leadership, interviews, and a scan of cultural leadership programs encompassing Canadian and international programs and initiatives.
The evaluation included a document and literature review, interviews with Canada Council staff and partner organizations, and focus groups with Canadian fellows.
Outcomes
The environmental scan concluded that:
- Movement away from hierarchical organizational and leadership structures is critical to addressing social justice issues and business challenges.
- More leadership programs aimed at historically underrepresented groups are needed to promote diverse leadership, address their specific concerns, and build supportive networks.
- Digital literacy and digital leadership skills are in short supply within cultural leadership.
The evaluation concluded that:
- Both programs develop key international and cross-cultural competencies, supporting cultural exchanges, development, and cooperation.
- Some participants found it difficult to articulate the expectations of the program.
- Some participants expressed a desire for more support related to networking.
- Participants benefitted from the development of personal connections, which sometimes led to new projects or collaborations.
Key recommendations from the evaluation included:
- Clarify the purpose and objectives of both programs for applicants and participants.
- Broaden communication and outreach.
- Adjust funding to better support participants who experience financial barriers to participation.
- Consider how to better support the Canadian cohorts over the longer term, such as increased assistance for and/or a rethinking of the grant-funded post-Program activities.
The Canada Council is integrating the findings and recommendations from this research to guide its support for cultural leadership.
Read the Executive Summary
Questions?
Please contact the Research, Measurement and Data Analytics Section at research@canadacouncil.ca.