Intersection for the Arts proudly announces our new THRIVE: A BIPOC Arts Leadership Program, a 10-week program (May 3 – July 12, 2025). The application deadline is March 15, 2025, by 12 AM (midnight) PST. 

THRIVE provides BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) arts leaders, visionaries, changemakers, and culture bearers resources and skills so they can grow community, belonging, and confidence rooted in power. 

PROGRAM FEATURES

• 15 participant cohort
• Instructors: Aimee Espiritu, Anthem Salgado & Yesenia Sanchez
• No required “homework”
• 6 sessions: two in-person retreats (4.5 hrs each) in San Francisco and four sessions on Zoom (2 hours each), plus 1 hour of individual coaching with program instructors
• 20 hours total

IMPORTANT DATES 

• Application Deadline: Sat, March 15, 2025, by 12 AM PST 
  Spots are limited! We highly encourage submitting before the deadline! 
• Applicants notified of participation: Thur, April 3, 2025

APPLICATION PROCESS 

• Application (Estimated 30-45 minute application process) 
• 15-minute interview with Intersection to discuss your application responses in more detail.

TUITION 

$600

We strongly believe in organizations sponsoring employees’ tuition costs for this program.

To our fellow Bay Area Arts organizations: we highly encourage offering to sponsor the THRIVE tuition cost for your employees to help build a thriving arts ecosystem! If you are employed, we encourage you to contact your organization’s leadership for sponsorship of this opportunity.

If your organization cannot cover the tuition fee, or if you’re applying as an individual artist and need financial assistance, please email Sloane Larsen at [email protected].

Additionally, THRIVE may be eligible for funding from Center for Cultural Innovation’s Quick Grant. CCI’s Quick Grant application deadline is April 15.

APPLY TO THRIVE - DEADLINE MARCH 15, 2025

We dream of a thriving arts ecosystem where BIPOC leaders shape programs from a place of creativity and wellness, not scarcity. In this visionary world, knowledge flows freely through collaborative networks, creating strong communities that celebrate diverse perspectives. Here, equitable access to resources means that BIPOC arts leaders can focus on innovation and growth while staying true to their values and cultural foundations.

Now more than ever, Intersection recognizes the vital need for equity and diversity in the leadership of Bay Area arts organizations. We also realize that many “traditional” leadership development programs are built on systems that focus on individualistic leadership models and status-based career advancement. Even fewer programs exist that address the unique needs of BIPOC leaders. 

THRIVE: A BIPOC Arts Leadership Program is not your typical leadership program. This program will focus on the importance of empowering participants to hold leadership positions while acknowledging their cultural perspectives, values rooted in community, and authentic collective representation. It is based on a collaborative, community-based learning model and offers tailored strategies to navigate systemic barriers in the workplace and within the arts ecosystem.

In keeping with our belief in the power of community and collaboration, this program was designed with a group of multidisciplinary, multigenerational BIPOC Arts Leaders working at the intersections of arts and social justice. Meet the THRIVE Advisory Council here. This program is underwritten by the San Francisco Arts Commission’s Cultural Equity Initiative.

Intersection for the Arts is providing this resource to our community in recognition that over half of our membership identifies as BIPOC and have identified additional support needed around leadership. This program is open to all who identify as needing these resources.

APPLY TO THRIVE - DEADLINE MARCH 15, 2025