NALAC Leadership Institute

For over 35 years, the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) has delivered programs that stabilize and revitalize the U.S. Latinx/é Arts and Culture sector. We provide advocacy training, grant funding, networking opportunities, and leadership development for artists, arts organizations, and cultural bearers in every region of the country, including Puerto Rico. The following values guide our work:

Advocacy providing a strong voice for arts and culture in all its forms and manifestations for Latinx/é people regardless of ethnicity, religion, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ability.

Empowerment improving the severe under-capitalization of artistic communities of color in general and in particular the Latinx/é arts community.

Equality voicing our repudiation of all forms of discrimination, including but not limited to racism, classism, sexism, ageism, and discrimination against gender identity, sexual orientation, people living with a disability, undocumented populations, and preferred languages.

Ethics guiding our business practices by a strict set of principles that reflect fairness, inclusivity, collectivity, and transparency in all endeavors.

Created in 2001, the NALAC Leadership Institute (NLI) is a week-long fellowship that provides relevant and practical knowledge, skills, and relationship-building within the national arts and culture ecosystem. Through culturally grounded and accessible curriculum, fellows strengthen their leadership and managerial capacities across a wide range of cultural and arts administration topics.

NLI fosters community by creating a dynamic and inclusive space that supports peer-to-peer learning, critical dialogue, and collaborative problem solving. These tools are essential for navigating and addressing complex cultural questions with confidence. Applicants represent communities across diverse Latinidades, multiple generations, and all stages of career development.

We strongly encourage Latinx/é applicants from underrepresented communities within Latinidad, including Black, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, Disabled, and Undocumented folx.

Goals

• Provide effective tools and research that generate creative, empathetic, strategic, and confident cultural leaders.
• Support Fellows with developing core capacities in arts and culture leadership-related areas, such as non-profit management, marketing, and fundraising.
• Advance knowledge in Latinx/é cultural expressions, research, and policy in partnership with Fellows.
• Study the frameworks that inform and affect Latinx/é cultural expression.
• Provide opportunities to build, expand, and deepen Fellows’ professional networks.

Institute Dates

The 2026 NALAC Leadership Institute (NLI) will be hosted from July 18 – July 25, 2026, in San Antonio, TX.

Institute Costs

Please note that the estimated cost below is subject to change. Local and state arts agencies may offer to match tuition and other expenses to attend the institute. Visit the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA): State Arts Agency Directory to locate and contact your state arts agencies for details.

Fellows are responsible for the following estimated costs: $1,490 - $2,290

• Subsidized Tuition – $525 (one week of intensive curriculum sessions in San Antonio, TX)
• Lodging – $700 (eight hotel nights, shared double occupancy) or $1500 (eight hotel nights, single occupancy)
  • NOTE: Fellows who opt out of NALAC's selected hotel are responsible for coordinating and booking their own lodging accommodation, as well as providing ground transportation (see below for more details).
• Meals – $265 (seven dinners on your own, estimated at $37.50 per day)

NALAC will cover the following costs:

• Round-trip travel to San Antonio, TX – Fellows are responsible for coordinating with NALAC's travel agency to book their specific travel arrangements.
• Ground Transportation – Fellows are responsible for coordinating their transportation to and from the airport (NALAC will reimburse this expense with proof of receipt). Fellows who opt out of NALAC’s selected hotel are responsible for coordinating transportation to and from institute venues during the NLI week (NALAC will not reimburse this expense). NALAC will cover daily transportation to and from our institute venue as well as scheduled site visits.
• Daytime Meals – Daily breakfast, lunch, and snacks.

What to Expect During NLI Week

Upon arrival, Fellows will participate in a welcome orientation before beginning institute classes and coursework. Institute days typically run from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CT. The week includes site visits, some of which may take place in the evening. During this one-week intensive training, Fellows will engage with NLI faculty, arts and culture leaders, and special guests. The institute concludes with a celebration of the Fellows’ accomplishments, featuring a keynote speaker at the graduation ceremony. Fellows are expected to attend and actively participate in all aspects of the institute.

Health & Safety Protocols

NALAC is committed to safeguarding the health and well-being of employees, faculty, Fellows, and all attendees during NLI week. COVID-19 safety protocols will be implemented, which may include, but are not limited to, taking an at-home test and submitting results 24 hours before arrival and daily testing. NALAC strongly encourages masking as an act of community care to protect individuals with known or invisible disabilities.

The NALAC Leadership Institute (NLI) curriculum is centered on developing participants’ knowledge base, skill sets, and capacity in the areas of Culturally Relevant Leadership, Intercultural Understanding, and Relational Network Building.

The institute aims to prepare nimble and adaptable leaders who are effectively responsive to change and the evolving needs of their arts practice, organizations, and communities. Guided through various frameworks that will help them lead more strategically and responsibly, participants are asked to reflect and explore their leadership style as well as their personal and/or organizational mission, vision, and values.

The institute provides an overview of the skill sets needed in arts management. Participants will receive training in various areas to strengthen the complex skills necessary to navigate the arts and non-profit sectors.

Class topics may include:

• Mission & Vision
• Fundraising Management
• Governance
• Communications, Visibility & Marketing
• Programming
• People-Centered Management
• Strategic Planning
• Equity & Inclusion Principles & Application
• Budgeting
• Philanthropic Approaches

Faculty

The NALAC Leadership Institute Faculty comprises nationally recognized professionals and leaders in the arts and culture field. In addition to the faculty, the institute includes guest faculty members.

Evonne Gallardo (NLI Faculty) is dedicated to artists, creatives and the entities that serve them and has over 20 years of leadership experience in multiple functional areas of arts and culture management and philanthropy. Evonne serves as Senior Program Director for Community Partners' Intermediary division and leads cross-sector grantmaking efforts for foundation, government and corporate clients with a portfolio of over $30 million. Centering equity, Evonne facilitates the flow of funding from donors to individuals and smaller, often under-invested, nonprofits who are overlooked within mainstream, traditional funding systems. Specialties include the intersections of multi-issue efforts, community and culture, cultural equity approaches to funding, policies and strategies; impact planning; community engagement strategies; and centering artists and creative communities as second responders in times of crisis. In addition to her role at Community Partners, Evonne serves as Vice Chair of the board of directors for Arts for LA—Los Angeles County’s only arts advocacy organization. Evonne received a B.A. in American History at Columbia University, an M.A. in the Sociology of Art from the New School for Social Research in New York City and is an alumnus of the 2003 NALAC Leadership Institute.

Abel Lopez (NALAC Board Member/ALI & NLI Faculty) is Associate Producing Director of GALA Hispanic Theatre and past chair of the board of directors of Americans for the Arts (AFTA), National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC), National Performance Network, Theatre Washington, Theater Communications Group, the Performing Arts Alliance (PAA), Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, the Alliance for Inclusion of the Arts, League of Washington Theatres, Salud, and Leadership Washington, He is also past Chair of the Creative Communities Initiative of the Community Foundation of the National Capital Region; past Chair of the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the Board of Governors of the Helen Hayes Awards. He is a member of the Steering Committee of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies and served on the Steering Committee of the Latinx Theatre Commons.

Lopez also served on the board of directors of Hispanics in Philanthropy, the Smithsonian Latino Center, National Assembly State Arts Agencies, Association of Performing Arts Professionals, The Association of American Cultures, In Series, and the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project. He also served on the boards of directors of Black Women Playwrights Group; the Latino Advisory Council, the Community Board, and the Education Committee of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees. As past chair of GALA Hispanic Theatre, he and Rebecca Medrano, GALA Executive Director, spearheaded a $4.4 million capital campaign to build the GALA Theatre that opened in 2005.

As a director, his productions have been presented in theaters in Washington, DC, Arizona, Texas, Florida, Nevada, California, New York, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Cuba, and Venezuela. Among the honors he has received are the 2016 Herb White Award from DCAC for his contributions to the Washington DC arts community, the Fan Taylor Award for his contributions to the presenting field, the 2015 Arthur L. Johnson Award from the Sphinx Organization, the 2014 Distinguished Alumni Award from Texas A&M-Kingsville, the Selima Ottum Roberts Award for his contributions to the nation’s arts, a 1991 Washingtonian of the Year Award, a 1991 Distinguished Leadership Award from the National Community Leadership Association, and The Washington Post Award for Distinguished Community Service at the 1990 Helen Hayes Awards, among other. A graduate of Harvard Law School, Lopez has been a guest lecturer at Yale Drama School, Columbia University, New York University of Budapest, and the University of Buenos Aires; taught in the graduate arts management program at George Mason University and has been a core faculty member of the NALAC Leadership Institute for 23 years and the NALAC Advocacy Leadership Institute.

Charles Rice-González (NALAC Board Member/NLI Faculty) is the co-founder and Executive Director of BAAD! Bronx Academy of Arts & Dance, a writer and long-time community and LGBT activist. He ran Rice-Gonzalez Public Relations for over 15 years and received an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Goddard College. His debut novel, Chulito, received awards and recognitions from the American Library Association and cultural workers in the National Book Critics Circle. He serves as the chair of the board for The Bronx Council on the Arts and the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures.

Rosalba Rolón (NALAC Board Member/ALI & NLI Faculty) is Artistic Director of Pregones + Puerto Rican Traveling Theater, with venues in The Bronx and Manhattan. She is a director and dramaturg specializing in adaptations of literary and non-literary texts and lyrics for the stage, including the award-winning The Red Rose, Torched! and many others. She has worked on creative collaborations with theaters across the U. S. and internationally. Recognitions include the 2025 Gish Prize, Doris Duke Award, Creative Capital, United States Artists, Institute of Puerto Rican Culture and Medal of Honor by Spain’s Academy of Performing Arts. She is a tenured Member of the Tony Awards Nominating Committee. She is a Board Member of NALAC, and of United States Artists, and a Faculty Member of NALAC’s and of the Association of Performing Arts Professionals’ Leadership Institutes.

Deadline to apply is Monday, February 9, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Central Time (PLEASE CHECK YOUR TIME ZONE)

Applications are accepted starting Monday, January 12, 2026.

NALAC’s online application system will automatically close on February 9, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. All application materials must be submitted electronically via Submittable by the posted deadline. All individuals interested in applying to the NALAC Leadership Institute must visit the NALAC Application Submission Manager to access and begin the application.

Application Checklist

Please utilize this checklist to review the NLI application requirements and ensure your materials and submission are complete. Only complete applications that adhere to the instructions listed in these guidelines will be deemed eligible.

A complete online submission will include:

• Submittable User Account
• Active NALAC Membership and Membership Order Number
• Applicant Profile and Primary Organization Affiliation
• Audio, Video, or Written Narrative Responses
• Curriculum Vitae or Resume
• Work Sample (Optional)

Guidelines

• Click through the tabs above and below to review the 2026 NLI Guidelines, or download a copy here.

Submittable

• Visit Submittable.
• Sign-In: Access your existing account. Once on the NALAC Application Submission Manager landing page, click “Apply Now” to initiate the application process. Complete your submitter profile by providing a physical address and phone number.

or

• Sign-Up: Provide an email, password, and first and last name to create a free account. Once on the NALAC Application Submission Manager landing page, click “Apply Now” to initiate the application process. Complete your submitter profile by providing a physical address and phone number.

Eligibility

The NALAC Leadership Institute (NLI) is open to Latinx/é non-profit arts administrators or cultural workers based in the U.S., including Puerto Rico. Alumni of the Advocacy Leadership Institute (ALI) and Intercultural Leadership Institute (ILI) are encouraged to apply.

Individuals must meet and answer all the eligibility requirements listed below before applying:

• Must be at least 21 years of age
• Must be a first-time participant of the NALAC Leadership Institute
• Must identify as Latinx/é
• Must be a non-profit arts administrator or cultural worker interested in arts administration
• Applicants must have a current, active NALAC Membership before submitting the application
  • Please note that you will need your NALAC Membership Order. Your Membership Order Number is the 4-digit number located in the subject line of the email you received confirming the purchase of your NALAC membership.

Please Note: If you have questions about membership or eligibility, please contact the Programs Support Desk.

Applicant Profile

To complete this section, the applicant will provide contact information and demographics and expand on their non-profit arts administration, cultural work, or creative practice.

• Full Name
• Artistic or Preferred Name (name as it should appear in any leadership-related news and publications)
• Pronouns
• What age group are you in?
• Contact Information (email, phone, mailing address)
• How would you define the community you live in? (urban, suburban, rural)
• What is your race and ethnicity?
• Share how you self-identify your cultural heritage(s) (e.g., Boricua, Catrachx/é, Blaxican, etc.)
• Describe your gender identity (male, female, nonbinary, cisgender, transgender, prefer not to answer, etc.)
• Describe your sexuality or sexual orientation (gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, prefer not to answer, etc.)
• Do you identify as a person with a disability or other chronic condition?
• Are you an Advocacy Leadership Institute (ALI) or Intercultural Leadership Institute (ILI) Alumni?
• Which of the following best describes your role(s) within the arts and culture field? (advocate, arts administrator, educator, etc.)
• Are you an artist? If so, what is your primary discipline?
• If you have a current place of employment or DBA (doing business as), then please list.
• Current Title / Position / Role
• If applicable, how many years have you worked with the employer/profession mentioned above?
• Biography (100-word count maximum; this biography may be used in public materials about the program if accepted for the NLI)
• Website

Primary Organization Affiliation

To complete this section, the applicant will share if they work or collaborate with an arts and culture-based organization by providing contact information and expanding on their primary organization affiliation relationship (if applicable).

• Organization Name
• Organization Mailing Address
• Organization Website
• Provide the mission statement or describe the work of the arts and culture-based organization
• Current Organizational Title / Position / Role
• How long have you been affiliated with the organization?
• Are there any other organizational affiliations you would like to note?

Audio, Video, or Written Narrative Responses

To complete this section, the applicant will have the opportunity to craft a recorded or written response to a series of questions. Applicant answers should provide the review panel with a clear understanding of what the applicant aims to accomplish by participating in the NALAC Leadership Institute. Responses should provide context that helps a panelist understand why this opportunity is essential in their career and how the institute curriculum will help them in their current work and future career goals.

Select only one format from the three formats listed below to respond to questions 1-5 in Submittable.

• Audio Format: Prepare an audio narrative (5 minutes maximum, total) on an online platform such as Soundcloud, MixCloud, or YouTube, then provide the link in Submittable. (If the link is private, please provide a password.)
• Video Format: Prepare a video narrative (5 minutes maximum, total) on an online platform such as YouTube or Vimeo, then provide the link in Submittable. (If the link is private, please provide a password.)
• Written Format: Prepare a written narrative (150-word count maximum per question) in a word processing document first, then paste it into Submittable.

1. Why do you want to attend the NALAC Leadership Institute at this time in your career?
2. Describe your arts community and your role(s) within the arts and culture sector.
3. What core values drive your work as an arts administrator and/or cultural worker?
4. Describe a time when you had to significantly adjust your strategy when leading or managing a project or process as a non-profit administrator and/or cultural worker. How did you navigate, adapt, and/or pivot? What considerations informed your process?
5. Please describe your career goals in the next 5 years.

Attachments

To complete this section, the applicant will provide all necessary documents to contextualize the proposed application further and demonstrate the individual's work as a non-profit arts administrator or cultural worker and expand on their creative practice.

Curriculum Vitae or Resume (Required)

Upload a one-page curriculum vitae or resume with an overview of your professional experience and past work.

• Acceptable File Type: Upload files in .pdf
• Acceptable File Format: File names should follow NLI26_First&LastName_DocumentTitle.pdf.

Work Sample (Optional)

You have the option of uploading a work sample to accompany your application. Panelists will only designate approximately five minutes to review work samples per application.

• Acceptable File Types: Upload files in .pdf, .docx, .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .mp3, .m4a, .wav, .mp4, .mov, .zip, .xls, .ppt, .pptx

• Acceptable File Format: Audio or video samples (5 minutes maximum; time-stamp indicators on longer pieces are permitted), written samples (1,000-word count maximum), visual samples (4 images maximum or a website link). File names should follow NLI26_First&LastName_DocumentTitle.pdf.
• Description: If providing a work sample, prepare details describing the work sample (250-word count maximum), noting if the artistic work is your own or work you have facilitated or supported as an arts administrator or cultural worker.

Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed and evaluated by a diverse panel of NLI community members. The panel will select approximately 15-20 Latinx/é arts administrators or cultural workers at any career stage. Applicants will be notified of their status by early May.

Applications will be reviewed and evaluated according to the criteria listed below, using a 5-point scoring scale.

Leadership Trajectory: Demonstrates leadership through initiatives, projects, or mentorship, showing commitment to developing skills and a clear vision for personal and professional growth.

Community Engagement within Latinx/é Arts & Culture: Demonstrates engagement with and commitment to advancing the work of the Latinx/é arts and culture community.

Critical Analysis: Demonstrates the ability to identify and analyze challenges affecting their organization and/or community.

Aspiration: Demonstrates clear professional goals and strategies for advancing their personal and/or organization’s mission or expanding their impact in the Latinx/é arts sector.

Support Presentation

Interested applicants can view NALAC's pre-recorded Support Presentation for valuable insights and guidance. The presentation provides an overview of the NLI Program and a step-by-step walkthrough of the application process.

2026 NLI Cafecito

Join us for a virtual office hour! Bring your coffee and questions to the 2026 NLI Cafecito, hosted by the NALAC Programs team on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 3:00 PM CT. Use this link to join the Zoom meeting.

Financial Assistance

NALAC offers a limited number of financial assistance funds to selected applicants to attend the NLI. These funds are available to cover eligible expenses, such as food, supplemental transportation, lodging, and partial or whole costs of tuition. (NALAC covers the costs of round-trip travel, site visit transportation, and daytime meals; see section on Institute Costs for more details.) All requests for financial assistance are reviewed individually, provided on a need-basis, and prioritize individuals from under-resourced communities.

NLI Support Fund

Established by Alums of the 2022 NALAC Leadership Institute, the NLI Support Fund is an alumni-funded financial assistance program that supports fellows to attend the NLI.

To be eligible for the fund, fellows must meet all the following criteria:

1. Be an independent artist and/or cultural worker.
2. You are not affiliated with an organization, or your organization does not offer support.
3. Identify as one or more of the following:

• • Black
  • Indigenous
  • Disabled
  • Trans
  • Undocumented

Voces de Los Angeles Fund

Funded by the California Community Foundation, the Voces de Los Angeles Fund provides financial assistance for fellows residing in LA County to attend the NLI.

To be eligible for the fund, fellows must meet all the following criteria:

1. You must reside in LA County.
2. You are not affiliated with an organization, or your organization does not cover the cost of NLI.

Use this link to determine if you are located in LA County.

Contact Us: Visit the Programs Support Desk

For questions related to the application guidelines, assistance with your NLI application, or to address any technical issues, please visit the Programs Support Desk. Our team is available to provide guidance and answer your questions. Please take advantage of this resource to ensure your application is completed successfully before the open call closes.

Important Links

• NALAC Website: https://www.nalac.org/
• NALAC Membership: https://www.nalac.org/tienda/membership-join/
• NLI Page: https://www.nalac.org/leadership/nalac-leadership-institute/
• NLI Alumni: https://www.nalac.org/members/member-types/alumni/
• NALAC Programs Support Desk: https://www.nalac.org/programs-support-desk/
• 2026 NLI Support Presentation: https://vimeo.com/1152680321?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci#t=0
• Submittable (Sign-In/Up): https://nalac.submittable.com/login
• NALAC Application Submission Manager (Submittable): https://nalac.submittable.com/submit
• Submittable Help for Applicants: https://submittable.help/en/collections/185534-help-for-applicants
• National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA): https://nasaa-arts.org/state-arts-agencies/%20saa-directory/