About

What EALS Is

The Emerging Arts Leaders Symposium began as an annual convening each spring at American University, giving students and young professionals who work in the arts an opportunity to engage in dynamic discussion with peers and experienced leaders in the field about the issues, unique or universal, that affect arts organizations. The symposium has evolved to provide a variety of programs and events planned, organized, and executed in its entirety by graduate students in the American University Arts Management Program.

Mission

EALS seeks to provide forums for students and young professionals from around the nation to engage in dynamic discussion with leaders in the field about the current and future issues facing the arts.

History

Realizing that there was no forum for emerging arts leaders and arts management graduate students to come together to collaborate, network, and discuss issues, Michelle Grove, MA Arts Management, proposed the first Emerging Arts Leaders Symposium in 2008. What began as a capstone project has grown into an essential event that has attracted more than 200 participants and featured diverse panelists, topics, and keynote speakers.

Past Keynote Speakers

• 2024: Dante' Pope, artist, educator, and advocate

• 2023: Karen Ann Daniels, Director of Programming and Artistic Director, Folger Theatre

• 2022: Reginald R. Douglas, Artistic Director, Mosaic Theater Company of DC

• 2020: Marc Bamuthi Joseph, Vice President and Artistic Director of Social Impact, the Kennedy Center

• 2019: Melissa Chiu (Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden) and Bob Lynch (Americans for the Arts)

• 2018: Seema Sueko (Arena Stage) and Bob Lynch (Americans for the Arts)

• 2017: Jacqueline E. Lawton (playwright) and Bob Lynch (Americans for the Arts)

• 2016: Deborah F. Rutter (John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts) and Megan Crigger (City of Kansas City, MO)

• 2015: Dr. Jane Chu (National Endowment for the Arts) and Howard Herring (New World Symphony)

• 2014: Francesca Zambello (Washington National Opera and Glimmerglass), Russell Willis Taylor (National Arts Strategies), and Jamie Bennett (ArtPlace America)

• 2013: Karen Brooks Hopkins (BAM) and Aaron Dworkin (Sphinx Organization)

• 2012: Chad Bauman (Arena Stage, Milwaukee Rep) and Adrian Ellis (AEA Consulting)

• 2011: Rachel Goslins (President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities)

• 2010: Ben Cameron (Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, TCG)

• 2009: Bob Lynch (Americans for the Arts)

• 2008: Sandra Gibson (Association of Performing Arts Presenters)