The KCACTF/LORT ASPIRE Leadership Fellows Program is designed to cultivate a new generation of artistic and administrative leaders for the American Theater with a focus of engaging Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and members of other groups that are consistently underrepresented in the field. This diverse national cohort of fellows assembled from all of KCACTF’s eight regions will engage in topics concerning equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism as well as leadership skills building, investigation of institutional challenges, and professional networking opportunities.
This week-long fellowship occurs as part of the annual national convening of the American College Theater Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The curriculum is designed and led by professionals from LORT institutions in partnership with staff from the Kennedy Center and the American College Theatre Festival Regional Chairs
This week-long fellowship occurs as part of the annual national convening of the American College Theater Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The curriculum is designed and led by professionals from LORT institutions in partnership with staff from the Kennedy Center and the American College Theatre Festival Regional Chairs
ASPIRE Regional Festival 54
In 2022, the eight regions will join forces to present centralized ASPIRE programming which will include workshops and discussions curated by all of KCACTF’s ASPIRE Regional Coordinators, National ASPIRE Chair Stefanie Sertich and the National ASPIRE team. Regional festivals may still host workshops in arts leadership, but the selection process for this program to attend the National KCACTF Festival will take place through the centralized program.
Students interested in the world of arts leadership are encouraged to register for this program. Whether you hope to become an artistic leader or you are curious about how theaters operate, ASPIRE is a fantastic festival opportunity, and 2022 offers us the opportunity to connect virtually with fellow theater artists and leaders from across the country.
Students interested in the world of arts leadership are encouraged to register for this program. Whether you hope to become an artistic leader or you are curious about how theaters operate, ASPIRE is a fantastic festival opportunity, and 2022 offers us the opportunity to connect virtually with fellow theater artists and leaders from across the country.
What to Expect
ASPIRE Arts Leadership 2022 will include nine hours of gatherings on Zoom—not counting time participants spend creating their individual final presentations—over three weeks. Regional Coordinators will plan “homeroom” times discussion and examining assignments. Regional ASPIRE coordinators will check-in and debrief with each regional cohort before and after the Saturday workshops. Students will be led through immersive workshops
Schedule
Schedule
- January 22nd from 12:00pm-5:00pm CST
- January 29th from 12:30pm-5:00pm CST
- February 5th from 1:00pm-4:00pm CST
- February 12th and 13th - One 30-minute slot from 12:00pm-5:00pm CST
National ASPIRE Cohort
One fellow from each region will be selected, based on the successful completion of the creative final presentation to a panel of selectors, to join the National ASPIRE cohort in Washington, D.C. for a week-long fellowship. To be considered for the National Fellowship, attendance and participation in the professional development programming, both the synchronous national programming, and at the regional “homerooms” is required. All students will receive feedback on their work from faculty and professional theatre leaders, in the third week.
Event Entry
Event entry will open on Monday, November 15. You will only be asked to sign up; no need to prepare a resume or cover letter. You do not need to be nominated by a faculty member to participate.
There is no registration fee to participate in ASPIRE. Additionally, when you sign up for ASPIRE, you will automatically be registered for your regional festival for participation in other regional programming, at no additional cost.
There is no registration fee to participate in ASPIRE. Additionally, when you sign up for ASPIRE, you will automatically be registered for your regional festival for participation in other regional programming, at no additional cost.
To learn more, please attend the ASPIRE Information Session on Zoom
Monday, November 29th 8pm-9pm EST, 5pm-6pm PST
Monday, November 29th 8pm-9pm EST, 5pm-6pm PST
The National ASPIRE Chair, Stefanie Sertich will moderate an information session, led by former ASPIRE alumnus, Isabella O’Keefe, Nadel Henville and Isha Rao on what interested students can expect!
For questions about the program, reach out to stefaniekcactf@gmail.com.
For questions about the program, reach out to stefaniekcactf@gmail.com.
