About NAS

At NAS, our mission is to build and support a diverse community of arts and culture leaders who drive inspiring change for the future. Our vision is a world in which everyone working in arts and culture is empowered with equitable access to resources and connected within thriving networks that benefit all people and our planet. To make our mission and vision a reality, we offer professional development opportunities, coaching, and a powerful network to arts and culture leaders at every stage of their careers. Established in 1983, NAS has trained and supported more arts and culture leaders than any other organization in the field.

OUR MISSION

We build and support a diverse community of arts and culture leaders who drive inspiring change for the future.

OUR VISION

We envision a world in which everyone working in arts and culture is empowered with equitable access to resources and connected within thriving networks that benefit all people and our planet.

WHAT WE DO

We offer professional development opportunities, coaching, and a powerful network to arts and culture leaders at every stage of their careers. Established in 1983, NAS has trained and supported more arts and culture leaders than any other organization in the field.

Our impact

Participants in our programs report a significant impact on their professional goals.

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Made meaningful connections with other leaders

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Gained fresh perspective on their challenges

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Unlocked change in their organizations

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Built more diverse networks

OUR VALues

Integrity

To us, this means being honest, thoughtful, and transparent. It means keeping our promises and always doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.

Collaboration

We work in teams and partnerships, build with communities, and engage in collective action, because we know that working in this way yields the most meaningful results.

Equity

We call out systems of oppression, reject structural racism and discrimination, and fight to remove all barriers to access because we believe deeply in equal opportunities for all.

Learning

We lead with curiosity, evaluate consistently, listen actively, invite dissent, and seek out others looking to grow and challenge themselves.

Creativity starts here

DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Our programs provide access to academia and opportunities. They mix skillsets and mindsets, broaden perspectives and networks. They remove silos and open doors, pushing boundaries and what’s possible.

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Equitable Access

If we don’t work to dismantle inequity, we become complicit in it. That’s why we design our programs to be accessible to all, actively engage partners and participants in marginalized communities, and bring equity work into all of our programs.