OpportunitiesPrevious OpportunitiesMany presentation titles are linked to recordings of the sessions.
Towards Better Tools: Shaping the Future of AI for the Arts and Design in Higher EducationFriday, April 5, 2024a2ru, AICAD and ICFAD invited their shared communities to participate in a panel discussion envisioning more productive, equitable, and artful futures for the use of AI in arts and design higher education. In the midst of rapid technological development and the anxiety that attends these changes, how can academic and artistic leaders work collectively to proactively shape the continued development of these tools and their deployment in research, teaching and practice? Moderated by Soul Brown, Director of Research at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), this discussion looked at ways to harness the existing strengths and potential of generative AI, while also addressing some of its challenges, particularly in regards to intellectual property and the perpetuation of bias. ICFAD Leadership Development Committee Presents: The Heart, the Head . . . and the Calculator: Persuasive Advocacy for the Arts in Higher EducationFriday, March 22, 2024Do you find yourself in situations where you must advocate for support of the arts and your academic unit? Do you ever feel compelled to answer the question of why the arts matter? This online program will focused on utilizing financial and quantitative data to develop compelling evidence in support of your art unit. The session provided examples and describe how data can be woven with qualitative and mission-driven arguments that speak to the institution’s finances, priorities, and mission. On Building a Vibrant Advisory Board: Ways of Engaging Your MembersWednesday, February 28, 2024Deans and their Development Officers were invited to participate in an online discussion sharing impactful strategies for engaging Advisory Board members, further building investment in shared work. Facilitated by Michael Stepniak, Executive Dean for Creativity & the Arts, Shenandoah University and Melanie Mathewes, Assistant Vice President for Advancement, Shenandoah University. Who's Budget is it Anyway? Financial Literacy and Understanding Budgets in Higher EducationJanuary 26, 2024This Leadership Development Committee program featured a panel presenting the prevalent budgetary philosophies of many schools. Often, the budget models of ABB, RCM, PBB, CBM, and others are a confusing “alphabet soup” rather than clear budget models. We focused on several types of institutional approaches of Incremental Budgeting, Activity Based Budgeting, and Responsibility Center Management, as well as touch on revenue streams from tuition, endowment, and research. ICFAD’s Advancement Officers present: Rethinking Who Qualifies as a ProspectMay 23, 2023In light of changing philanthropic realities, do we need to apply new criteria to defining who is and is not a prospect to ensure our time and talents are spent wisely and to make sure we meet our best prospective donors in ways that begin the process of building productive philanthropic partnerships? These are the questions that Jim Langley, President of Langley Innovations, addressed in this session. A Conversation with Marisa Sage about Contemporary Issues in Curatorial Practice in University-Based Galleries and MuseumMay 23, 2023Marisa Sage is the Director and Head Curator of the New Mexico State University Art Museum in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Sage is a curator with a passion for emerging contemporary art and artists. Throughout her 15+-year career, Sage has planned and executed more than 100 international exhibitions, which included more than 200 individual artists globally. Streamlining Performing Arts Ticketing SystemsMay 18, 2023Theatre ticketing software for box office management helps us reach patrons with integrated mass messaging, coupon promotions, and time-saving automation. Facilitated by Sarah Goodson, Director, Fine Arts Ticketing Office, Florida State University School of Theatre. Capital or Comprehensive: To Lead or FollowApril 25, 2023As arts leaders do we follow the foundation/development or do we get foundation/development to follow us? This discussion was facilitated by Valerie Morris, Dean Emerita of the College of Charleston School of the Arts and William T. (Billy) Clow, Dean, College of Fine Arts and Communication, Western Illinois University. The Unique Opportunities and Challenges of the Professionals who Oversee Campus Art Galleries, Museums and Public Art ProgramsMarch 22, 2023Recognizing the unique opportunities and challenges of the deans who oversee and the hands-on directors of campus art galleries, museums and public art programs, ICFAD welcomes input on the creation of its third affinity group. With the input and guidance of those participating in this exploratory discussion, we shared best practices and professional development throughout the academic year for those who are responsible for fulfilling educational missions through artistic exhibitions. Summative vs. Formative Reviews and Annual ReviewsMarch 22, 2023Formative and Summative evaluations are crucial to faculty success and are essential to building sustainable excellence with departments, schools and programs. This session outlined key differences between the two review processes and the vital nature of continuity within the processes before opening the conversation to exchange strategies and anecdotes from the trenches. Facilitated by John O’Connell, Dean, College of Visual and Performing Arts, Purdue University Fort Wayne Contemporary Technologies and the ArtsFebruary 15, 2023This session addressed some examples of challenges and, through several case studies, share tactics and examples of success in areas like scholarship, curriculum, undergraduate research, and more. Facilitators included Federico Freshi, Head of College of Te Maru Pūmanawa, Creative Practice & Enterprise at the Otago Polytechnic in New Zealand; Todd Jokl, Dean, College of Art & Design, Rochester Institute of Technology; Mary Simoni, Dean, School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; and Kelland Thomas, College of Arts and Letters, Stevens Institute of Technology. ICFAD’s Leadership Development Committee presents: The Social Psychology of Leading Difficult ConversationsFebruary 14, 2023Difficult conversations are an everyday part of leadership. What is the best way to enter into difficult conversations? When should an academic head be a facilitator for others in difficult conversations? When should outside help be brought in to mediate? What can you do to improve longstanding issues with difficult personalities? Facilitating the discussion will be Jim Daichendt, Dean, College of Arts and Humanities, Point Loma Nazarene University; Sabrina Madison-Cannon, Phyllis and Andrew Berwick Dean, School of Music and Dance, University of Oregon; and Todd James McNerney, Associate Dean, School of the Arts, College of Charleston. Puerto Rican Arts Development InitiativeJanuary 25, 2023Puerto Rican Arts Initiative (PRAI) is tackling environmental politics, rights to the city, and community affects and infrastructures. A cohort of Puerto Rican artists creating work and sustaining artistic practices comes with sizeable funding, many workshops, and a partnership between Northwestern’s School of Communication and the University of Texas at Austin’s College of Fine Arts. This was an online program about The Puerto Rican Arts Initiative, facilitated by Ramon Rivera-Servera. ICFAD’s Leadership Development Committee presents: Faculty and Staff Hiring: Best Practices for Successful SearchesJanuary 24, 2023This program was for anyone looking to attract, develop, and retain high quality team members. How does one minimize costly hiring mistakes and optimize the building of a team? What are the most pragmatic and efficient systems to implement for search committees? How does one decrease biases, increase accuracy of evaluation, and improve rater confidence in the hiring process? Through the utilization of rater training, frame of reference, and effective guidelines and expectations, the information shared during this presentation and Q&A will improve performance ratings and help you land the ideal team player. Facilitated by Andrew Davis, Founding Dean, Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts, University of Houston and Jason Lester, Founding Dean, College of the Arts, Palm Beach Atlantic University. No More “Distant Neighbors:” Opportunities at the 2023 ICFAD International Symposium in MexicoJanuary 10, 2023This conversation, with a selected group of Mexico’s cultural and higher arts ed leaders, previewed some aspects of the upcoming 2023 Symposium, facilitated by Martin Camacho, Dean of the Talkington College of Visual and Performing Arts, Texas Tech University. See more information about the upcoming Symposium here. Pathways & PartnershipsDecember 1, 2022This roundtable sought thought partners to navigate the special considerations of pathways within the context of fine arts programs and how to foster a “transfer receptive ecosystem” at both sending and receiving institutions. Intended to facilitate timely completion, program pathways invite urgent conversations about curriculum, transfer, and outcomes in any number of inner and extra disciplinary concerns: equity and access, degree attainment and professional success, return on investment, and the arts education ecosystem. This discussion was facilitated by Colleen Reilly, Dean, Center of Excellence for Media, Visual, and Performing Arts, Houston Community College and Eileen L. Strempel, Inaugural Dean, The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, UCLA. Budget Management: Developing and Managing Resources to Achieve Strategic GoalsWednesday, October 26, 2022“How much are we spending on new buildings?” “Why can’t we just borrow money?” “Why is there reluctance to use the endowment to fill budget holes?” Leadership Development WorkshopSix, two-hour synchronous online classes with thoughtfully curated case studies and breakout discussions are scheduled across a span of 13 weeks. Sessions integrate theories of values-based leadership for organizational change with the practice of leading arts programs during these challenging times. Between online sessions, one-on-one structured conversations with an experienced mentor allow participants to explore topics ranging from personal mission statements and leadership assessment to diversity and inclusion, planning for leading innovative change, resource acquisition and management, personnel matters, governance dynamics and career planning. Leadership Development Workshop classes will be scheduled for Wednesday afternoons, mid-September through early December. A registration fee of $350 for members of ICFAD or AICAD ($495 for non-members) Jaffe Holden, Schuler Shook, and Webb Management presents: Automation for Campus-Based Performance and Event SpacesJune 8, 2022A free to all discussion centered around the case for automation for your campus-based performance and event spaces is based on the idea that certain up-front capital expenditures can lead to a positive operational return on investment -- from both qualitative and quantitative perspectives. This online program was delivered by three experts in the field of performing arts facility development: theatre consultant Kimberly Corbett Oates, acoustician Mark Holden and management consultant Duncan Webb. Fundraising Zoom Revolution and Evolution of PhilanthropyMay 31, 2022During the past two pandemic years, securing major gifts was a challenge. Directors of development and donors were often connected by the Zoom platform, rather than in person or by employing the traditional practices of fundraising. Our presenter will review several case studies from UC San Diego. Consider the statistics. In 2020, the first year of the pandemic, Americans gave $471.44 billion, a 5.1% increase from 2019. Foundation giving increased to $88.55 billion, a 19% increase from 2019. In 2020, the largest source of charitable giving came from individuals at $324.10 billion or 69% of total giving. What caused this increase? What did Zoom open up that we hadn’t considered before? We experienced amazing opportunities to grow our donor base and the funds we raise in unexpected ways. Why? Arts Data to Strengthen Casemaking: An Arts Asset Mapping Pilot Study at University of MichiganMay 19, 2022In this discussion, the initial results of a2ru’s arts asset mapping project at the University of Michigan were presented. This project endeavored to map the full spectrum of arts assets for a large university to produce a report on formal and informal arts assets. The project also resulted in a model instrument and protocol (what we will call a “schema”) to deploy in later research stages to audit the broader arts landscape in higher education. a2ru designed this pilot project as part of the University of Michigan Arts Initiative. View the slide deck here. The Role of Deans in our Changing WorldMay 18, 2022A joint initiative between the Australasian Council of Deans of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities; International Council of Fine Arts Deans; and Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences. During this international webinar, we heard from Deans across Australasia and the US who are facing sectoral change, disruptive processes, shifting expectations, adaptation and adversity followed by an open discussion. New Deans Discussions: Arts Advocacy on your Campus and in your CommunityApril 21, 2022A conversation facilitated by Sarah Bay-Cheng, Dean, School of Arts, Media, Performance & Design, York University; Billy Clow, College of Fine Arts & Communication, Western Illinois University; Andrew Davis, Founding Dean of the Katherine G. McGovern College of the Arts, University of Houston; Valerie Morris, Dean, School of the Arts, College of Charleston. Three new exemplars for best practices in arts integration: an a2ru & ICFAD collaborative webinarApril 13, 2022An online conversation about three new exemplars for arts integration from the a2ru network. Facilitating our conversation was Debra Mexicotte, Managing Director of ArtsEngine, University of Michigan, Dr. Kristopher Holland, associate professor of Art and Design Education and Fine arts, College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning at the University of Cincinnati and Samantha Lazar, Curator of Academic Programming, Dartmouth's Hopkins Center for the Arts. Here is Samantha’s slide deck. Here is Kristopher’s slide deck. Here is Debra's slide deck. Data Driven Environments and the ArtsMarch 31, 2022A continuation of a conversation building off of the initial roundtable conversations at the virtual ICFAD conference in October. We continued discussions around the various ways institutions measure professional faculty activity in the arts. In research disciplines that involve publishing and grants, companies like Academic Analytics are able to pull information from various third-party sources (publishers, aggregators, etc.) to create a fairly wholistic picture of a faculty member’s professional activity. This discussion was facilitated by Sarah Bay-Cheng, Dean, School of the Arts, York University, Dan Cavanaugh, Dean, College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas Arlington, Peg Faimon, Founding Dean, Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design, Indiana University and Arne Flaten, Head, Rueff School of Design, Art and Performance, Purdue University. New Deans Discussions: Budgets and Fiscal ManagementFebruary 10, 2022A conversation facilitated by Sabrina Madison-Cannon, Dean and Professor of Dance, School of Music & Dance, University of Oregon; Eileen Strempel, Inaugural Dean, Herb Alpert School of Music, UCLA New Deans Discussions: Building Relationships with Partners on Campus and in the CommunityNovember 11, 2021A conversation facilitated by Sarah Bay-Cheng, Dean, School of Arts, Media, Performance & Design, York University; Rick Goodstein, College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities, Clemson University; Larry Kaptain, Dean, College of Arts & Media, University of Colorado Denver; Valerie Morris, Dean, School of the Arts, College of Charleston New Deans Discussions: Hiring and Managing PeopleSeptember 23, 2021Facilitated by George Brown, Dean, College of Fine & Performing Arts, Western Carolina University; Peg Faimon, Founding Dean, Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture & Design, Indiana University; Arne Flaten, Professor and Head of Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Design, Art and Performance, Purdue University. Thank you to Jefferson Campbell, Professor of Bassoon and Associate Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at University of Minnesota Duluth, for sharing this Presentation. Thinking about our Post-Pandemic Priorities: Preparing for the Great RebootThursday, June 17, 2021
Nancy Uscher, Dean of the College of Fine Arts at University of Nevada-Las Vegas, and Royce W. Smith, Dean of the College of Arts & Architecture at Montana State University, shared some strategies in response to these questions and hosted a forum for sharing ideas and discussing undertakings as we prepare for another academic year of challenges, uncertainties and opportunities. Growing Divides: Historical and Emerging Inequalities in Arts InternshipsThursday, June 10, 2021
Internship participation has nearly doubled among arts and design school students among the cohorts graduating before and after 2003. However, since the Great Recession of 2008, “the transition from internship to employment has become increasingly tenuous.” And while recent arts graduates are increasingly likely to complete multiple internships, first-generation colleagues are less likely to intern. ICFAD Spring 2021 Roundtable PresentationsMay 10 - 14, 2021
Through the years, ICFAD’s Roundtable Sessions have served as a catalyst for great discussions, developing potential partnerships, and envisioning future endeavors. Roundtable Presentations Spring 2021 were online the week of May 10. Inaugural and Founding Deans: Building Cohesiveness and CultureTuesday, May 18, 2021
Building culture and a shared sense of identity. Setting expectations. Focusing on people’s strengths as we shift their focus and responsibilities. While these are part of every dean’s leadership role, founding and inaugural deans often start with very little of a blueprint from which to build. The policies and processes inherited from previous colleges, if they exist at all, are often in need of attention and re-direction themselves. Newly formed colleges can be anomalies on campus – sometimes making founding and inaugural deans feel quite alone themselves. Oh these times are . . . have changedFriday, April 29, 2021
As the Global Pandemic reached critical mass in March and April of 2020, many institutions were forced to make very difficult and immediate decisions by temporarily closing their campus doors to students and faculty. With this immediate shift to a virtual and/or hybrid world, arts programs in particular were wrought with numerous technical challenges. Recalibration and Restarting International Studies in the ArtsThursday, April 28, 2021
The Pandemic is not over, but it is time for arts leaders to shape post-COVID plans for international programs that need lengthy preparation. How do we begin again, and what might be different going forward? This session explored these pressing questions while seeking to share best practices for reengaging international initiatives, travel, students, and families. Navigating the Executive Search Processes: The Playbook Behind the ScenesThursday, March 25, 2021
This online program focused on career advancement for those aspiring to assume an academic leadership position with a particular focus on chief academic officer and president roles. In a panel discussion format, facilitated by higher education consultant Paul Chou, Co-Managing Director and Senior Client Partner at Korn Ferry’s Philadelphia office, we focused on a review of how search processes work behind the scenes and how you can prepare accordingly to successfully advance. What Arts Deans Need to Know About Handling Music Rights for Streamed PerformancesThursday, February 25, 2021With the rise of social distancing and stay-at-home orders, the demand for online content has increased exponentially. Given this new reality, online content creators must take steps to ensure that their online creations don't land them in legal hot water. How do arts deans handle music rights for streamed performances, including sync rights when both music and moving images are involved (e.g., concerts, recitals, musicals, dance pieces, lays with music, etc.). Annual Business Meeting and Committee Open Houses
Thursday, January 21, 2021In ICFAD’s Annual Business Meeting we reflected on accomplishments of the year while providing members with information about how involvement and leadership can result in greater benefit through membership. ICFAD's Diversity & Inclusion Committee Presents a Resource Center
Thursday, January 14, 2021ICFAD’s Diversity and Equity Committee invites you to join us to announce the launch of a new initiative, a resource center Two Urban Campus Theaters, One City
Thursday, November 19, 2020
Two prominent Boston institutions, Emerson College and Boston University, have used major new theatre building projects to help reimagine their urban campuses. At the same time, each project has helped to transform its institution’s theatre pedagogy and its relationship with the city and the professional theatre community. Hear from artistic leaders at both institutions and members of the project design teams on the goals and challenges of these two very different approaches to performing arts on an urban campus. Socially Distanced Academic Design
Thursday, November 12, 2020
Think simple controls that allow an instructor to show more than one angle of a dance or therapy demonstration simultaneously. Think audio systems that provide clear intelligible audio to the instructor, local students, and remote students. Think camera systems with special filters that adjust light levels automatically so students can safely watch and learn technical skills. Think cameras that automatically track the professor walking from the lectern to the blackboard and then casually zooms in to her writing – all without the need for a separate operator. Accessing Theater When the Stages are Shut Down: Utilizing "Playing on Air: A Theater Podcast"
Thursday, October 22, 2020In this webinar, developed specifically for ICFAD and ATHE, members of the Playing on Air team highlighted how Playing on Air can best be utilized in higher education. We also introduced our new Education Initiative, which was developed as an all-purpose teaching tool and resource, but has since recognized the unique potential and perfect application of audio theater in this time of Covid 19. Leonardo's Children: Stories on Creativity by Fine Arts Leaders
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Montréal, Canada | October 8-10, 2024
Concordia University | McGill University
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