Upcoming Opportunities
Creative Practice as Research
Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 4:30 Eastern / 3:30 Central / 2:30 Mountain / 1:30 Pacific in the United States / Friday, January 16, 2026 at 8am Australian Central Daylight Time
Facilitated by ICfAD’s new board member Craig Batty, Pro Vice Chancellor, College of Creative Arts, Design and Humanities, Adelaide University and Maryrose Flanigan, Executive Director, Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities (a2ru).
In Australia, creative practice research, also known as artistic research, is common across higher education. The federal government recognizes this mode of research in research policy, funding schemes, and national evaluations of research excellence and impact. Australian academics have also written a substantial portion of the literature on creative practice research. At Adelaide University, creative/artistic/practice-based research is integrated across all its new Signature Research Themes, and creative PhDs and are increasingly common. This includes attracting creative practitioners to work on applied, socially or industry engaged projects for innovation and impact.
More broadly, the Australian Council of Deans and Directors of Creative Arts (DDCA) showcases creative practice research through its free publication, Creative Matters, and advocates for new frameworks for assessing excellence in creative practice research.
In the United States, diverse experiences, academic trajectories and disciplinary backgrounds drive our understanding of research, creative practice, and academic values. Despite its long and richly textured history, art research has not been well understood or visible in many US universities. For most practitioners, arts research is neither formalized nor a codified process. It can take many forms. Because it can mean different things to different people, defining “arts research“ is an opportunity to create shared awareness, understanding, and practice. Here is a link to a2ru’s Arts Research: An Explainer - a2ru.
Members are encouraged to participate in the discussion. Registration for this discussion is free for members and colleagues within their arts academic units. Register here. Join or renew your membership here.
Marketing the Arts in a Changing Technological Climate - Communications Professionals January Discussion
January 15, 2026 at 1 Eastern / Noon Central / 11am Mountain / 10am Pacific
From Google searches to social media, the digital marketing landscape is constantly changing. How can we adapt to better reach prospective arts students?
In this open discussion led by Jamie Clift Rager, Communications Manager, FSU College of Fine Arts, you’ll have the opportunity to share your own struggles and talk about emerging issues in the industry. We’ll talk about ways to improve AI optimization, what Gen Z and Alpha students are actually looking for from our websites, and more.
Members of ICfAD and its other affinity groups are also welcome to attend this program at no charge by registering here or emailing [email protected] to request access. Non-members are invited to participate in the discussion with a registration fee of $80. Click here to register.
Communications Professionals Online Discussions
All discussions will be hosted online the third Thursdays of January, February, March, and April.
Dates: January 15, February 19, March 19, April 16
Time: 1:00 Eastern / 12:00 Central / 11:00 Mountain / 10:00 Pacific. Online programs are 60 minutes.
Discussions may include topics such as Marketing the Arts in a Changing Technological Environment, The Increasing Importance of Authentic Branding, How Generative AI is Shaping Marketing Communications, User Generated Content to Build Trust and Engagement, Short Form Video Content, Data-Driven Marketing Strategies in Higher Ed and other topics to be determined with member input. Invitations for each meeting will be sent. Registration is free for members of each affinity group or $80 per session for non-members. Join this affinity group now.
Advancement Officers Online Discussions
All discussions will be hosted online the last Tuesdays of January, February, March and April.
Dates: January 27, February 24, March 31, April 28
Time: 4:00 Eastern / 3:00 Central / 2:00 Mountain / 1:00 Pacific. Online programs are 60 minutes.
Discussions may include topics such as Gift Planning, Capital Campaign Success Stories, Building Team Culture, and other topics to be determined with member input. Invitations for each meeting will be sent. Registration is free for members of each affinity group or $80 per session for non-members. Join this affinity group now.
Gallery & Museum Directors and Curators Online Discussions
All discussions will be hosted online the third Thursdays of January, February, March and April.
Dates: January 15 January 14, February 19, March 19, April 16
Time: 4:00 Eastern / 3:00 Central / 2:00 Mountain / 1:00 Pacific. Online programs are 60 minutes.
Discussions may include topics such as One-Staff Wonders: Efficiencies that Have Led to Success, Best Practices: Processes and Procedures, Working with Faculty in Meeting Curricular Needs, Case Studies: Student Workers and Programs, Creating Safe Spaces for Rest and other topics to be determined with member input. Invitations for each meeting will be sent. Registration is free for members of each affinity group or $80 per session for non-members. Join this affinity group now.
62nd Annual ConferenceTuesday, October 6 - Thursday, October 8, 2026
Detroit, Michigan
A printable Save the Date flyer can be found here.
About Us
The International Council for Arts Deans (ICfAD), a global alliance of deans, directors, chairs, and other arts executives, provides leadership opportunities for its members and advocates for the essential role of the arts in higher education. Since its founding in 1964, ICfAD has remained dedicated to mentoring emerging leaders and expanding its international community of arts administrators.
The ICfAD Board of Directors, guided by this mission, affirms that the arts and creative industries have a responsibility to cultivate learning and creative environments that welcome the full breadth of human experience. Through practice, performance, exhibition, and scholarship, we strive to model a professional culture where access, respect, and belonging are fundamental and where every individual is empowered to contribute authentically and meaningfully.
We believe that arts education should reflect a spectrum of perspectives and experiences, fostering open exchange and shared growth among students, faculty, staff, and leaders across our institutions. As a community, we commit to advancing environments that honor differences, nurture dialogue, promote civil discourse and strengthen our collective capacity to imagine and realize a more connected, equitable, and humane world.
ICfAD acknowledges the histories, cultural contexts, and institutional structures that shape our present. We recognize that arts executives hold both the privilege and the responsibility to lead positive transformation in education and society through the arts. Therefore, ICfAD pledges to celebrate the range of creative and scholarly contributions our members bring to the global arts landscape, to facilitate learning and action that promote inclusive and responsible leadership, to support programs and resources that help our members engage thoughtfully with contemporary challenges, and to continue evolving as an organization that reflects and champions the communities we serve today and into the future.
