Opportunities 

Previous Opportunities

Many presentation titles are linked to recordings of the sessions.

Puerto Rican Arts Development Initiative

January 25, 2023

Puerto 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 Searches

January 24, 2023

This 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 Mexico

January 10, 2023

This 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 & Partnerships

December 1, 2022

This 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 Goals

Wednesday, 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?”

“Those are all reasonable questions. But they are reactive, not strategic. Further, it is not possible to answer such questions responsibly without a lot of context,” writes Allison M. Vaillancourt in an article entitled What if Everyone on Campus Understood the Money?published in The Chronicle of Higher Education. Arts administrators and Business Managers were invited to attend this online session facilitated by members of ICFAD’s Leadership Development Committee Sabrina Madison-Cannon, Phyllis and Andrew Berwick Dean, School of Music and Dance, University of Oregon and Laurence Kaptain, Special Assistant to the Provost, University of Colorado Denver and their institution’s Budget Managers.

Leadership Development Workshop 

Six, 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 Spaces 

June 8, 2022

A 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 Philanthropy

May 31, 2022

During 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 Michigan

May 19, 2022

In 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 World

May 18, 2022

A 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 Community

April 21, 2022

A 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 webinar

April 13, 2022

An 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 Arts

March 31, 2022

A 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 Management

February 10, 2022

A 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 Community

November 11, 2021

A 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 People

September 23, 2021

Facilitated 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 Reboot

Thursday, 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 Internships

Thursday, 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 Presentations

May 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 Culture

Tuesday, 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 changed

Friday, 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 Arts

Thursday, 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 Scenes

Thursday, 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 Performances

Thursday, February 25, 2021

With 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, 2021

In 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, 2021

ICFAD’s Diversity and Equity Committee invites you to join us to announce the launch of a new initiative, a resource center 
of links to DEI plans at member institutions on the committee’s landing page.

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.
proudly sponsored by

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.
proudly presented by 

Accessing Theater When the Stages are Shut Down: Utilizing "Playing on Air: A Theater Podcast"

Thursday, October 22, 2020

In 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 
that will Blow your Mind

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Hosted by Aldemaro Romero, Jr., Immediate Past Dean, Weissman School of Arts & Sciences, CUNY Baruch College, Steve Peters, Dean, College of Fine Arts, University of Montevallo
This session is in partnership with CCAS (Council of Colleges of Arts & Sciences).

Success Over the Bottom Line

Thursday, October 8, 2020

The session was be led by Jean Marie Gath and William Murray, FAIA, arts planning experts from Pfeiffer Partners Architects, known for the design of fine and performing arts facilities, along with Sean Ryan, FRICS, a costing expert with 40 years of experience and demonstrated success in estimating facilities for the arts. Sean is a Principal with Venue, an estimating and cost control service, specializing in performing, visual, educational and entertainment arts projects.
proudly sponsored by

Roundtable Presentations

Thursday and Friday, October 1 and 2, 2020

Through the years, ICFAD’s Roundtable Sessions have served as a catalyst for great discussions, developing potential partnerships, and envisioning future endeavors. This year’s online Roundtable Presentations are proudly sponsored by

ICFAD Discusses: Follow-up Discussion: What Are Arts Colleges Doing About Racism?

Thursday, August 27, 2020 

Stephen Carpenter, Dean, College of Arts and Architecture, The Pennsylvania State University
Charles O’Connor, Dean, Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
proudly sponsored by
                         

Healthy Buildings – Beyond Social Distancing
Thursday, July 30, 2020 / 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Eastern / 3:30 – 4:30 Central / 2:30 – 3:30 Mountain / 1:30 – 2:30 Pacific

Proudly sponsored by 

                                                                       

A Panel of Engineers, Architects, and Scientists throughout the Tetra Tech organization and Beck Design collaborated to contribute solutions that can help create “Healthier  Spaces”. We also retained Dr. Bahnfleth, Chairman of the ASHRAE COVID-19 task force as part of the team to provide information to our clients. The research and data goes beyond social distancing and creating spaces that are spatially function post COVID 19.  When looking at physical environment design concepts we are focusing on 4 main strategies to create a checklist for healthier buildings – Architectural, Material, HVAC and Technology. This information is critical for performance spaces, large musical / art gatherings and classrooms. The Facilities Staff find this instrumental in keeping spaces as healthy as possible.

Presenters were:

Scott Caesar, PE, Senior Vice President, Cosentini
Donald K. Beck, Jr. AIA, NCIDQ, Partner-In-Charge, Beck Design
Paula Beck, Interiors Director, Beck Design
Casey Tarp, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, Managing Partner

Changing Spaces: Re-thinking Arts and Architecture Facilities and Resources in the Age of COVID-19
Thursday, July 23, 2020
4:30 – 6:00 p.m. Eastern / 3:30 – 5:00 Central / 2:30 – 4:00 Mountain / 1:30 – 3:00 Pacific

Facilitated by Royce Smith, Dean, College of Arts & Architecture, Montana State University
proudly sponsored by



As universities that plan to incorporate some aspects of face-to-face instruction in the fall work through the associated logistical, epidemiological and institutional challenges, many of us have been asked to rethink our teaching, to reconceptualize our resources and facilities and to adapt teaching to health-focused (as opposed to solely pedagogical) priorities. As we navigate the new realities presented to us by the COVID-19 pandemic, how can we employ the adaptability, flexibility and innovative spirit that has always characterized what we do to serve us during these unprecedented times? How might we rethink space, teaching and interactivity in ways that our sensitive both to health and well-being and student success.
Dr. Smith was joined by Susan Lowance AIA and Stephen Van Dyck AIA of LMN Architects, who shared early observations and speculations about the adaptation and rethinking of campus spaces in response to the pandemic. This collaborative discussion allowed us to brainstorm some of the institutional solutions that our members have established, rely on one another as a sounding board for ongoing problems related to fall planning and share current information and guidance related to best-of instructional practices in the age of COVID-19.
Rough notes were taken by participants in different discussion rooms and shared at the conclusion of the session. We’ve made them available here, compiled and unedited.

Inspiring Civic Engagement through Theatre - Navigating the New Play Exchange
Thursday, July 16, 2020
4:30 – 6:00 p.m. Eastern / 3:30 – 5:00 Central / 2:30 – 4:00 Mountain / 1:30 – 3:00 Pacific

To study Shakespeare, you go to the Riverside edition. To study contemporary drama, you need the New Play Exchange.

The New Play Exchange is the world’s largest digital library of plays by living writers. With more than 35,000 scripts by more than 8,500 writers – and growing each day – the utility of this tool in our current educational climate is limitless. In this hour-long webinar designed specifically for Deans and their Directors of Theatre, the Architect and Chief Evangelist for the NPX, Gwydion Suilebhan, will share how the New Play Exchange can be used to study theater, especially in a remote-learning environment. In addition to providing access to this growing canon, students and educators can use the NPX to gain access to professional playwrights, dramaturgs, and other theater-makers, and use the robust search functionality to inspire civic engagement on a range of topics from climate change to #BlackLivesMatter.

National New Play Network is the country’s alliance of professional theaters that collaborate in innovative ways to develop, produce, and extend the life of new plays. In 2015, NNPN launched the New Play Exchange, and in 2019 created an Education subscription that uses IP whitelisting technology to make this revolutionary tool available to students around the world. We are pleased to offer a new webinar to specifically highlight the uses of the NPX for educators.

Movement, Posture and Form: Dancing Our Way Through a Global Pandemic
Thursday, July 9, 2020
4:30 – 6:00 p.m. Eastern / 3:30 – 5:00 Central / 2:30 – 4:00 Mountain / 1:30 – 3:00 Pacific

Facilitated by James Frazier, Dean, College of Fine Arts, Florida State University and Onye Ozuzu, Dean, College of the Arts, University of Florida

In Movement, Posture and Form: Dancing Our Way Through a Global Pandemic,  Deans James Frazier and Ozuzu, College of Fine Arts, Florida State University hosted a dialogue to explore how dance and the performing arts are being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; how it will affect faculty and students in the classroom and studio in fall 2020; and how it could impact international  opportunities for faculty and student exchange over the next five years.
Rough notes were taken by participants in different discussion rooms and shared at the conclusion of the session. We’ve made them available here, compiled and unedited.

This Time Has to Be Different: What Are Arts Colleges Doing about Racism?
Thursday, June 18, 2020 / 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. Eastern / 3:30 – 5:00 Central / 2:30 – 4:00 Mountain / 1:30 – 3:00 Pacific

proudly sponsored by


The fire this time? Like you, many arts leaders have been watching with sorrow and astonishment as the events of protest and police confrontation unfolded these past two weeks in the wake of George Floyd’s death. Like you, many of us feel that this time has to be different and cannot just be another instance of collective rage followed by inured acceptance.  We need more than talk of social justice. We need social action. Please join our community of university arts leaders as we share creative ways to meet this moment and support our students and friends of color. This discussion was facilitated by Charles O’Connor, Dean, Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, University of Nebraska – Lincoln and B. Stephen Carpenter, II, Dean, College of Arts and Architecture, The Pennsylvania State University. Suggested reading and listening: We Cannot Return to Normal and Black Like Me, past, present and future: Behind the Stratford Festival Curtain

Navigating Extreme Uncertainty to Reimagine Higher Education
Friday, June 12, 2020 | 8 – 10 a.m. PDT | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. EDT

The COVID-19 pandemic has created extreme uncertainty for schools leaders, faced with consequential decisions at multiple levels. Regardless of when and how schools reopen in the Fall, the coronavirus will require us to think differently about how we approach our work and it will challenge many assumptions about our education system. In this experiential workshop led by Stanford d.school educators from the University Innovation Fellows program, your campus team will explore tools that combine human centered design and futures thinking to help craft clarity out of ambiguity towards reimagining higher education.

Defining Boundaries in a Virtual World

Tuesday, June 9, 2020 | 2 p.m. EDT

Some of the impact of COVID-19 is visible and well-documented, but critics have suggested that the pandemic could have repercussions for our democratic societies that are far less visible. Decision-making by governments in times of social upheaval is not always immediate or transparent. This makes us consider whether democratic processes should be subjected to more scrutiny. Protecting privacy during turbulent times as people utilize virtual meetings for both professional and private connections is increasingly problematic. How can educational institutions and the arts work together to protect the health and safety, economy, and privacy of those they serve? The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted health practices, the global economy, and the way we live. The arts in higher education have been severely affected, with institutions around the world slowly reopening for fall 2020 and planning being developed for new ways to teach and learn. Some of the impact of COVID-19 is visible and well-documented, but critics have suggested that the pandemic could have repercussions for our democratic societies that are far less visible. Decision-making by governments in times of social upheaval is not always immediate or transparent. This makes us consider whether democratic processes should be subjected to more scrutiny. Protecting privacy during turbulent times as people utilize virtual meetings for both professional and private connections is increasingly problematic. How can educational institutions and the arts work together to protect the health and safety, economy, and privacy of those they serve? This virtual conversation was moderated by David White of the University of the Arts London and featured three speakers: Ariel Guersenzvaig, Karin Harrasser and Hael Kobayashi