CCL Fellowship

Published on 22 May 2024

Leadership Training for Art Museum Curators

CCL offers leadership training for art museum curators from all art historical specialties. Established in 2007, the Fellowship program provides experienced curators with instruction from Columbia Business School faculty and exposure to real-world challenges faced by cultural institutions today.

Mentoring

Mentoring is a key element, extending learning outside the classroom. Directors and trustees from major museums across the world host Fellows for a weeklong residency annually. In addition, Fellows mentor young people from underrepresented communities in the curatorial profession.

Applicants

CCL accepts applications from full-time curators in art museums in North America and abroad, with ten to twelve applicants accepted each year. CCL looks for individuals with:

• Curatorial Achievement: Distinguished in their fields, interested in developing new skills for institutional decision-making.
• Advancing Equity: Commitment to diversity, representation, and inclusion.
• Leadership Experience: Managed teams, mentored emerging professionals, partnered with colleagues.
• Creative and Entrepreneurial Thinking: Innovative problem solvers and forward-looking agents of change.

Program Components and Dates

Program Duration: January to May or June

1. Intensive Program in New York City (January 7-19, 2024): Includes teaching from Columbia Business School faculty and assignments with museums and cultural institutions.
2. Individual Residency (March or April): A five-day residency with a museum director.
3. Diversity Mentoring Project: Designed and implemented by the Fellow, spanning the Fellowship duration.
4. Concluding Week (May or June): Includes instruction, coaching, and presentation of a team assignment.

Curriculum

The curriculum integrates theoretical presentations with practical application, covering:

• Change management
• Decision making
• Managing up
• Financial management
• Strategy
• Negotiation
• Organizational alignment
• Leading teams
• Governance
• Leadership and Personality

Time Commitment

Fellows must commit to full participation, ensuring complete availability for all sessions. The program requires four weeks of intensive in-person sessions and ongoing project engagement throughout the five-month program.

Cost

Tuition is $2,500 per Fellow, covering a portion of the program expenses. Tuition assistance is available based on need. CCL covers most travel, hotel, and food costs. Fellows will be responsible for a small number of taxis and other incidentals.

Support

The CCL Fellowship is funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, Ford Foundation, Agnes Gund, Barbara and Amos Hostetter, Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation, Mellon Foundation, Susan and Charles Sawyers, and others. Public funds are provided by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the New York State Council on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.