Applications are now open for REFLECT: Radical Empathy For Leaders: Equity, Connection, and Time, a funded, cohort-based leadership program for community-focused cultural leaders.

REFLECT offers a year-long learning journey designed to support, strengthen, and expand leadership in the arts, culture, and heritage sector. Participants engage in collective learning, dialogue, reflection, and exploration alongside a small cohort of peers. The program creates intentional space to deepen leadership values, explore pressing questions within one’s practice, and build meaningful community connections.

This second cohort is a joint initiative of The Cultch and the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance, in collaboration with City of Vancouver - Arts and Culture.

REFLECT aims to build an intergenerational cohort with a focus on underrepresented and equity-deserving individuals, including Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit), Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQ+, Deaf, and disability communities, and/or those whose practice centres equity-deserving and underrepresented communities.

Leadership is defined broadly. Applicants may hold formal leadership roles or lead through community-rooted practices. What matters most is a demonstrated ability to inspire, engage, and empower others.

Up to eight (8) participants will be selected through a two-step process: submission of an Expression of Interest followed by interviews for shortlisted applicants (remuneration provided for those invited to interview).

Program Details:
Approximately 36 hours of programming (September 2026–November 2027)
All sessions held in person at The Cultch (Vancouver)
Participants receive a fee of up to $8,000 for the duration of the program

Eligibility:
Applicants must live or work within the City of Vancouver (or have direct impact within the city), be available for in-person sessions, and identify as Indigenous, Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQ+, Deaf, and/or living with a disability; and/or centre equity-deserving communities in their practice. The program is open to individuals working across all arts and cultural disciplines.

Key Dates:
Information Session (online): March 24, 2026 (3–4pm PT)
Application Deadline: April 8, 2026 at 4:00pm PT
Program Begins: September 2026

Expression of Interest Form: https://zfrmz.com/HUzWyAdg6KjzuWD9aD0q
Information Session Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WE_bx2dKTQaOsU9GuQ66PA

We encourage interested applicants to attend the information session and learn more about this unique leadership opportunity.