“Whats’ Next?” Working with Emerging Arts Leaders: Philadelphia by Sarah Christy

As the current Secretary of the Executive Board of Emerging Arts Leaders: Philadelphia, I am honored to be part of a community dedicated to creating a vibrant arts landscape in Philadelphia. Upon moving to Philadelphia after working in the New York City art world, I was eager to find a network to connect to the local arts community and grow my leadership skills. I immediately saw the passionate, welcoming group of leaders and knew I wanted to get more involved in EAL:P. 

​Serving as Secretary and on the Membership Committee allows me to connect with fellow ambitious arts administrators and artists through the various networking, advocacy, and professional development events we host throughout the year. One of the most rewarding experiences on the board so far has been planning the Creative Conversation, our largest event of the year, held annually in October in conjunction with Emerging Leaders Networks of Americans for the Arts across the country. This year we were so appreciative to have Drexel’s Arts Administration and Museum Leadership program serve as the Hosting Sponsor and hold the event in Westphal’s URBN Center and Annex. Being a current Arts Administration Masters student, it was a great way to connect my classwork with my work on the board. The Creative Conversation theme of What’s Next in the Arts? sought to look beyond current best practices to anticipate shifts that impact artists and arts leaders in a wide variety of creative institutions. The symposium featured workshops on diversity, storytelling, power dynamics with funders, and many opportunities for discussion with attendees. As in the past, it was an inspiring day where we worked collaboratively to generate progressive ideas and strengthen connections across arts industries. 

The most valuable part of serving on the board has been the connections made with my fellow emerging leaders. Being able to discuss challenges and celebrate successes with my peers has been invaluable in my professional work as Director of Programs for Lightbox Film Center at International House Philadelphia. It has been great to expand my network and get to know a group of talented, passionate people who love the arts just as much as I do and will be shaping the future of our arts community in Philadelphia.