Austin Emerging Arts Leaders Mentorship Program Austin Emerging Arts Leaders

Summary

Austin Emerging Arts Leaders is composed of passionate local arts practitioners, administrators, and advocates offering professional development opportunities and inclusive community building to support the sustainability of a broader, more diverse creative ecosystem in Austin. Central to this mission, each year approximately five emerging artists and arts administrators are selected and paired with curated mentors to build relationships that aid their personal, professional, and creative development.

Timeline:

• January 19th, 2026: Final date to receive applications
• January 26 – February 4 2026: Applicant Interviews
• February 2026: Mentee Announcement
• February 24 2026: Mentor Pairing and Kickoff Meetings
• March–September 2026: Mentorship Meetings and Program Activities
• September/October 2026: Culminating Mentorship Showcase

Jan. 19, 2026 (11:59 PM CST)

Applicants for the Austin EAL Mentorship Program must:

• Identify as an artist, arts administrator, or be working toward a career in the arts.
• Either reside within a 25-mile radius of Austin or, if located elsewhere, demonstrate clear activity and investment in the Austin arts community.
• Be 21 years of age or older.
• Be within the first seven years of their arts career.

$1,500 stipend, disbursed in increments

Austin Emerging Arts Leaders (EAL Austin) has been at the forefront of empowering the next generation of arts leaders since its founding in 2012. What began as a grassroots initiative by co-founders Sarah Rucker and Anne-Marie McKaskle-Davis, inspired by their connection at the Americans for the Arts National Convention, has grown into a dynamic nonprofit shaping the future of Austin’s arts community.