ASI’s MEDAL Program


Arts Services Inc.’s MEDAL (Molding Executives and Directors into Arts Leaders) program is forging the next generation of WNY arts leaders.

This six (6) month training and mentorship program offers participants, or MEDALists, monthly workshops and presentations, along with resources, networking, and mentorship opportunities related to managing nonprofit arts or culture organizations.

The MEDAL program is similar to other leadership programs found in WNY, but it is the only program in the region that is specifically designed to meet the needs of arts nonprofit leaders.

Participation in the program requires approximately 35 hours of commitment over a six-month period. Sessions will be held the third Thursday of the month between April and September.

The deadline to apply to the 2026 MEDAL Cohort has passed. Stay tuned for updates for 2027!

2026 Schedule

 

Date: Topic:
March 11, 2026 Application Deadline
April 16, 2026 Orientation / Meet & Greet
May 21, 2026 Leadership 
June 18, 2026 Governance and Nonprofit Boards
July 16, 2026 Human Resources
August 20, 2026 Development & Fundraising
This session is sponsored by WithumSmith+Brown, PC
September 17, 2026 Closing / Leadership

TESTIMONIALS

“This was the perfect way to continue to my career development. I feel the program was brilliantly structured and, with such limited resources, it was fortunate to have the opportunity to participate at no cost so my organization was not negatively impacted. Thank you!”

2025 MEDAList

“The staff support and engagement was really notable – having so much of the ASI team take time to focus and be present at these sessions was really meaningful!”

2024 MEDAList

“As a young, still relatively-inexperienced arts leader, I treasured the opportunity to talk with some of the industries brightest minds. It has set me up for success in every way and I am so grateful for the opportunity.”

2024 MEDAList

“The program was outstanding, and the wide array of important topics were excellent… Bravo for an outstanding program – ASI rocks, as always!”

2024 MEDAList

“Thank you for all you’ve done for us – I feel so much more secure in my ability to lead my organization and be successful as a new director. Having a cohort of my peers that I can now turn to is invaluable. It’s hard to be lonely as an ED when you’ve got so many people to rely on!”

2023 MEDAList

“I really love the opportunity to continue relationships with colleagues and others in this industry. Having ASI lead the charge for this opportunity is incredible and valued.”

2023 MEDAList

Why choose MEDAL?

  • Every guest presenter and workshop is framed through a nonprofit arts lens, with topics relevant to arts organizations of all sizes.
  • Presenters are selected by ASI for being open, communicative, and collaborative, creating meaningful and honest learning experiences.
  • Build lasting relationships with your fellow MEDALists and grow a supportive network within the WNY arts community.
  • Each cohort receives continued support from ASI and beyond the six-month program.
  • Gain access to ASI’s extended resources, including templates, connections to regional leaders, private office space, conference rooms, open workspace, laptops, iPads, recording equipment, and more.

FAQ’s

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria to be considered for this program:

  • Must be in an executive-level leadership* role.
  • Must be employed at a nonprofit arts or culture organization.
  • Must be based in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, or Niagara counties.
  • Must be able to commit to participating in person for all of the listed dates.
  • Must have reliable transportation or the ability to get to venues located throughout the WNY region.
  • Cannot be a board member, volunteer, or independent contractor of the organization.

*For the purposes of this program, we consider leadership positions any director level administrative position, including Executive Director, Managing Director, Operations Director, etc. Depending on the size and structure of your organization, positions with the title of “manager” may also be considered.

Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate a desire to continue in their nonprofit arts/culture leadership work and who have an innate desire to learn and grow. Applicants should demonstrate strong personal initiative and motivation, and the ability to work well on teams that include varying viewpoints.

Interested applicants can apply by clicking the blue “Preview or Start the Application” button above or by clicking here to submit an application. The application should take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete.

For any questions or issues, please contact Holly Grant at [email protected].

In addition to providing your contact information, applicants will be asked to answer several narrative questions, provide a resume or CV, and agree to ASI’s MEDAL program attendance policy.

If you wish to prepare your answers before going to the application form, you can view them in a PDF by clicking here.

Selected participants will represent a wide range of backgrounds, art forms, perspectives, experiences, and geographic locations. This is intentional to ensure as many perspectives are brought to the table as possible.

Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate a desire to continue in their nonprofit arts/culture leadership work and an innate desire to learn and grow. Applicants should demonstrate strong personal initiative and motivation, as well as the ability to work well on teams that include varying viewpoints.

Selected participants are expected to attend every session. We ask applicants to confirm their schedule prior to applying for this program.

We typically accept 10 leaders into each cohort.

Cohorts are intentionally kept small to ensure everyone feels comfortable, has their specific needs addressed and supported, and receives adequate attention and time during the learning sessions. We feel people learn best when they feel safe and free to share openly without fear of judgement or retaliation. Participants are expected to treat everyone with respect and to be open to different perspectives and opinions.

Participation in this program requires approximately 35 hours of commitment over a six (6) month period.

Sessions will be held the third Thursday of the month between April and September of 2026. Five of the sessions, taking place between May and September, will be six hours each. An opening orientation will be a shorter day, but still requires attendance.

Selected participants are required to commit to every session. Failure to attend a session could result in removal from the program.

DATES & TIMES

 

  • March 11, 2026 by 5:00 pm
    • Applications due
  • Thursday, April 16, 2026 from 1pm – 4pm
    • Orientation / Meet and Greet
  • Thursday, May 21, 2026 from 10am – 4pm
    • Leadership
  • Thursday, June 18, 2026 from 10am – 4pm
    • Human Resources
  • Thursday, July 16, 2026 from 10am – 4pm
    • Governance and Nonprofits Boards
  • Thursday, August 20, 2026 from 10am – 4pm
    • Development
  • Thursday, September 17, 2026 from 10am – 4pm
    • Closing / Leadership

 

Each session will be held in a different location. However, we don’t determine the final locations for each month’s session until we know who is in the program. This is intentional to ensure we are being equitable and selecting locations that are close to all of our program participants, so no participant has a far drive every single month.

We do ask that each applicant have reliable transportation or a way to get to any venue (including carpooling) within the five (5) county region of Western New York, as the program is open to leaders in all five (5) counties. Locations will be confirmed by the first session in April.

This six-month program will include orientation, four in depth learning sessions, and a closing event that ties it all together. While there are many things arts and culture nonprofit leaders need to know, we chose the top issues that will make everyone a better leader.

  1. Leadership: includes how to create a positive and inspiring workplace culture. Participants will take DiSC Work of Leaders Assessments that will help them identify their leadership style and better understand their own strengths and challenges as leaders. The goal is to help MEDALists create a happy and healthy culture for their staff and volunteers.
  2. Human Resources: this is one of the most commonly requested topics that impacts everyone. As the majority of nonprofit arts and culture organizations do not employ or contract with a human resources professional, this work is often done by someone in the leadership team. In addition to the basics of hiring, firing, benefits, employment packages, and payroll, participants will learn what is required by law and what is best practice.
  3. Governance: this topic helps leaders understand what is required legally of an organization, including required organization documents and annual filings, and the relationship between the staff and board of directors. Board members from each organization may be invited to join this session and learn how to be better partners to the organization’s executive staff. 
  4. Development: raising money is one of the top priorities for nonprofit leaders as it is how the organization stays solvent. The exact areas of development and finance that will be covered will be determined by the needs of those accepted into the program. 
  5. Back to Leadership: MEDALists will complete self-awareness and self-exploration exercises individually and as a team to ensure each participant is set up for success no matter what situation they find themselves in.

There is so much that leaders of nonprofit arts and culture organizations need to know. But we also know that leaders don’t have a lot of time they can take away from their work to learn these things. That’s why these sessions will be high-level overviews focused on the most important aspects of running a nonprofit arts or culture organization in the WNY region. To help fill in the gaps, ASI will provide participants with resources and additional opportunities that they can peruse on their own.

Participants will also have the opportunity to connect to past MEDAL participants who have offered to mentor and connect with new cohort members. While the ASI staff are always available for support and questions, we feel that connecting to those who are doing similar work has long lasting and far reaching benefits. This also acts as a networking tool to help strengthen the entire WNY arts and culture industry.

Thanks to the generous support of ASI’s funders, this program is being offered free of charge for 2026. The estimated value of this program is $3,000 per participant.

Depending on available future funding, a small fee may be added in subsequent years.

Meet the 2026 MEDALists!

Audrey Clark, Executive Director, Gardens Buffalo Niagara

Matthew Dunning, Executive Director, Nusantara Arts

Emily Glinick, Managing Director, Chautauqua Theater Company

Mary Gordon, Operations Manager, University at Buffalo Art Galleries

Jamil Kasumu, Executive Director, Ade Jembe Fola

Shaunna Mooney, Marketing Manager, Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens

Debbera Ransom, Founder, African American Veterans Arts and Culture Corporation

Kalmia Strong, Executive Director, Squeaky Wheel Film & Media Art Center

2025 MEDALists

  • Bronwen Battaglia, Director of Operations & Marketing, Neglia Ballet
  • Emma Brittain-Hardy, Executive Director, Locust Street Art
  • Parrish Gibbons, Deputy Executive Director, Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center
  • Adrienne Hill, Executive Director, Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ History Project
  • Olivia Knauss, Director of Development, The Roycroft Campus Corporation
  • James Lester, Executive Director, Niagara History Center
  • Lisa Ludwig, Executive Director, Shakespeare in Delaware Park
  • Spencer Morgan, Executive Director, Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
  • Wendy Skinner, Executive Director, The Fountain Arts Center
  • Tamara Zantell, Director of Business Development and Incubation, The Foundry

2024 MEDALists

  • Gerard Briggs President, Full Circle Family Services Inc.
  • Hy Carrel Director of Operations, Community Canvases
  • Tami Fuller Executive Director/Coordinator, Roycrofters at Large Association, Inc.
  • Matthew Marco Artistic Director, Buffalo Opera Unlimited
  • Riley Nahlik Operations and Marketing Manager, Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus
  • Myra Ofield Founder, YITC Foundation Inc.
  • Emily Reynolds Executive Director, The Buffalo Institute for Contemporary Art
  • Michael Russo Executive Director, Starring Buffalo
  • Ricardo Saeb Valenzuela Deputy Director, Buffalo String Works
  • Jun Wang-Tiedemann Chair, APAPA Buffalo-Niagara Chapter

2023 MEDALists

  • Alanda Gethers, Life InRichment Foundation
  • Claire Leggett, CEPA Gallery
  • Elizabeth Paladino, Irish Classical Theatre Company
  • Ian Seppala, Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum
  • Jane Babinsky, Fenton History Center
  • Jess Tomaino, WAHI Studios
  • Julio Flores, El Museo
  • Kamalah Poles, Buffalo Center for Arts & Technology
  • Madeline Harts, Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus
  • Paula Bernstein, Tri County Arts Council

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Arts Services Inc.’s MEDAL Program is generously supported by Tri-Main Development. We are grateful for their continued investment in Western New York’s creative community.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Supporting MEDAL is an investment in Western New York’s creative community. Unlike any other leadership development program in the region, MEDAL is designed specifically for nonprofit arts leaders. ASI’s MEDALists build practical skills, expand their networks, and gain insight from experienced leaders in the field.

Your support could offer growth, connection, and confident leadership for the arts across Western New York.