ASCEND by ACG · 2026 Cohort

Your application starts here.

Four short steps. No long essays. We want to understand where you are in your career and what you're working through, not test your writing.

1ABOUT YOU

2YOUR STORY

3INVESTMENT

4CONFIRM

Tell us about yourself

Basic professional information - takes about three minutes.

STEP 1 OF 4

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Title

Organization(Required)

Years in Arts Administration(Required)

Annual Operating Budget of Your Organization(Required)

Focus of current work(Required)

Which of the following areas does your work intersect with

Staff or teams

Budget or finances

Programs or events

Marketing/communications

Board relations

Other

Location (City, Country)(Required)

Your leadership story

Three questions. Be honest rather than polished, that’s what we’re looking for.

STEP 2 OF 4

Why ASCEND, and why now?

What do you want to get out of the cohort experience?

What would you bring to the cohort?

Is your organization aware of your application?

Yes - my organization is sponsoring my participation. They are covering the program fee or have committed to doing so.

Yes - they are covering all or part of the program fee

Yes - they are aware and supportive, but I am covering the fee myself

Not yet - I am applying independently first

Organizational support is encouraged but not required to apply.

Resume(Required)

Max. file size: 50 MB.

Upload your current resume. This helps us understand your career trajectory - not to evaluate your writing. PDF or Word preferred.

Program investment & logistics

Almost there. A few practical details before you confirm.

STEP 3 OF 4

What's included in ASCEND

The program fee covers everything with no additional costs. Here is what every participant receives for the full investment:

SIX SESSIONS

Six live cohort sessions delivered over twelve weeks, focused on real leadership challenges.

RESUME REVIEW

A private one-on-one session with ACG senior staff reviewing your materials through an executive search lens.

VERBAL INTRO COACHING

Live coaching of your professional introduction, practiced with Executive Search experts.

GUEST PRACTITIONERS

Guest practitioners from across disciplines, sharing perspective shaped by decision-making, complexity, and responsibility.

PEER COHORT

Peers at your level, across disciplines and institutions, the kind of network that compounds over a career.

OFFICE HOURS

Scheduled program facilitator office hours (advance RSVP required), at no extra cost.

2026 PROGRAM FEE

$1,495

per participant (all-inclusive)

The two private coaching sessions alone - if purchased independently, would typically cost $500–$800. ASCEND delivers twelve weeks of structured leadership development with senior leaders and peer access.

Anything else you would like us to know? (optional)

Any context that would help us understand your application, or a specific question about the program.

Review and submit

One last look - then you're done.

STEP 4 OF 4

By applying to ASCEND, participants acknowledge the following expectations:

Program Participation
• Join the waitlist to be considered for the Fall Cohort 2026.
• Active and respectful engagement in peer discussions.
• Maintaining confidentiality of cohort conversations.
• Participation in a cohort-based leadership learning experience.

Time Commitment
Participants should plan to dedicate approximately:
• Biweekly virtual live sessions (approximately 90 minutes each)
• Completion of occasional pre-reads and reflection activities

Financial Commitment
• Program investment of USD $1,495
• Payment required upon acceptance into the cohort

Selection & Participation
• Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance
• Participation is confirmed only upon selection and registration

Communication & Information Consent
• Permission for Arts Consulting Group to contact you regarding ASCEND and related opportunities
• Consent for ACG to retain your resume/CV and application information within its professional database

(Required)

I confirm that the information in this application is accurate, that I have read about the program commitment, and that I am genuinely interested in participating in the 2026 ASCEND cohort. I understand that submitting this application does not guarantee a place in the program.(Required)

(Required)

I understand that sessions will be recorded and made available to enrolled participants for a limited time after each session. I acknowledge and consent to Arts Consulting Group using brief edited excerpts (up to three minutes) for promotional purposes.(Required)

Fall Cohort begins September 24, 2026.

Join the Waitlist

FALL 2026 - SESSION SCHEDULE

Thursdays biweekly September–December 2026 | 90 minutes | 4:00–5:30 PM PT | 7:00–8:30 PM ET

Session 01 – Thursday, September 24: Managing Up, Across, and Leading with Presence

Session 02 – Thursday, October 8: Navigating Uncertainty and Decision Making

Session 03 – Thursday, October 22: Strategic Thinking Beyond Daily Operations

Session 04 – Thursday, November 5: Managing Teams in a Changing Workforce

Session 05 – Thursday, November 19: Governance and Organizational Fluency as Leadership Tools

Session 06 – Thursday, December 3: Career Navigation and Leadership Identity

ACG ASCEND

QUESTIONS?

We are happy to answer any questions before you apply.

ascend@ArtsConsulting.com

COHORT SIZE

A carefully selected cohort, intentionally limited, so that every conversation in the room matters.