Sponsored by Stock Yards Bank & Trust

NeXt! is a program dedicated to preparing the next generation of emerging professionals for volunteer leadership roles within the Greater Louisville and Southern Indiana arts community. NeXt Ambassadors undergo an immersion program with leaders from across the community to develop necessary skills, build diverse relationships and apply the lessons learned.  

The NeXt! Ambassador Leadership Development program provides an opportunity to grow your professional skills to begin or enhance your Board leadership in the arts community.

Click here to see the 2026 NeXt! Class.

Applications for the 2027 NeXt! Class will open in Fall 2026.

Time Commitment 

Participants in the 2026 NeXt! Ambassador class participate in a 2.5-hour monthly program session over a 5-month period followed by a graduation ceremony. Each session is led by the Fund for the Arts leadership team with guest speakers from the arts community and the Fund for the Arts Board members and NeXTGen Board of past participants. Sessions are followed by an optional social hour. 

2027 PROGRAM DATES COMING SOON

Questions? 

Fund for the Arts and the NeXt! Ambassador program are committed to fostering a welcoming environment for all applicants to develop leadership skills.

If you have questions at any point in the application process, please reach out to  Tory Parker, Director of Marketing and Communications at tparker@fundforthearts.org.

“Not every one of us can paint, but our lives become more colorful when we exchange experiences with each other; not everyone of us can play a musical instrument or sing, but our journey becomes more joyful when we visit different art organizations together. As we are working side by side to make our community more inclusive, the NeXt! program sets the stage for us.” 

Xinyi Yan, NeXt! Ambassador class of 2023

“The art in the city needs to reflect the whole of our community; the audience needs to reflect the population. For generations, the art scene has been driven by a small number of well-intentioned intentioned serving the city what they believed the city should eat. Now, our generation of young leaders is taking a closer look at who is in the kitchen, and if the spread truly reflects the taste of those who live in our neighborhoods. We are actively recruiting to diversify our engaged and empowered artists and ambassadors.” 

Will Hollis, Former NeXtGen Board Chair and NeXt! Ambassador class of 2019 

“For me being part of NeXt provided me with the opportunity to become immersed in the arts community in my “new” home. NeXt allowed for me to make great connections and to also provided knowledge and guidance for becoming a supporter and board member for other organizations.” 

Tori Powell, current NeXtGen Board Member and NeXt! Ambassador class of 2020 

“The NeXt program prepared me for board leadership by showing me all the different aspects of the great arts organizations here in Louisville. How their mission is tied to everything they do, how to help at all different levels, but most importantly that it takes volunteers like me to ensure our cultural partners thrive.” 

Jon Riehm, NeXt! Ambassador class of 2015