Leadership, Creativity, and the Stewardship of Culture

What role do artists and creative leaders play in shaping the culture, imagination, and flourishing of a community?

Join Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Luann Jennings and Frank Mihelich, two leaders whose work spans the visual and performing arts, arts entrepreneurship, education, and creative community building. Through their work with artists, students, theaters, and arts organizations, both have invested deeply in helping creative people not only develop their craft but also build sustainable pathways for meaningful impact. 

Drawing from decades of experience in artistic leadership, arts education, directing, entrepreneurship, and community engagement, Luann and Frank bring a unique perspective on the challenges facing artists today. Their work reflects a shared conviction that the arts are not merely entertainment or decoration, but a vital means through which people make meaning, cultivate empathy, explore truth, and contribute to the flourishing of communities. 

This conversation invites leaders to consider the arts not as a peripheral activity but as an essential part of human and community development. Together, we'll explore how creative leaders cultivate imagination, develop people, and steward artistic institutions in ways that strengthen culture, enrich communities, and help others see the world with greater depth, beauty, and hope. 

Discussion Points

1. Why the Arts Matter for Human Flourishing
2. Developing Artists Who Can Sustain Their Calling
3. Building Creative Communities and Institutions
4. Leadership Through Story, Imagination, and Culture