Michael Kaiser: A workshop for leaders of arts organisations
How do you lead a cultural organisation with a bold programme, an engaged audience and stable funding? As part of Prague Sounds 2026, Michael M. Kaiser, one of the world’s most respected experts in arts management, will share his expertise with several dozen Czech cultural leaders. At Prague’s Rudolfinum, he will introduce his practical model, The Cycle, and draw on his experience of leading major international institutions.
Donation beneficiary
Prague Sounds s.r.o.
Support date
July 2026
Why we support the project
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the project brings the expertise of one of the world’s most respected arts management specialists to the Czech Republic
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it strengthens leadership and supports the professional development of Czech cultural organisations
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it offers practical expertise in strategic planning, marketing and fundraising
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it enables Czech cultural leaders to share experience and apply what they learn to the day-to-day management of their organisations
About the project
Michael M. Kaiser is one of the leading figures in international arts management. His successful revitalisation of several major cultural institutions earned him the nickname “Turnaround King”. He has led London’s Royal Opera House, American Ballet Theatre and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and served as President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., from 2001 to 2014. He is now Chairman of the DeVos Institute of Arts and Nonprofit Management, which helps cultural organisations and their leaders develop around the world.
He will visit Prague at the invitation of Prague Sounds and the Czech Association of Festivals. During the full-day workshop “The Cycle: Practical Approach to Managing Arts Organizations”, he will present his practical approach to managing cultural institutions. He will focus on strategic and artistic planning, marketing and fundraising, as well as how organisations can respond to changes in funding, technology and audience expectations.
The workshop is intended for up to sixty leaders from the Czech cultural sector. Thirty places will be allocated to managers and artistic leaders of leading music festivals, while a further thirty will be available to representatives of organisations and institutions supported by the PPF Foundation or PPF Group. The organisers recommend that at least two members of each organisation’s leadership team attend, making it easier to put what they learn into practice.
The programme, conducted in English, will also include informal discussions with Michael Kaiser and contributions from DeVos Institute alumni Rui Catarino from Portugal and Jeanne LeSage from Canada. The workshop will take place on 20 November 2026 at the Rudolfinum as part of Prague Sounds.