Brett Egan — Beyond the NEA: Designing a Resilient Cultural Ecosystem
*episode airs Dec 19, 2026 at 9am EST
What if the most vulnerable part of American arts isn’t creativity itself — but the structural ecosystem that supports it?
In this timely and solutions-focused conversation, Elizabeth Bowman welcomes Brett Egan, President of the DeVos Institute of Arts and Nonprofit Management, to unpack the accelerating challenges facing U.S. arts and culture organizations in late 2025.
From rapid federal agency changes and grant rescissions to post-pandemic recovery struggles and the rise of AI, Brett offers historical context, candid assessment, and a forward-looking blueprint for resilience that goes beyond waiting on government stability.
Key topics include:
- Why the current administration’s approach to cultural agencies is unprecedented in speed and scope
- How AI could actually increase demand for human creativity and the interpretive power of the arts
The sector’s “crisis of collective action” and why we remain underorganized at a national scale - A practical vision for a flexible “national arts framework” — more constitution than mandate — that invites thousands of organizations to align around shared pillars
- The case for new independent funding models, including a nonpartisan national arts fund that speaks directly to the American public
- What “hybrid” arts leadership looks like in an era of technological and political disruption
Whether you’re an arts administrator grappling with funding instability, a fundraiser seeking new strategies, or a leader preparing the next generation, this episode delivers clarity, optimism, and actionable ideas.
"The government has become an increasingly unstable partner… We need a conversation about an independent national arts fund where we can take the conversation directly to the American people." —Brett Egan
“Trump May Be the Most Consequential Arts President. It’s Time for a Unified Response” Published on Artnet News (November 1, 2025)
Brett Egan’s Substack
Who is Brett Egan?
Brett Egan is President of the DeVos Institute of Arts and Nonprofit Management, delivering global planning and training for arts organizations. His expertise spans strategic planning, succession planning, capital and annual fundraising campaigns, community-based practice, human resources, board development, and institutional/programmatic marketing.
Notable clients include the Apollo Theater, Sundance Institute, National Public Radio Foundation, American Repertory Theater, National Symphony Orchestra, Motown Museum, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Ballet Hispánico, Harlem School of the Arts, Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, and many others across the U.S. and internationally.
He has provided interim leadership during key transitions, most notably as Interim CEO of the Royal Opera House Muscat (Oman, 2011–2012), where he oversaw the venue’s opening and a highly successful inaugural season featuring Renée Fleming, Andrea Bocelli, major international orchestras and ballets, and opera productions—with 92% average attendance.
Earlier, he served as Executive Director of Shen Wei Dance Arts (2006–2009), a Kennedy Center resident company that contributed to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremonies. Previous roles include positions at Lincoln Center Theater, New York Theater Workshop, and Santa Fe Opera.
Co-author (with Michael M. Kaiser) of The Cycle: A Practical Approach to Managing Arts Organizations (2013), Brett is a frequent conference speaker on fundraising, audience engagement, and arts management trends.
A magna cum laude Harvard graduate in Cultural and Performance Theory, he is a trained actor, theater director, and classical pianist.
All episodes, after publication, are also available in video form on YouTube and Spotify Channels. All are hosted by Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bowman.
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