Get Unblocked. Turn Naysayers into Allies. Make Your Ideas Happen.
Even the most qualified arts administrators are:
Shut down when proposing new ideas
Expected to lead without real authority
Overlooked for new opportunities
Burned out from managing up, down, and sideways—without the tools to make it better
There’s a Better Way to Lead and Advance—on Your Terms
The Uplevel Leadership Development Program is a career accelerator for off-stage arts professionals.
Whether you’re looking for a new role or wanting to make a bigger impact where you are right now, Uplevel was built specifically for this industry. It teaches you the research-backed leadership skills you were never taught before—so you can:
- Get buy-in for your ideas from your boss, board, or artistic director
- Position yourself as a leader (no matter your job title)
- Navigate organizational politics without burning out
- Advance your career with clarity and confidence
Imagine entering every meeting with a plan and purpose of what you want out of that meeting, strategically lining up allies, motivating and eliciting the actions in others you want to see, knowing how and when to take space and make space for others, negotiating a better salary, and building a high performing team that’s aligned around a vision.
Leadership isn’t a certain role or title or level of seniority. Leadership is when the system or org isn’t grinding you—because you know how to operate on a different plane entirely.
Your career, boosted.
Uplevel has helped more than a hundred arts administrators negotiate salary bumps, step into executive leadership roles, and drive change inside their organizations. All designed by someone who’s been in your shoes.
Three Program Tiers
The Uplevel leadership curriculum blends behavioral science, management psychology, and years of in-the-trenches experience to deliver results—all in Aubrey’s Changing the Narrative style packed with data and research.
Go at the pace you want, in the order you need.
We recommend giving yourself 4 weeks to work through the Uplevel material, but some prefer to take their time, revisiting the lessons again and again. Now you have options for both.
Uplevel Core Details
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Video lessons taught by Aubrey on leadership topics
Casting Vision
- Tools for managing up and laterally
- How to bring others along with your vision and ideas
- Standing out from the pack: Crafting your leadership purpose statement
- Elements of Procedural Justice
- Research-backed negotiation strategies – for collective bargaining and/or job offers
Job Search
- Do’s and Don’ts as a candidate
- Applications
- Cover letters: It’s a problem when the messaging doesn’t...
Do’s as an Employer
- Fair and equitable hiring practices
- Best practices for writing job descriptions to attract the best talent possible
- What to look for when reviewing resumes (and what not to) to maximize the talent pool
- Best practices for interviewing to land the best candidate every time
Building the Team
- Qualities of high performing teams
- Qualities of high performing leaders
- How to strengthen company culture
Negotiations
- Top negotiation tips for job offers and collective bargaining
Audience Development
- Audience retention overview (the crash course you need no matter your role)
- Online and in person experience: The three F’s
Personal Growth
- When to quit (and when not to)
- Putting it all together & defining your next steps
Worksheets for Key Topics
- So you can customize application of the material to your specific situation.
- Available as Google docs and printable PDFs.
Access to a Global Community of Arts Professionals
- Instantly gain access to hundreds of likeminded, welcoming, forward-thinking arts professionals—across disciplines, continents, roles, and experience—all working to change the narrative for arts and culture.
Uplevel Plus Details
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Additional 6 videos going deeper on Uplevel topics
- Navigating Office Politics
- Secrets of Search Firms
- Decolonizing Power
- Money Mindset
- Negotiations from the Artist Perspective
- Using Your Influence for Impact
Book Reading List
- Highly requested book reading list of just the titles related to Uplevel topics (so you don’t have to go through 91 of Aubrey’s public book reviews to find what you need)
Professional Development Skill-Building Library
Topics in the Changing the Narrative style, led by Aubrey as well as personally-invited guest speakers, who are CTN-approved subject matter experts. 26 videos in total, each around 45-60 minutes across topics, including:
- How to Secure Press Coverage in Today’s World
- 9 Tips for Creating Irresistible Resumes & Cover Letters
- Secrets to Successful Grant Writing
- Stop Using #ClassicalMusic: A Guide to Growing Your Org’s Social Media Following
- How to Start Your Own 501c3
- What the Research Actually Says about Imposter Syndrome
- How to Survive Constant Change in the Digital Age
- Loving Kindness Meditation (Your Bad Day Salve)
- Asking the Right Questions: How to Gather Effective Audience Insights to Drive Growth
- Embracing Your Inner Unicorn: Executive Leadership in the Arts
- Aubrey, Help Me Fix My Marketing!
- Plus almost 20 more hours of make-you-smart-fast, skill-building sessions
Uplevel All Access Details
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Live Personalized Session with Aubrey
- Your private, one-on-one session where anything goes, because the time is yours. Bring your questions to a safe space to get the real-time support you need.
- For anyone who has ever wanted to meet with Aubrey or just ask for some advice from someone who’s been there.
- Note: Aubrey no longer offers complimentary 1:1 consultations, so this really is your chance to get client access to her expertise and get insight catered to your specific scenario.
Goal Setting Sprint with Aubrey
- This 5 part series walks you from an idea of a goal you’d like to achieve, whether personal or a goal for your team or organization, to making it concrete with a detailed plan and timeline to get there.
- This is the exact process Aubrey uses literally any time she is creating a new project, timeline, or workflow — and now you get to her hear teach it in short, bite sized episodes that talk you through how to do it too.
- This is a tool you can come back to again and again any time you have a project to plan or idea to execute.
Full year access + Payment plan option
- Only available to this tier, you have the option to spread out your investment over multiple months to make it more affordable and get access for longer.
Uplevel Pricing
CHOOSE YOUR LEVEL
|
Uplevel Core
$297
3 months access with
option to continue at $19/mo |
Uplevel Plus
$597
3 months access with
option to continue at $29/mo |
Uplevel All Access
$999
12 months access with
option to continue at $19/mo |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| All Uplevel teaching videos, slide decks, transcripts | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Uplevel worksheets for every session so you can customize application of the material to your specific situation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Access to global community of arts professionals | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Money back guarantee | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Additional 6 videos going deeper on Uplevel topics taught by guest speakers | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Complete Changing the Narrative video library: 26 professional development sessions on topics taught in the CTN style | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Highly requested book reading list of top titles related to Uplevel topics | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Private 1:1 session with Aubrey | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Aubrey's 5-Part Goal Setting Sprint | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Payment plan option | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
|
|
Uplevel Core
$297
3 months access with option to continue at $19/mo
All Uplevel teaching videos, slide decks, transcripts
Uplevel worksheets for every session so you can customize application of the material to your specific situation
Access to global community of arts professionals
Money back guarantee
Additional 6 videos going deeper on Uplevel topics taught by guest speakers
Complete Changing the Narrative video library: 26 professional development sessions
Uplevel Plus
$597
3 months access with option to continue at $29/mo
Everything in Core, PLUS:
Additional 6 videos going deeper on Uplevel topics taught by guest speakers
Complete Changing the Narrative video library: 26 professional development sessions
Highly requested book reading list of just the titles related to Uplevel topics
Private 1:1 session with Aubrey
Aubrey's 5-Part Goal Setting Sprint
Uplevel All Access
$999
12 months access with option to continue at $19/mo
Everything in Plus, PLUS:
Private 1:1 session with Aubrey
Aubrey's 5-Part Goal Setting Sprint
12 months access (vs 3 months)
Payment plan available: $297 x 4 months or $999 in full
All plans come with a 100% money-back guarantee
Choose your level and get access immediately
FAQs
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Uplevel is designed for arts professionals wanting professional development and skill building across multiple topics, wanting to get buy-in for your ideas or position yourself in the marketplace, wanting to galvanize the board or leadership around an idea or vision, and/or wanting modern best practices for fair and equitable hiring for both employers and employees, no matter your level of seniority or years in the field. This includes administrators as well as artists wanting to transition to admin or management roles.
If you are wanting to increase audiences, the donor base, and/or revenue, or improve marketing or fundraising, then Run It Likee A Business Academy is likely a better fit for you.
If you are wanting to better understand you patron data or metrics, the Audience Development Bootcamp is likely a good fit for you too.
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Definitely! Especially if you are considering a career pivot, or want to learn more about administrative roles, this content will be valuable to you. Artists have participated in past cohorts and always bring so much value to the group.
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After you join, you’ll receive access to a calendar booking link where you can choose a time that works for you. The session lasts one hour.
You bring whatever is on your mind to discuss, and Aubrey is there to be a sounding board and offer coaching/guidance/support. The time is yours to use however you’d like! -
This program is intentionally now offered at different investment tiers to make it a significantly more affordable investment than other arts professional development programs.
Additionally, CTN wants to help people from historically marginalized groups be able to attend to increase representation in the arts and will offer a limited number of pay-what-you-can slots. If you come from a historically marginalized or underrepresented group(s) and feel your income sources are different than peers that are paying full price, please contact us here to be considered for a PWYC option.
Money-Back Guarantee
I am personally committed to providing extraordinary training that makes a positive impact for my students and their organizations.
If you are not completely blown away by the content and experience of your education inside the Uplevel Program, simply send an email to hello@aubreybergauer.com within one year of your registration for a full refund. No hurdles. No questions asked.
If the only thing holding you back from actually taking action and investing in yourself is a fear of “will this work for me?” or “how can I trust this is right for where I’m at?” this guarantee is for you. I will honor this guarantee without exception, because I am committed to giving the best experience possible to my students and clients.
Full Terms
Choose Your Level
Uplevel Core
3 months access with option to continue at $19/mo
$297
Uplevel Plus
3 months access with option to continue at $29/mo
$597
Uplevel All Access
12 months access with option to continue at $19/mo
$297 x 4 or $999