Americans for the Arts has several peer-elected Councils. These Councils advise and assist Americans for the Arts in developing programs and resources to promote the growth and development of arts professionals networks nationwide. Four Councils are having elections for new seats and their candidates represent considerable professional expertise, leadership potential, and advanced practice. Their terms will start in January 2008.
Make your voice heard. Vote for your peers who you feel will best lead in service to the field. Only members of Americans for the Arts can serve on these Councils and only members can vote in these elections (you will need your ID# to access online ballots). You may only vote once for each Council. The online voting booths will close at the close of business on Friday, November 30, 2007.
Tagged with: LeadershipMembershipVolunteerism
November 29th, 2007 at 12:11pm
Rebecca Borden
And no, I am not asking if you are for the arts. I have a hunch that if you are reading this blog, I already know your answer. I could write about all of the reasons that I, and probably you, support the arts and arts education, but I would just be preaching to the choir. Instead, I want to write about the gray line is that separates Americans who are for the arts and Americans for the Arts.
The American Society of Association Executives (a.k.a. the association for associations) recently published a study called The Decision to Join, based on years of study and more than 16,000 surveys. One main concept of the research findings is that people join an organization to affiliate, or to be a part of, a movement of individuals with the same interests or goals.
That means they don’t join for the benefits and services an organization provides. This is a big blow to many of us who work for a membership organization, myself included. The reason I have a job is to make sure our members get their benefits and services (by the way, if you aren’t, email kcopeland@artsusa.org). And while I know many of our members place a ton of value in services we provide like the Public Art Network Listserv, Arts Link, or the discount they get on books in our Online Store, my gut tells me that The Decision to Join got it right.
We recently surveyed a small sample of our members to ask about some new benefits we were thinking about offering, like discounts on office supplies or insurance for small businesses and artists. (Incidentally, if you need insurance for yourself or employees, check out Fractured Atlas.) The members who responded gave us a very clear answer: they don’t want any of them.
So we’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately about where that leaves us. Essentially, most people join Americans for the Arts for the same reason you might join a political party or a knitting circle. You might be the only person in your town or on your block who thinks that the arts make America better, but you know you are not alone. You know that you are part of something larger than yourself. And we know we have a lot of work to do.
Tagged with: About-UsMembership
October 29th, 2007 at 10:12am
Katherine Copeland
Week after week, story after story is published in newspapers and magazines all across the country. They take different angles, but they all have the same message: an education that includes the arts produces workers that companies want to hire.
- The San Diego Business Journal writes that in an age of increasing globalization, jobs that lack elements of creativity will wind up overseas. So while math and science are important, it might be music and art that make the difference between a lay-off and a promotion.
- The Daily Press in Escanaba, MI, published a story this week about China’s shift from a teaching-to-the-test curriculum to one that encourages creativity, just as the United States is doing the opposite. The No Child Left Behind philosophy is not preparing our children for tomorrow’s world.
- Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee is driving the point home in speeches on the campaign trail, saying that employers are looking for creative types. Like Richard Florida, Huckabee believes that creatives will make up the American workforce in the future.
So the word is getting out. The idea is catching on. Creative workforce has Buzz. And Buzz is the beginning. Before Paris Hilton was everywhere, she had Buzz in the Manhattan nightlife scene. Before healthcare reform was on every politician’s agenda, Michael Moore’s Sicko had Buzz.
But what do we do now? How do we in the arts harness the creativity Buzz and use it to ensure that every child gets a quality arts education? At Americans for the Arts, we are working on leveraging the Buzz to get foundations, corporations, and political leaders involved so that No Child Left Behind doesn’t leave the arts behind. We know you are working on it too. What are you doing with the Buzz?
Tagged with: About-UsAdvocacyArts-EducationMembershipPartnershipsPolicy
October 1st, 2007 at 04:56pm
Katherine Copeland
Are You Ready?
The fall is typically a busy time for hiring-are you ready? Even if you aren’t actively looking for a new position right now, it never hurts to stay on top of what’s happening in the field.
Take advantage of all the services our new and improved Job Bank has to offer:
- Register as a Job Seeker on our site
- Update your resume every year and every time you change jobs
- Post your resume so that employers can easily find you
- Create Job Agents so jobs can be e-mailed to you daily
10 Steps for Success
Keep your application at the top of the stack! By following these 10 simple guidelines, you’ll be sure to have a better chance of having your resume read and considered.
1. Double and triple check your resume for spelling and grammatical errors.
2. Create a professional e-mail address for your search.
3. Pay close attention to the instructions from the job listing.
4. Never send a resume without a cover letter.
5. Do your research on the organization and the position.
6. Address your cover letter to a specific person (e.g., a hiring manager or executive director).
7. Customize your letter and resume to each job.
8. Do not pester their office with status check e-mails and phone calls.
9. Compare your skills/knowledge/experience with the job posting requirements.
10. Keep track of where you have applied, with whom you’ve spoken, and what actions have been taken.
(more…)
Tagged with: About-UsLeadershipMembership
September 27th, 2007 at 05:30pm
Nora Koerner
Americans for the Arts new Job Bank has been booming since it was launched June 20. Our special introductory rates for members will expire at the end of September, so don’t let this be a missed opportunity! If the rates are not enough to make you visit, maybe this will:
- Every job posting has an average of 150 click-throughs.
- Job searching is FREE for EVERYONE!
- We have over 550 resumes to browse and over 800 registered job seekers on our site.
- Sign up for resume or job listing e-mails delivered daily to your inbox .
Not a member? Visit www.AmericansForTheArts.org/Membership to choose the membership that best fits your needs. E-mail JobBank@artsusa.org for further assistance.
Tagged with: About-UsLeadershipMembershipVolunteerism
September 10th, 2007 at 12:36pm
Nora Koerner
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