Professional Development

Each virtual workshop is presented free-of-charge. There are no upcoming information sessions at this time.

Copyright Basics, the Arts, and Artificial Intelligence

Copyright Basics, the Arts, and Artificial Intelligence
South Arts, The Ella Project, and Georgia Lawyers for the Arts discuss the basic concepts behind U.S. Copyright and how it affects art makers. We also discuss Copyright and Artificial Intelligence (AI). This webinar was for information purposes only. Please consult with a professional for advice related to your personal practice, or other places of employment.

The following webinar was recorded on September 19, 2024.

Facilitators
The Ella Project - Dedicated to the joy and beauty of the culture of New Orleans and Louisiana, The Ella Project provides pro bono legal assistance, arts business services, and advocacy to our cultural community.

Georgia Lawyers for the Arts (GLA) is a nonprofit organization that provides legal assistance and educational programming to artists and arts organizations. Georgia Lawyers for the Arts (GLA) exists to serve the legal needs of artists and arts organizations, to promote closer contact and understanding among members of the legal profession and the arts community, and to educate artists about their legal rights and responsibilities.

A Prescription for Art? Yes Please!

Meet Art Pharmacy

Art Pharmacy is a solution by which healthcare providers can ‘prescribe’ engagement with arts & culture experiences to patients/clients who are experiencing a range of mental and physical health concerns. Built on 40+ years of research documenting the benefits of the arts on health, Art Pharmacy partners with providers of arts & culture experiences to connect individuals to engagements in their community. Art Pharmacy covers the participation costs and supports participants with other access needs.  

Connect with Art Pharmacy

Adrienne Hundley (Art Pharmacy Head of Service) introduce arts-based social prescribing and talk through the Art Pharmacy model in more detail. This session is great for folks who are curious about how to become an Arts & Culture Partner and anyone who wants to learn about innovation in Arts & Health.

The following webinar was recorded on September 12, 2024 

Department of Labor, The New Overtime Rule, & Arts Organizations

Arts organizations are rushing to figure out the best way to comply with a new federal rule that could mean higher salaries or shorter working hours for many of their employees, beginning in 2025. Essentially, the new overtime rule from the U.S. Department of Labor means that most workers at arts organizations (and other nonprofits and businesses around the country) will soon need to provide overtime pay when any of their employees with salaries below $58,656 per year work more than 40 hours in a week. This webinar will provide basic information about the new overtime rule and the mixed sense of “moral support and operational anxiety” that many organizations are experiencing as they try to figure out what it means for their operations. The webinar will highlight the likely impact of the overtime rule on arts organizations in the South and share suggestions on compliance options for your organization and next steps that you should be taking between now and January 1, 2025. We’ll also include time to answer any questions you may have about the rule.

The following webinar was recorded on August 22, 2024.

Facilitator
David Heinen has been with the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits since 2007, leading the Center’s public policy and advocacy work and providing non-answers (and occasional useful information) about legal compliance, trends in the nonprofit sector, and advocacy to hundreds of nonprofits. He has served on boards of a variety of local and national nonprofits. David is a graduate of Duke University and the William and Mary School of Law. Before returning to North Carolina to work for the Center, David spent seven years as an attorney with a Washington, D.C. law firm serving the nonprofit community. He lives in Raleigh with his wife and three children, the oldest of whom describes her dad as “weathered.”

Authentic Social Media Marketing

Sound like an oxymoron? It doesn’t have to be. Delia Fian shares her approach to marketing both a small educational nonprofit and her own handcraft through social media outlets. Over just a few years, Delia has built a large following through story-based marketing, empathy, and generosity. In this presentation, she will share her tools and methods for leveraging social media to support creative work.

The following webinar was recorded on July 28, 2024.

Facilitator
Delia Fian is a basket weaver and teacher making her way towards a handmade life in the Unicoi mountains of Southern Appalachia. She directs School of the Greenwood, a nonprofit working to restore connection to the land through creative empowerment. At Greenwood, she teaches basketry to children and adults, utilizing invasive and abundant wild materials. When not teaching, she is passionately exploring the fibers of place - hunting the limits of all that is possible in weaving material culture for a rooted and regenerative future. 

The Role of the Arts in Climate Adaptation and Migration

Increasing population shifts are predicted in the future resulting in communities throughout the United States receiving newcomers. This presentation provides an introduction to climate adaptation and migration in addition to strategies and resources to help prepare communities to welcome newcomers, whether they are climate migrants, refugees, or immigrants. Since both environmental and cultural changes disproportionately impact marginalized communities, planning should not be color-blind to help not replicate past injustices. Discussions include roles, players and issues in your location, assessing your situation, and taking action.

The following webinar was recorded on June 12, 2024.

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Facilitator
Maida Owens is a folklorist who has directed the Louisiana Division of the Arts Folklife Program since 1988. She is a founding member of the Bayou Culture Collaborative, an initiative of the Louisiana Folklore Society. Through monthly online gatherings and working groups, the BCC connects those interested in the intersection of traditional culture, the arts and science in the face of Louisiana’s land loss and environmental changes. Her focus is on the impact of migration upon our cultures in the face of coming disruption.

Crafting Your Video Pitch: Techniques for Preparing a Video Submission

Funders, residency programs, grant applications, scholarships, etc. are utilizing video rather than (or in addition to) the standard narrative proposal. What do you need to know to offer your best self on camera?

Join Wes Browing and Malesha Taylor Browning as they discuss basic techniques for a stella submission, camera angles, lighting, and more. All you need is your smartphone with a camera.

The following webinar was recorded on March 28, 2024.

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL:

Quick Steps to Record Video with Your Mobile Phone  Presentation Slides

Facilitators
Wes Browning is the Founder/Director of Sema Films. He is happiest when observing the world through a lens. He has spent more than 23 years capturing evidence of the human spirit, focusing on telling stories of deep connections that make us more alike than different. He has carried this passion through projects for Atlanta Public Schools, Africa Exchange, Calendly, The Coca-Cola Company, Emory University, Forum for Theological Exploration, Mercer University, The Rockefeller University, and many others. Throughout his career, Wes has managed to set foot in over 43 countries around the world, putting him in contact with a wide range of experiences, people, and places. He has a particular passion for stories that originate on the continent of Africa. In 2008, Wes started Sema Films, a full-service video production company in Atlanta, Georgia. Sema Films primarily works with non-profits to amplify voices of good in the world to catalyze change.Sema Films has also been documenting the work of the South Arts Southern Cultural Treasures.

Malesha Taylor Browning is a vocal artist, TEDx Speaker, strategist and the creator of The E.L.E.V.A*T.E. Framework: 8 Guiding Principles for BIPOC arts and culture leadership. This framework supports the work of museSalon in it’s specialized capacity building, professional development and technical assistance services for arts organizations including the South Arts Southern Cultural Treasures. Malesha is a proud Urban Bush Woman SLI Alum 2019 and has published articles with Arts for a Changing America and HowlRound. She has been a professor and/or guest lecturer at Harvard University, Scripps College, The Claremont Colleges, California State Universities, Clark Atlanta University and Spelman College. 

Essential Social Media Tips

Join South Arts and working visual artist and creative Erin Kendrick for this special South Arts virtual learning opportunity. During our time together, Erin will share how she uses the social media tool Linktree and other social media platforms to promote her art, archive her work, and sell her art. We will begin with the basics and dive into real examples provided by Erin, a Southern working artist. 

This virtual workshop is free and geared toward artists (all disciplines welcome!) and small start-up arts businesses/organizations.

The following webinar was recorded on March 21, 2024.

Additional Resources and Links

Facilitator - Erin Kendrick of Artist Types, professional artist and educator
Erin Kendrick is a multidisciplinary artist, designer, and passionate arts educator based in Jacksonville, Florida. With a BFA in Studio Art from Florida State University (1999) and an MFA in Drawing and Painting from Georgia State University (2003), her artistic journey has spanned across diverse roles and locations. Erin currently holds the positions of Director of Education and Lead Visual Art Instructor at Jacksonville Arts & Music School, as well as an adjunct professor at Flagler College's School of Creative Arts & Letters. She also spearheads Artist Types, an initiative dedicated to equipping emerging artists with the tools and resources to advance their careers. 

Tax Basics for Creatives

If it is true that the only certain things in life are death and taxes, this workshop will make navigating one of those things considerably easier. We’ll review federal income tax basics for creative individuals, including common deductions claimed by creative entrepreneurs. We’ll also outline how the tax landscape changes based on the type of income an artist earns and highlight key aspects of tax law that impact financial wellness, including deducting interest for student loan payments and saving for retirement. We’ll touch briefly on some 2023 updates (like the new Venmo and Paypal 1099s!), and we’ll conclude by reviewing some tips and best practices to keep excellent records.

The following webinar was recorded on January 25, 2024.

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In addition to the presentation and workshop above, Elaine Grogan Luttrull from Miverva Financial Arts created a follow-up Q&A with additional information:

Facilitator - Elaine Grogan Luttrull, Minerva Financial Arts
Elaine Grogan Luttrull, CPA-PFS, AFC® is the founder of Minerva Financial Arts, a company devoted to building financial literacy and empowerment in creative individuals and organizations. Her workshops and presentations have been featured nationally by groups that support the arts, including Creative Capital, the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, the Joan Mitchell Foundation, Sundance, Firelight Media, the National YoungArts Foundation, and a variety of state arts councils and commissions. 

Elaine spent 10 years in academia, teaching at the Columbus College of Art & Design and serving as the Department Head for Business & Entrepreneurship from 2014-2018. She regularly provides guest lectures for colleges, universities, and conservatories that serve the arts, including the Juilliard School, New England Conservatory, the School of Visual Arts, and the Cleveland Institute of Arts. Before that, Elaine served as the Director of Financial Analysis for The Juilliard School and in the Transaction Advisory Services practice of Ernst & Young in New York.

Elaine is the author of Arts & Numbers (Agate, B2 2013), and she has contributed regularly to industry guides, including Professional Artist magazine, Business of Art from the Center for Cultural Innovation, and Create a Living Legacy from the Joan Mitchell Foundation. She is based in Dublin, Ohio (Kaskaskia and Hopewell indigenous and cultural lands) where she serves on the boards of the Short North Alliance and Healing Broken Circles. Previous board service includes Social Ventures, the Financial Therapy Association, and the Lark Play Development Center.

A Beginner's Guide to Budgeting

This “101” workshop is for individual artists and start-up arts organizations. We will look at project budgets, financial literacy terms and concepts, and how to align a budget with project goals and outcomes.

The following webinar was recorded on January 11, 2024.

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Facilitator – Jessyca Holland, South Arts
When Jessyca and her business partner decided to start their own arts practice and nonprofit back in 2010, they had to learn on the fly how to manage money outside of a household budget for the first time. A lot of the learning was getting comfortable with new vocabulary and how to translate vision into the numbers. With over 20 years of experience in arts administration, Jessyca developed this course to support arts workers who want to earn a living from making art. Jessyca is not an accounting major, but she does hold a BA in Theatre, and MLM in Library Media, and is currently completing a Master of Public Administration in Planning & Economic Development.

Virtual Speed Networking: Partners in the Know

Join us for a speed networking event with CERF+ (the Artist's Safety Net), the National Coalition For Arts' Preparedness and Emergency Response, and The Entertainment Fund. Connect with national organizations that serve art makers, arts organizations, and communities. All disciplines are welcome.

Participates can expect short presentations to learn about these national arts service organizations. Presentations will be followed by "break out" room meetings so attendees can ask questions, share ideas, and build community.

Presenters:

Barbara S. Davis
Barbara S. Davis has been with the Entertainment Community Fund since 1984. As Chief Operating Officer, she oversees the intersection of administration, finance, advancement and programs including social services, health care, workforce development for the Fund’s three offices in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, and at its supportive housing residences in Manhattan, Brooklyn and West Hollywood, as well as at the assisted-living and nursing care home in New Jersey. Ms. Davis is Co-Chair of the Housing, Health and Human Services Committee and serves on the Land Use Committee for Manhattan Community Board #4. Ms. Davis is Vice President of the Waldman Foundation, a member of the World of Work Advisory Committee at Columbia University School of Social Work and serves as an advisor for the Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. Ms. Davis has her BA in Psychology from American University, a Masters Degree in Social Work from Columbia University and has completed the Columbia University Graduate School of Business Institute for Not-for-Profit Management Executive and Leadership Programs.

Cameron Baxter Lewis
Cameron Baxter Lewis is the Director of Grants & Programs at CERF+. In this role, he is responsible for the development, implementation, and management of CERF+’s emergency response and readiness grants as well as CERF+ programs. Cameron began his career as an AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps member rebuilding houses in Gulf Coast communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina. This experience inspired him to pursue a Master’s in Public Administration with a concentration in Emergency Management. Since that time, he has spent more than 15 years starting complex programs in disaster recovery zones at organizations including Save the Children, Points of Light, Peace Corps, the Corporation for National and Community Service, and CERF+.  Cameron's commitment to the field extends beyond his professional roles. He has assumed leadership positions, including Chair of the NVOAD Volunteer Management Committee and Triangle AmeriCorps Alums Chapter. Additionally, he has provided guidance as a subject matter expert on volunteer management for the National Volunteer Fire Council, the Disaster Resilience Roundtable, and FEMA's Youth Preparedness Council.

Mollie Quinlan-Hayes
Mollie Quinlan-Hayes joined the NCAPER staff in October 2022 in the new position of Fund Development and Program Officer. She will work with the Executive Director and Steering Committee to advance the goals and objectives of NCAPER and assist in program administration and advocacy efforts. Quinlan-Hayes will continue as Rauschenberg Grants Coordinator for the New York Foundation for the Arts, guiding two artist emergency grant programs. Previously, she served as Deputy Director of South Arts, a Regional Arts Organization, where she led the development of ArtsReady and other regional and national programs; as a consultant and speaker in readiness planning, program design, and advocacy; and as Assistant Director of the Arizona Commission on the Arts. She has served on the NCAPER Steering Committee since 2009.

visAbility: Accessing Arts & Culture

The terms "invisible disabilities" and "non-apparent disabilities" have been circulating in conversations in recent years among the arts and cultural sector. What is a non-apparent disability and how should this broad spectrum of disability influence how arts and cultural organizations develop programs, environments, and business operations?  

In this workshop, presenters will explore non-apparent disabilities and how barriers to access impact individuals with autism, PTSD, sensory processing disorder, among other disabilities. We will hear from individuals with lived experience with disability and direct support professionals who will share their perspectives and suggestions for making arts and cultural opportunities accessible for all. Attendees will gain valuable knowledge, tools, and resources they can utilize when navigating these barriers within their organizations. 

Founded in 1974, Arts InCommunity and partners work together to create inclusive communities where arts and culture is accessible for all individuals in the Southeast.

The following webinar was recorded on August 24, 2023.

Presenters:

Kylie Moore. My name is Kylie Moore. I am 35 years old and I live in Roswell, Ga. I have been a disability advocate for 7 years. I work at the Bobby Dodd Institute. I am the creator and facilitator of a unique leadership self-advocacy program called the Ambassador Program. The Ambassador Program teaches young adults with developmental disabilities how to talk about their disabilities, advocate for themselves and become influential members of their community. I currently have 36 graduates. I can't wait to continue to make a difference in the lives of others!

 

Deb Gerace. Deb Gerace has devoted her career to supporting youth, individuals with disabilities, and underserved communities throughout Georgia. As a seasoned educator in public and private schools, trained audio describer, and educational mentor, Deb combines her talents as a teacher, musician, and advocate to support the movement for access and inclusion for all.

 

Lowell Fuchs. Lowell Fuchs joined InCommunity in 2018 and currently leads a division of programming called Arts InCommunity (formerly known as VSA Arts of Georgia). His work primarily takes place in the cross-sector through collaborations in the arts/cultural, public health, and community development sectors. He shares a vision for a more inclusive South where arts and culture are accessible for all individuals. Lowell received degrees in Music from the University of North Carolina Greensboro (M.M.) and Georgia State University (B.M.) focused on music composition, technology, and socially engaged art. 

Preserving Legacy Conversation: Ballethnic Archive Project

In partnership with The Radical Archive of Preservation (T.R.A.P.), Ballethnic Dance Company presents the Ballethnic Archive Project.  As one of the oldest Black ballet companies, this project traces the history of Black Dance by preserving its own 33-year-old history of professional collaborations.  Committed to preserving the rich intellectual history of Black people, T.R.A.P. offers archival services, education, and curatorial production to performance-based work, with particular interest in Black Women's labor.

Nena Gilreath is a ballerina, an entrepreneur, and an artistic director; she has spent her career immersed in dance. After graduating with a B.F.A. from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Gilreath danced with the Ruth Mitchell Dance Theatre, the Dance Theatre of Harlem, and the Atlanta Ballet. She toured internationally with the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Seeing the need for greater racial diversity in ballet, Gilreath and her husband, choreographer Waverly T. Lucas II, co-founded Ballethnic Dance Company and Academy of Dance in 1990 to provide superior instruction and performance opportunities to underrepresented communities. Gilreath and Lucas have become award-winning artists and entrepreneurs for their work with Ballethnic. They traveled to Senegal to study dance and drum, which they include in the Ballethnic training. Ballethnic has grown into a company and school that produces unique dance experiences for its audiences and students by fusing classical ballet, African dance and other artistic influences.

Waverly T. Lucas, II attended Marygrove College in Detroit, Michigan, where he conceived the concept and name for Ballethnic Dance Company. After careers with the Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Atlanta Ballet, he joined The Heartstrings National Tour.    Mr. Lucas created more than 60 ballets, including four full-length ballets. “Urban Nutcracker”, “The Leopard Tale”, “A Jazzy Sleeping Beauty”” Flyin’ West …the ballet” based off of the Pearl Cleage play, and an Opera: “Aida” for the Atlanta Opera. After co-founding BDC with his wife Nena Gilreath in 1990.  Mr. Lucas’ choreography and projects consists of the 1996 Olympic Arts Festival, 1997 Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors Concert Series, the National Black Arts Festival, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Outreach Program, Dance Africa (Brooklyn Academy of Music and Chicago Theater 2001), the Danseur Development Project, (a dance-training program for young males) and, he is the creator of Ballethnicize, an evolving dance/fitness discipline that combines African dance styles with classical ballet. His international experience consists of performing and/or teaching in USSR, West Africa, South America and the West Indies. Performed, taught, and choreographed works for the University of Georgia as Artist in Residence. His awards include; Princess Grace Scholarship, McPheeter’s Medallion Award, National Choreographers Award, TBS Trumpet Award as Dancer/Choreographer, *2006 Lexus Leaders of the Arts by Georgia Public Broadcasting, and *2007 Charles Loridans Award (*with wife, Nena). 

shady Radical, CA, Ph.D. is a mother, writer, performance archivist, professor, and founder of The Radical Archive of Preservation, (T.R.A.P.) LLC. Her practice is inspired by ritual, resistance, and movement in Black women’s performance art.  Dr. Radical earned a PhD in the Moving Image Studies program at Georgia State University, a MA in Curatorial Studies from New York University; a BA in Art History from The College of Saint Elizabeth, and an AA in Fashion Business from Berkeley College.  Her professional experience includes working as a costumer in Atlanta’s film and television industry, establishing the costume archives of Tyler Perry Studios, and curating exhibitions at Southwest Arts Center, Day & Night Projects, Hammonds House Museum, and Atlanta Contemporary. Dr. Radical teaches at Spelman College and through T.RAP archives the work of costume Designer, Derron Cherry, Ballethnic Dance Company, and Bwagamoyo Africulture, performance company based in Tanzania. As Assistant Chair of the Education Committee for Society of Georgia Archivists, she's currently organizing Rooted in Memory: A Virtual Workshop Series grounded in the work of Black Memory Work(er), community members, and cultural caretakers.

Art of Crowdfunding: Unlocking Financial Support for Your Creative Projects

In this presentation, we will explore the exciting world of crowdfunding and how it can be a game-changer for artists seeking financial support for their creative endeavors. Crowdfunding has become a popular and effective way for artists to fund their projects, connect with their audience, and retain creative control over their work. By the end of the presentation, attendees will have a comprehensive understanding of how artists can use crowdfunding as a powerful tool to support their creative projects and realize their artistic visions. They will be inspired to harness the collective power of their fanbase and community to fund their art and fuel their creative endeavors.

Guest Presenter: Eileen Jerrett, Creative Projects Director, Indiegogo

South Arts professional development series is meant for informational purposes and not to replace professional advice. The views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of South Arts, its board, or our partners.

Arts Organizations, Founders, & Succession Planning

Learn about new research and practical applications of Succession Planning in the South Arts Region and nationwide.

Performing Arts Readiness Project Director Tom Clareson will talk about a new national research project on succession planning in arts and cultural organizations and the tools to be created by this initiative. Jan Newcomb, Executive Director of the National Coalition for Arts’ Preparedness and Emergency Response, will talk about succession needs and solutions at the ten arts organizations she has led during her career. Rosie Gordan-Wallace of Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator will discuss her experiences with succession planning.

The following webinar was recorded on May 5, 2023.

South Arts professional development series is meant for informational purposes and not to replace professional advice. The views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of South Arts, its board, or our partners.

Tom Clareson is Project Director of Performing Arts Readiness, funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to help performing arts organizations protect their assets, sustain operations, and prepare for emergencies. He also serves as Senior Consultant for Digital & Preservation Services at Lyrasis, consulting internationally on preservation, disaster preparedness, digitization, funding, strategic planning, and advocacy for arts and cultural organizations. Clareson is Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation, and Vice President of the National Board of Advisors of the Richard M. Ross Art Museum at Ohio Wesleyan University. He has experience teaching graduate-level courses for the University of Texas at Austin, University of California-Los Angeles, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Throughout her career in arts management and education and prior to becoming Executive Director of National Coalition for Arts’ Preparedness & Emergency Response and the Performing Arts Coordinator for the Performing Arts Readiness Project in 2017, Jan Newcomb directed eight arts organizations, including the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Charleston Symphony Orchestra, four arts councils in NY and SC and a community arts center. Jan served as Director of Grants at the SC Arts Commission and taught modern dance at the University of Buffalo and the University of SC. In 2009, Jan began consulting on leadership transition and development for arts organizations; her clients include: Long Wharf Theatre, Lexington Philharmonic, Miami Summer Music Festival, South Arts, and others. In 2015, she designed and was asked to direct the MA in Leadership in the Arts & Entertainment Industries Program at NYIT in Manhattan. She is the 2017 recipient of the Lifetime Service Award from The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes. Jan works virtually out of her home in Corning, NY and holds a BA in Music, Hood College; MA in Dance, from The George Washington University.

Rosie Gordon-Wallace is a recognized curator, arts advocate, community leader and pioneer in advancing contemporary Caribbean diaspora art. She founded the Diaspora Vibe Culture Arts Incubator (DVCAI) to serve as a local and global laboratory dedicated to promoting, nurturing and cultivating the vision and diverse talents of emerging artists from the Caribbean Diaspora, artists of color and immigrant artists. Twenty-six years later, DVCAI is recognized as a global resource and one of the region’s leading platforms dedicated to providing diaspora artists with a venue to explore and experiment with new forms and themes that challenge traditional definitions of the Caribbean and Latin American art. Her awards include the Knight Foundation Cultural Award, The African Heritage Cultural Arts Center Third Annual Calabash Amadlozi Visual Arts Award, International Businesswoman of the Year, One of South Florida’s 50 Most Powerful Black Professionals to name a few. In 2021, she was recognized by the Perez Art Museum Miami’s International Women’s Committee as International Woman of the Year. Her recent curations include Inter | Sectionality: Diaspora Art from The Creole City at The Miami Design District, and Illuminate Coral Gables: A City Looks to Light, city of Coral Gables, Florida, and more recently “Chromatic Cogitations” alumni artist in residence exhibition at Redline Contemporary Arts in Denver, Colorado, “I M(O)ther: Threads of the Maternal Figure” Katrina Coombs, at Sarasota Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida, and “ORDER MY STEPS: There are no answers here, move on,” Roscoè B. Thické III at Oolite Arts, in Miami, Florida.

Accessibility in the Arts - A workshop & discussion

Is your arts organization as accessible as it can be? Join Arts InCommunity as we discuss accessibility in the arts sector and some of the biggest hurdles that are hindering organizations from achieving greater access. Learn how improving accessibility can expand the reach of the arts in your greater community. Stick around for a virtual roundtable session to share and learn innovative ways arts organizations are addressing accessibility at their institutions.

Founded in 1974, ARTS InCommunity and partners work together to create inclusive communities where arts and culture is accessible for all individuals in the Southeast.

The following webinar was recorded on December 8, 2022.

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Facilitators:

Lowell Fuchs: Lowell Fuchs joined InCommunity in 2018 and currently leads a division of programming called Arts InCommunity (formerly known as VSA Arts of Georgia). His work primarily takes place in the cross-sector through collaborations in the arts/cultural, public health, and community development sectors. He shares a vision for a more inclusive South where arts and culture are accessible for all individuals. Lowell received degrees in Music from the University of North Carolina Greensboro (M.M.) and Georgia State University (B.M.) focused on music composition, technology, and socially engaged art. 

Kylie Moore: My name is Kylie Moore. I am 35 years old and I live in Roswell, Ga. I have been a disability advocate for 7 years. I work at the Bobby Dodd Institute. I am the creator and facilitator of a unique leadership self-advocacy program called the Ambassador Program. The Ambassador Program teaches young adults with developmental disabilities how to talk about their disabilities, advocate for themselves and become influential members of their community. I currently have 36 graduates. I can't wait to continue to make a difference in the lives of others!

Preparedness As, Bs, & Cs: Beginning to Build Your Network

People often feel creating an organizational Preparedness or Business Continuity Plan is hard. However, there are basic techniques you can quickly learn; in this participatory workshop, you’ll work with others to start creating yours, build a peer support network, and walk away with tangible assets you will use as well as the Preparedness Mindset you need to finish the work.

The following webinar was recorded on November 17, 2022.

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Amy Schwartzman was a professional dancer in NYC for 11 years, working with Meredith Monk, Blondell Cummings and others. Her work as an artist informs her work at the intersection of arts and emergency management, which she has been doing since 9/11, after serving as the Executive Director of two arts organizations. 

After 9/11, Amy was hired to work for the New York Arts Recovery Fund, created to help NYC’s artists and arts organizations recover from that disaster. Since 2007, she has been a consultant to the National Coalition for Arts’ Preparedness and Emergency Response (NCAPER) and a member of its Steering Committee since 2018. She also works with the Performing Arts Readiness Project (PAR), where she has designed and taught webinars on Networking for Disaster Management in the Performing Arts and Community Recovery through Arts and Culture, as well as helped organizations create business continuity plans.

Amy was brought to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria to work with the RAND Corporation on the Island’s recovery plan, focusing on the recovery of artists, artisans and arts organizations and worked for FEMA in NYS after Superstorm Sandy toward the same end; at that time, she helped design and facilitate the creation of CultureAID with the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs.

Publications include working with the RAND Corporation on its Cultural and Historical Resources Recovery Planning in Puerto Rico and The Cultural Placekeeping Guide and Essential Guidelines for Arts Responders Organizing in the Aftermath of Disaster for NCAPER.

Vote SmART '22

 

Vote SmART '22 is a learning session for arts advocates or those interested in learning more about supporting the arts. This virtual workshop features David Holland, Deputy Director, WESTAF and Nate McGaha, Executive Director, Arts North Carolina.

What to expect:

• An overview of the various roles of advocacy
• Basic "dos and don'ts" for 501(c)3 nonprofits
• Guide to your local advocacy organizations
• How to build a coalition of peer advocates 
• Regional policy issues to know about
• National arts policy issues to know about
• Pledge to vote!

The following webinar was recorded on October 21, 2022.

Download the Agenda Download the Webinar Slides

David Holland is the Deputy Director at WESTAF where he guides its advocacy and public policy programs; leads external relations; and spearheads leadership and professional development programming, grantmaking, and technical assistance and consulting services across teams. Holland previously served as associate director of the Arts and Business Council of Greater Boston and in leadership positions with VCU da Vinci Center for Innovation, VCU School of the Arts, ART 180, the Latin Ballet of Virginia, Arts & Business, and the UK innovation foundation Nesta. Holland's early career includes roles as a senior consultant with BOP Consulting, a global consultancy on culture and the creative industries, and as campaigns officer at the UK’s National Campaign for the Arts. Holland serves as the Co-Chair of the Creative States Coalition, a coalition of citizen advocacy groups and their partners, and as the Co-Administrator of the Cultural Advocacy Group, a federal advocacy coalition. He is a Salzburg Global Fellow, Commager Fellow, and a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Holland holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Amherst College and master’s degrees in international studies and diplomacy and the history of art from the University of London, SOAS.

Nate McGaha has served as the Executive Director of Arts North Carolina, the statewide advocacy organization for the arts, since 2017 where he works for public funding and policy for the arts and arts education. He helped to create the Joint Caucus on Arts and Arts Education at the NC General Assembly, shepherded the NC Arts High School Graduation Requirement into law, and has led several statewide initiatives for relief, reopening, and recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to his work in advocacy, Nate was the Executive Director of Carolina Ballet in Raleigh for five years with Artistic Director Robert Weiss. Before coming to the Raleigh area he was the Director of Operations at Charlotte Ballet under the Artistic Direction of Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and Patricia McBride for seven years after serving as that company’s Resident Lighting Designer since 1996. Nate was also the Production Manager and Lighting Designer for the Chautauqua Ballet Company in the summer months from 1997 through 2009 and toured internationally with Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson’s Complexions Dance Company. He is a graduate of UNC School of the Arts where he received a BFA in Design and Production with concentration in Lighting Design.

Accessibility in Digital Spaces with Maria Lamardo

Join Maria Lamardo, Head of Accessibility Training and Education at CVS Health, to learn how to create accessible constituent forms, webpages, and other digital content.

The following webinar was recorded on September 16, 2022.

About Maria Lamardo

Maria Lamardo is the Head of Accessibility Training and Education at CVS Health, author and maintainer of Vue 3 Accessibility Documents, International Speaker, Front End Engineer, Vue.js Community Partner, World Vue Founder, and organizer of multiple Meetups in her area. Maria’s passion for accessibility stems from her work as a BCaBA providing behavioral therapy for people with developmental disabilities for over 8 years.

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DEIA: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Workshops

South Arts hosted a pair of online workshops on embracing DEIA values in your organization with Donna Walker-Kuhne, president of Walker International Communications Group. These workshops were offered free-of-charge, and recordings of both sessions are available below.

Overview of DEIA and Implementing it into Internal Organizational Systems

The following webinar was recorded on May 20, 2021.

This workshop will present the vocabulary of DEIA and its application to arts organizations. This includes unconscious bias, microaggressions, allyship, and becoming an anti-racist organization. We will examine and discuss how to build internal systems that enable the activation and integration of DEIA as integral to the day-to-day business. Participants can expect to participate in case study and discussions.

Through personal reflection, case study discussion, and active engagement, attendees will:

• Gain a fundamental understanding of why DEIA is a necessary component of the DNA of arts organizations and discuss how to implement these strategies.
• Understand the importance of this work and its direct application to their cultural organizations.
• Learn the tools required to advance both the personal and institutional work of DEIA training.

View the Presentation Slides

View the Reading List

Referenced during the webinar: The Alchemy of High-Performing Arts Organizations from the Wallace Foundation

Incorporating DEIA Externally through Programs and Community Engagement | June 24, 2021 @ 3:30 p.m. ET

The following webinar was recorded on June 24, 2021.

We will discuss how programming impacts community building and audience development. We will discuss strategies for embedding DEIA as a component of audience development and community engagement building. We will utilize the 10 Tools for Building Audiences as part of our discussions. These tools are: Investment, Commitment, Research, Educating Your Artists and Audiences, Review and Analysis, Follow-up, Partnership, Building the Bridge, Creating Value, and Appreciation.

View the Presentation Slides

About Donna Walker-Kuhne

Donna Walker-Kuhne is an award-winning thought leader, writer and strategist for community engagement, audience development, and social justice. She is President of Walker International Communications Group, a 30 year old boutique marketing, audience development, diversity training, and social justice consulting agency. She provides consulting services to numerous arts organizations throughout the world and has generated over $23 million in earned income. She is also Senior Advisor, Community Engagement, New Jersey Performing Arts Center. She is a veteran of over 22 Broadway productions and her nonprofit clients include Lincoln Center, Seattle Theater Group, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, and The Apollo Theater. She is co-founder of Impact Broadway a multicultural project that engages over 300 students as audience members for Broadway with the goal to empower this community to be economic drivers of new audiences for the Broadway Theater district. She is a lecturer and keynote presenter for arts conferences in Moscow, Russia, Blomfontein, South Africa, University of Berlin, AMA Conference in Edinburgh and Australian Arts Conferences. She is an adjunct Professor at New York University, Columbia University and Bank Street College.

She serves on several boards including Signature Theater, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, Vice President of the Board for Newark Arts Council, HARLEM WEEK and The Harlem Arts Alliance. She is a member of The League of Professional Women in Theater and the National Theater Conference. Recipient of over 50 awards including the 2019 League of Professional Theatre Women Rachel Crothers Leadership Award and the 2019 SPAA Award for Community Service from Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration/Newark. Her first book, Invitation to the Party: Building Bridges to Arts, Culture and Community, was published in 2005 and she just completed her second book, Champions for the Arts: Lessons and Successful Strategies for Engaging Diverse Audiences. She has a weekly blog, Arts and Culture Connections that explores cultural efforts to expand diverse audiences.