by Jini Stolk
Creative Champions, Toronto Arts Foundation’s arts board network, continues its exciting line-up of workshops and events in 2017.
We started on February 7th with a special session on governance and fundraising at Artist-run Centres, arts service and membership organizations. It was a hot topic: people braved the year’s slickest ice storm to be there – a testament, I think, to the special role and satisfactions of serving organizations whose missions involve improving the opportunities, strength and voice of artists. Many creative professionals have their first board experiences at Artist-run Centres or a.s.o.’s, hopefully moving on to spread good governance practices (and creative fundraising chops) throughout the sector. As always, it was fascinating to hear the commitment and pertinent questions of many of those in the room.
Details on upcoming sessions will be announced soon, but if you’d like to get a head start on our topics for the rest of the year (and remember that Creative Champions is the only ongoing networking and learning opportunity for non-profit board members in the Province) here are a few advance readings:
April 4:Â Diversity and New Perspectives
Good governance includes diversifying boards
Boards, succession and diversity
Diversifying your board: why it’s good and how to do itÂ
June 6: The Road to Fundraising Success: creating a plan and sticking to it
Creating fundraising savvy boards
Fundraising on a budget and understanding the fundraising budgetÂ
June 18: State of the Arts: TAC’s annual update on Toronto’s arts community
Artists and cultural workers in Canadian municipalities
October 16: Advocacy: a core board responsibility
Overcoming the fear of advocacy
November 27: Succession Planning = Planning for SuccessÂ
Arts organizations need better succession planning nowÂ
The importance of nominating committees
Interview strategies for boards and candidatesÂ
AND we’re hoping to announce a special speaker for this Fall, but advance readings would ruin the surprise. Stay tuned for more.
Contact Michelle Yeung (michelle@torontoarts.org) at the Toronto Arts Foundation if you or board members you know would like to receive notices of Creative Champions arts board workshops and other events.
