More than 100 professional development and technical assistance workshops and events were hosted by the Arts Commission, serving artists, arts organizations, civic and community leaders, and educators.
The Arts Commission provides an array of professional development opportunities to organizations that receive grants through its Organizational Grant Program (OGP). They are designed to bolster organizational capacity, by providing learning and networking opportunities for the individuals who lead and staff your organizations.
The OGP Professional Development Program has three strands:
- In-house workshops and networking convenings, designed specifically for the local arts community. Topics are determined through review of OGP grantee reports, aggregated survey responses from workshops and convenings across all Arts Commission programs, and best practices and feedback from the field.
- Subsidized workshops, courses, and certificate programs addressing nonprofit management issues.
- A scholarship program that allows grantees to identify other professional development opportunities and attend at a reduced rate
WHO CAN ATTEND?
Strand 1 is open to all staff of all grantee organizations, with no limit on attendance.
Strands 2 and 3 are open to staff and board members from an OGP grantee organization with a budget less than $15,000,000. The following provisions apply:
- All staff in organizations with budgets less than $5,000,000 may attend opportunities in strands 2 and 3.
- Mid-career and emerging leaders on the staff of organizations with budgets between $5,000,000 and $15,000,000 may attend opportunities in strands 2 and 3.
- OGP grantee organization may use up to five strand 2 and 3 opportunities, per grant year, running July-June. (Note: Sending three people to the same class, or conference, counts as three of five opportunities.) Be tactical in how you use these opportunities, and who from your organization attends them!
In other words,
| If Your Organization’s Budget Is… | … You Can Send… | To… | Number of Times Per Year (July-June) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $5 million | Anyone on your staff or board | Strand 1 opportunities | As many as you want. |
| Strand 2 and 3 opportunities | Up to 5 total. | ||
| Between $5 million and $15 million | Anyone on your staff or board | Strand 1 opportunities | As many as you want. |
| Midcareer/emerging staff | Strand 2 and 3 opportunities | Up to 5 total. | |
| Over $15 million | Anyone on your board or staff | Strand 1 opportunities only | As many as you want. |
I HAVE IDEAS FOR OTHER TOPICS, OR I WANT TO HOST A CONVENING! WHAT SHOULD I DO?
We’d love to hear from you! Work with whoever submits your grant reports to be sure that your ideas and needs are captured in the “How else can the Arts Commission help?” section. You can also contact Talia Gibas, Professional Development Programs Manager, if you want to help coordinate a networking event.