Welcome Board of Directors!
Our Mission
Arts for Learning empowers youth to achieve their creative and intellectual potential through arts-integrated education.
Our Vision
A future in which all children and youth have the opportunity to engage in quality arts learning experiences that nurture creativity, build cultural understanding, and enhance the development of their learning and life skills.
Elevator Speech
Arts for Learning transforms education and engages youth through the arts by connecting schools and communities with professional teaching artists.
Board of Directors Statement on Diversity & Inclusion
Arts for Learning is committed to diversity in all aspects of its mission and activities and at all levels of the organization, including its Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors highly values diversity and supports the election and appointment of diverse candidates to the Board. The Board believes that having directors of diverse gender, race, and ethnicity, along with varied skills, perspectives and experiences, contributes to a balanced and effective Board — one that is well-positioned to address the changing needs of the organization and the communities and children we serve.
The Board is committed to administering a board election process that encourages and promotes the consideration of diverse candidates. Additionally, the Board acknowledges that it considers diversity, among other factors, when nominating and approving individuals for open
board positions.
The Board also supports diversity and inclusion in its teaching artists, programming and staff. We value diversity in these areas of our organization to better reflect the demographics, serve the unique culture of the children and community we serve, and provide services that are
welcoming, inclusive, and culturally responsive. It is the policy of Arts for Learning to engage teaching artist and provide equal employment opportunities to individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, military status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, citizenship status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.
Responsibilities
Participation
We, Arts for Learning, the Indiana Affiliate of Young Audiences, need the full participation of our Board to fulfill our mission and to guide, govern, and set policy in an ethical and thoughtful way. We ask Board members to:
- Attend at least 4 of the 6 bi-monthly Board meetings
- Volunteer for at least 2 Arts for Learning events each year
- Respond to communications from and with other Board members and staff
- Serve on at least one Board committee/task force
- Represent the organization and engage new people at one program event per year (school performances and residencies, community program events)
- Cultivate donors and friends for the organization
Financial Participation
Arts for Learning seeks a major portion of its contributed income from foundation sources. These funding sources often encourage or even require that the Board of Directors have 100% giving participation; that is, that each Board member makes an annual gift to the organization, and a capital gift, if a campaign is in progress. The following are the Arts for Learning financial participation requirements:
Annual Gift: All Board members shall make a substantial annual gift each year. One thousand ($1000) dollars is suggested. Monthly payment plans are accepted. The annual gift commitment shall be received by September 30 of each calendar year. The annual gift shall be received by June 30 of the fiscal year.
Solicitation: Board members will seek, on behalf of Arts for Learning, resources to support annual operations and special events or campaigns by suggesting individual or corporate donors for cultivation and potential solicitation by the Development Committee.
Advocacy and Cultivation
An effective Board member will:
- Be a public representative of the organization in the community.
- Bring friends and business connections to the organization.
- Share expertise and talent with Arts for Learning for the good of the organization.
What does Arts for Learning provide in return?
- The opportunity to have a real and positive impact on the community we serve.
- The highest quality of artistic and educational programs offered to Indiana schools and communities.
- A receptive and professional staff to support the efforts of Board members.
- Candid and timely communication.
- Membership in a congenial community of arts and education appreciating individuals.
To join any of these committees, email the respective Chair.
Executive Committee
Chair: Susan Oliver
Vice Chair: Allison Meta, Interim Secretary: Tami Earnhart, Treasurer: Allison Meta
The Executive Committee consists of the Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.
The primary responsibilities of the Executive Committee:
- Serves as a sounding board for management on emerging issues, problems and initiatives
- Provides leadership at Board of Directors meetings and Board of Directors Retreats
- Reports to the full Board on official decisions and actions that do not require a full Board vote
- Reviews executive performance and compensation
Finance Committee
Chair: Allison Meta
Members: Amandula Anderson
The primary responsibilities of the Finance Committee:
- Oversees management of organization-wide financial assets
- Reviews investment policies and strategies
- Reviews financial results
- Ensures the maintenance of an appropriate business plan
- Reviews and recommend approval of an annual operating budget
Board Governance Committee
Members: Tami Earnhart, Susan Gee Oliver
The primary responsibilities of the Board Governance Committee:
- Identifies and recommends qualified candidates to the Board of Directors for the Arts for Learning Board and Committees
- Advises the Board with respect to the Board terms, composition, procedures and committees
- Develops and recommends to the Board a set of corporate governance principles applicable to the organization
Development Committee
Chair: Kate Appel
Members: Sara Lootens, Kelly Teller, Lisa Boncosky
The primary responsibilities of the Development Committee:
- Approves the organization’s annual fundraising goals
- Raises financial and other resources for Arts for Learning
- Assists Board members in their own fundraising efforts
- Recruits potential individual and corporate donors
- Assists staff in planning fundraising events
- Supports planned giving goals
Marketing & Advocacy Committee
Chair: Todd Clevenger
Members: Sara Beanblossom (non-Board member)
The primary responsibilities of the Marketing & Advocacy Committee
- Increases the profile and awareness of Arts for Learning
- Increases awareness of the mission, vision and values of the organization
- Oversees a marketing plan to raise earned revenue by promoting Arts for Learning programs
- Develops strategies on how to communicate Arts for Learning’s message to potential donors
- Accelerates engagement in public policy and builds a collective awareness of the value of arts in education
- Plans strategies for being an effective voice for issues that matter to the organization and the people served
Programology Committee
Chair: Charlie Schlegel
Members: Tami Earnhart, Susan Michal, Anne Surak, Sue Blackwell (non-Board member), Daphne Chiu, Dorene Rodriguez Hoops
The primary responsibilities of the Programology Committee:
- Researches new and innovative arts in education practice that connects the arts to STEM, core curricula, and 21st Century Skills
- Reviews, assesses, and recommends relevant and high quality programs
- Approves policies and procedures for the teaching artist roster
- Assists with artist auditions, mentoring, assessment and professional development
- Supports the staff with the planning and implementation of Creativity Fest
- Facilitates the adjudication of the annual Anna Award for teaching artists
Audit Committee
Chair: Jim Chesterfield
Members: Bob Brafford (non-Board member)
**committee not open to current Board members
The primary responsibilities of the Audit Committee are to assist the Board of Directors in its oversight of:
- The integrity of financial statements
- Compliance with legal and regulatory requirements
- Independent auditors’ qualifications
- The performance of the organization’s internal audit function
- Management of market, credit, liquidity and other financial and operational risks
Board Meetings
Third Wednesday every other month
Arts for Learning
4:45 pm–6:00 pm
August 26, 2020 – Discussion of Study Groups
October 21, 2020
December 16, 2020
February 17, 2021
April 21, 2021
June 16, 2021
Board Retreat Update from Board Chair:
To continue safe social distancing practices, we have decided to not have a summer board retreat this year. Instead, we would like to go a different direction and conduct small, virtual group discussions focused around key initiatives impacting the organization.
Ask: Select at least one discussion group to attend or be the board lead. Meet with your group in August and then attend an hour board meeting on Aug 26 to summarize discussions and to finalize an action plan. Approx. Time Commitment: 2-4 hours
Groups: Development & Fundraising; Business Planning for Programming; Community Building & Social Justice; Marketing & Advocacy (NOTE: You do not have to choose based on a committee you serve on. Sign-up based on your interest in the discussion.)
Specific Action Items:
– Read the description of each group in the linked Google doc: Discussion Group
– Sign-up for a Discussion Group directly in the Google doc (or email me with your selection)
– Accept Board Meeting Calendar Invite for Wed. Aug. 26 (coming soon from Jessica)
– Extra Credit, watch this video from the Indiana Arts Commission on the Board’s Role in a Crisis.
Executive Committee
Second Thursday of every month
Arts for Learning– 8:15 am
Development Committee
Second Wednesday of every month
Arts for Learning – 8:00 am
Marketing & Advocacy Committee
Every other month – Date Determined by Doodle
Arts for Learning – 8:30 am
Finance Committee
Arts for Learning – 8:00 am
TBD at each meeting
Programology Committee
Arts for Learning – 4:30 pm-6 pm
Events
Indy Pies & Pints
TBD
Young Audience National Conference
TBD
Board Buddies are assigned with the intent of keeping Board members and staff well connected. Refer to your Buddy when you have questions about upcoming events, community initiatives, or how to attend a program. Use your Buddy as a resource for connecting to the organization on a personal level.
Ploi Pagdalian – Anne Surak, Dorene Rodriguez Hoops, LaTonya Turner
Angela Yetter – Kate Appel, Todd Clevenger
Sarah Tirey – Daphne Chiu, Tami Earnhart, Allison Meta
Jessica Knudsen – Lisa Boncosky, Lawrence Hilton
Scott Janz – Susan Michal, Susan Oliver
Jessica Dunson – Anson Keller, Amandula Anderson
