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What is an Arts Council?The question of exactly what a community arts council is could not be answered adequately in a publication of this size nor, for that matter, in any number of volumes. This is because these organizations thrive best when they respond to the needs and creative possibilities which are unique to their various local communities. No two are alike, nor should they be. What is common to all, however, is a desire to increase the interest of their communities in the arts, to assist all who wish to make an artistic contribution, and to bring the artist and the community-at-large together in a mutually beneficial and humanizing relationship. In short, arts councils strive to develop, promote, and coordinate the arts at the community level. This guidebook is not intended to provide a more specific answer as to what your arts council "ought" to be. Rather, it is intended to aid you in creatively designing an organization to meet the requirements of your particular community. While it attempts to provide a step-by-step outline of arts council development, it seeks to involve interested readers and their communities in the process in a highly participatory way so that what finally emerges is something totally new -- an expression of your community's talents, values, needs, resources, and aspirations. Developing an arts council can be an exciting and personally rewarding experience for all involved, but it requires patience, clear and careful thinking, and a genuine concern for both the arts and the total community. It requires extraordinary sensitivity and responsiveness. The success of the community arts concept in North Carolina is a result of much hard work by many people. Your answer to the question, "what is an arts council?" can play a part in further enhancing the reputation of North Carolina as "The State of the Arts." History of the Arts Council MovementIf you had to say how it began, you would have to look back to Winston-Salem in 1949. It was there and then that a group of citizens, already involved in individual arts organizations, recognized the advantages of having one representative body to look after the collective arts interests of the city, and so formed an organization they called The Arts Council. This organization today is the oldest continuously active community arts council in the United States. Because the idea was a good one, was put into practice effectively, and so was successful, it took hold...not only in Winston-Salem, where The Arts Council has grown into an organization whose 13 funded agencies have a combined budget over one million dollars, but throughout North Carolina. In the years since 1949, and particularly since 1965 and 1967 when the National Endowment for the Arts and the North Carolina Arts Council, respectively, were formed and federal and state money began to be made available for the arts, the number of local arts councils has risen dramatically. Today there are more than 85 councils in the state. What Are Some Activities of Arts Councils?The range of arts council activities seems to be unlimited. In addition to acting as a collective "voice" for the arts, councils put on art festivals, offer classes, hold exhibits, sponsor concerts, take workshops and performances into the schools, coordinate the activities of existing arts organizations, conduct united arts fund drives, provide common administrative services to member groups, and maintain joint mailing lists. They also maintain arts centers, publish arts calendars or newsletters, make grants to local artists or organizations, sponsor workshops , operate community box offices, maintain a registry of artists, lend equipment, and operate "ticket" voucher programs. The most successful council activities appear to be those which cannot or are not already being offered by individual organizations in the community. A new council which is perceived as a threat to existing programs will find it difficult to gain the cooperation which is essential. Obviously, the amount of arts activity which already exists in a community before the formation of a council will determine whether it becomes involved in active programming or acts primarily in a coordinating and support role. What is the Structure of a Council?Community arts councils take two basic forms. The majority are non-profit corporations similar in structure to other community service organizations. Others are public commissions -- actually a branch of county government, similar in structure to a parks commission. Each form has certain advantages. A non-profit corporation, for example, may have more autonomy than a commission and may more readily solicit contributions from individuals and businesses. A commission, on the other hand, may have more stability and fewer tax-related concerns. Responsibility for the activities of a council rests with either a member-elected board of directors (corporate structure) or a county- or city-appointed commission (commission structure). Since the non-profit organization form is predominant in North Carolina, the material included in this guide is more directly relevant to this structure. That is not, however, to say that this form is always most appropriate. It may be advisable to visit or correspond with councils of both types in designing a plan for a particular community. The boards of directors of most "corporate" arts councils are elected by the membership which may include both individuals and organizations. The rights and voting powers of each may be determined in the council's by-laws. While it is not unusual for arts organizations to have a special voice in council affairs, direct representation on the board of each arts group might lead to unnecessary conflict over "special interests." Some councils have a separate "assembly" of arts groups which elects one or more members-at-large to the board. Again, the structure must be adapted to the needs of the particular community. Staff members of the North Carolina Arts Council are willing to offer direct assistance to communities organizing arts councils, and can relate the experiences of other councils in the state. How Does the Board Function?The board of directors meets regularly, usually once a month, to conduct council business. It is presided over by its elected president. The board also elects a treasurer who acts as chief fiscal agent and is responsible for the keeping of accurate and complete financial records. Other officers may be elected as required. The board sets policies, formulates long-range plans, adopts budgets, and generally oversees council activities. Responsibility for specific functions is often delegated to committees or individuals. A paid executive director may in some cases be hired to assure substantial administrative responsibility. Where Do Council Funds Come From?According to a survey conducted by Associated Councils of the Arts (now Americans for the Arts), the principal sources of funds for arts councils organized as non-profit corporations are as follows:
These figures are based on totals for 552 councils surveyed. Of course, there is substantial variation among individual councils in their reliance upon each of these sources. How Do You Start An Arts Council?Arts councils in North Carolina have probably "happened" in about as many ways as there are arts councils. But experience suggests that a particular set of steps may be useful. These would begin with a public meeting called by a few interested citizens. Efforts should be made to have a wide cross-section of the community represented at this meeting, including teachers, businessmen, artists, civic leaders, clergy, students, attorneys and other professionals, as well as many others. This meeting should be well publicized and planned. A staff member of the North Carolina Arts Council can speak to the group and offer resources such as films about community arts. The ideas and potential of an arts council can be presented, community needs and resources can be discussed, and goals for an arts council can be projected. It may be desirable to initiate a careful survey of the community to determine what organizations or individuals are doing in the arts, would like to do, or would support. Schools, churches, recreation departments, civic clubs, home extension offices and the like should all be included. A report on such a survey (if conducted) might be made at a second public meeting. Also, a file of "personnel resources" can be started by distributing a simple questionnaire (see sample) to persons attending any public meetings or otherwise expressing interest. When a preliminary community assessment has been completed (in one or several meetings as required), a smaller working "steering committee" can be selected. The steering committee should be carefully chosen since it is charged with formally creating the arts council. It will refine the goals set forth in the public meeting and design an appropriate structure for their achievement. This is accomplished through the drafting of articles of incorporation (see chapter on "Incorporating an Arts Council"), and by-laws (the internal operating rule of the council). The articles of incorporation must list the individuals who will make up the first board of directors. While this may include members of the steering committee, steps should be taken to insure a diversity of viewpoints and a pool of expertise in various functional areas. It is particularly important to include individuals with a business background, since the board will act essentially as a "managing" body. Attorneys, accountants, and medial professionals are frequently sought as board members. When the incorporation process is completed, an organizational meeting of this initial board can be held. At this time, officers will be elected and by-laws officially adopted. With this step, the council is prepared to begin operation. Steps should quickly be taken toward obtaining state and federal corporate income tax exemptions. (See discussion in the chapter on: How to Make Your Council's Tax Obligations Comprehensible." Board vacancies (terms are usually staggered to allow for partial overturn annually) are filled by the vote of members at an annual meeting of the total membership. |
