Events

Oct
2
Tue
Breakfast Club: Board Coaching @ The Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Oct 2 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am

The Arts & Business Council of Chicago convenes a monthly morning gathering for arts administrators to discuss topics and share ideas relevant to the business of art. Breakfast Club is a dynamic opportunity for arts administrators to connect with one another and collaborate on solutions for navigating personal and industry challenges.

Tuesday, October 2 from 9:00 A.M. – 10:00 A.M.

Board Coaching is back! We know that each board of directors is unique; they carry varied skill sets, they have different financial capabilities, and possess rare connections to the communities they live and work in. It’s no surprise that prescribed board composition templates or governance best practices don’t always apply! All-star Business Volunteers for the Arts Jennifer Harris and Kristen Evans will join Breakfast Club to provide focused board coaching and facilitate connections between peers who may be experiencing similar challenges.

When registering below, please describe two of your greatest challenges when working with your organization’s board of directors. This may include governance, creation of new bylaws and policies, cohesive understanding of the organization’s mission, etc.

A cereal bar, tea, and coffee will be provided.

Fill out my online form.

 


Jennifer Harris is a seasoned PR and marketing communications professional focused on the development and promotion of thought leadership content. With experience in senior public relations firm management, Jennifer brings more than 20 years’ experience serving the professional services, technology and arts sectors, including clients such as JLL, Ernst & Young, Stewart Title and KeyBank. Passionate about the arts, Jennifer is a veteran Business Volunteers for the Arts consultant and has led A&BC board development workshops. She is currently board president of Rembrandt Chamber Musicians.

Kristen Evans is a brand strategist, entrepreneur, consultant, and meeting facilitator who turns insights into action. Her career has spanned corporate sponsorship management for collegiate athletics, business development, data-storytelling, and consumer insights at Proctor & Gamble (where she contributed innovation strategies to global brands COVERGIRL, Pantene, and more), and Kraft Foods. Kristen currently focuses on her company, The Strength & Grace Group, a health and wellness holding company. Outside of business and wellness, Kristen is a dance educator, choreographer, and teaching artist with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.

Oct
13
Sat
Board Training: Legal & Fiduciary Responsibilities; Non-governing Boards @ The Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Oct 13 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

BOARD MEMBER TRAINING

Learning objectives include:

  • Non-governing boards and committees
  • Laws governing nonprofit boards of directors
  • Bylaws
  • The role of the director: responsibilities & restrictions
  • Role of the lawyer on the board
  • Fiduciary duties
  • Conflict of interest
  • Directors & Officers insurance
  • Contracts
  • Strategic Planning

Price: $150

For details on registering for this training, please contact Noemi Garcia at ngarcia@artsbiz-chicago.org.

Oct
15
Mon
Lab: Making the Ask @ WeWork Kinzie
Oct 15 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Leaders in non-profit organizations – board members, executive directors and everyone else – should be comfortable asking for money.  But, too few of them are actively doing it.

In this fast-paced, interactive session, fundraising veterans Christopher Jabin and Charles Katzenmeyer will offer a practical framework for identifying and cultivating prospective donors, engaging them in the work of your organization, getting the meeting, and finally, making the ask.

Participants in this Learning Lab will understand how to:

  • Identify prospective donors for a non-profit organization
  • Build cultivation efforts that help move distant prospects toward being top prospects
  • Request and structure a solicitation meeting
  • Make the ask and answer potential objections
  • Close a gift and begin donor stewardship

 

Fill out my online form.

 

Oct
19
Fri
Fall Orientation – Business Volunteers for the Arts (BVA) @ The Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Oct 19 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

BVA Orientation – October 2018

New business volunteers must attend a BVA Orientation before starting on a project. We offer the BVA Orientation four times a year— winter, spring, summer and fall on Friday afternoons from 2:00 – 5:00 pm in downtown Chicago.

The Fall application deadline is September 29. Apply here.

For more information about the BVA program, click here.

Nov
3
Sat
Board Training: Nonprofit Finances, Budgeting, & Tax Issues @ The Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Nov 3 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

BOARD MEMBER TRAINING

Speaker: Megan Angle, CPA, Porte Brown LLC; A&BC Core Instructor

Learning objectives include:

  • Financial oversight and safeguarding of assets and nonprofit status
  • Policies: conflict of interest, whistleblower, document retention & destruction, executive compensation, etc.
  • Understanding nonprofit financial statements
  • Taxes including payroll and UBIT
  • Filing with the IRS and other government entities
  • What occurs during an audit and when you need one
  • Managing cash flow

Price: $150

Advance registration is required as space is limited. We will not accept walk-up registrations.

For details on registering for this training, please contact Noemi Garcia at ngarcia@artsbiz-chicago.org.

Nov
13
Tue
Breakfast Club: Funding Relationships @ The Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Nov 13 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am

The Arts & Business Council of Chicago convenes a monthly morning gathering for arts administrators to discuss topics and share ideas relevant to the business of art. Breakfast Club is a dynamic opportunity for arts administrators to connect with one another and collaborate on solutions for navigating personal and industry challenges.

Tuesday, November 13 from 9:00 A.M. – 10:00 A.M.

The average nonprofit organization’s budget is made up of 65% contributed income. With the huge amount of philanthropic initiatives: political advocacy, health initiatives, animal welfare, and so much more, it’s crucial to create meaningful relationships and write winning narratives that illustrate your work is worthy of funding from corporate sponsors, foundations, and individual donors.

A&BC’s new Director of Strategic Partnerships, Yvonne Orr-El, will join Breakfast Club to facilitate a conversation around the lifespan of a funding relationship and what it takes to gain your donors’ satisfaction and trust.

 

Fill out my online form.

Dec
1
Sat
Board Training: Fundraising Landscape @ The Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Dec 1 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

BOARD MEMBER TRAINING

SpeakerCharles Katzenmeyer, VP Institutional Advancement, The Field Museum

Learning objectives include:

  • Funding landscape for nonprofit arts organizations and sector-wide trends in giving
  • Defining sources of philanthropic support
  • The role board members play in securing funds
  • How to structure the “ask”
  • Creating a donor cultivation calendar
  • Identifying ways to get the “get”

Price: $150

Advance registration is required as space is limited. We will not accept walk-up registrations. For details on registering for this training, please contact Noemi Garcia at ngarcia@artsbiz-chicago.org.

Dec
3
Mon
Lab: Data-Driven Marketing @ Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Dec 3 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Are you ready to take a spin in our crash-course on digital marketing? Boost engagement and bring in more revenue by putting your data to workMarilyn He (Analyst at Peapod) leads the final Learning Lab of 2018, focused on accessible data collection and reporting to reach your organization’s revenue goals. Learn the ins and outs of FREE resources to make informed, data-driven choices for your digital marketing.  

Learning objectives include:

  • An introduction to Google Analytics
  • Building quality surveys with Google Forms
  • Principles of A/B testing to maximize your campaigns
Fill out my online form.

 

Dec
5
Wed
Winter Wonder @ Chinese American Museum of Chicago
Dec 5 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Join us for Winter Wonder on December 5!

Arts & Business Council of Chicago, Chicago Cultural Alliance, and See Chicago Dance, three of Chicago’s top art service organizations, invite you to an eclectic event that celebrates the vibrancy of our sector.

Gambol, glide, and roll with movers and shakers in the arts for a fantastic evening of conversation, food, and loads of fun!

Detonate out your inner dancer and learn to salsa with Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre. Tickle your taste buds with some dim sum. Spin through the Chinese American Museum of Chicago’s exhibitions. Jerk to the jungle and dancehall beats of DJ C.

Forget that it’s winter and come celebrate the wonder of the arts!

Tickets $30
6 pm: Doors open
6:15 pm: Tour of The Way We Wore: Celebrating Chinese Fashion Heritage Exhibition
7 pm: Salsa dancing with Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre
7:30 pm: DJ & dancing

Fill out my online form.

Jan
8
Tue
Breakfast Club: Do I Really Need Insurance? @ The Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Jan 8 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am

The Arts & Business Council of Chicago convenes a monthly morning gathering for arts administrators to discuss topics and share ideas relevant to the business of art. Breakfast Club is a dynamic opportunity for arts administrators to connect with one another and collaborate on solutions for navigating personal and industry challenges.

Tuesday, January 8 from 9:00 A.M. – 10:00 A.M.

Do I really need insurance? Yes. Even if I’m a small nonprofit? Still yes. Arts organization are inherently prone to risk. When you bring audiences into your space for a performance or exhibition, engage volunteers to fulfill your end of year appeal mailing, and throw incredible fundraiser events, you create opportunities for personal and financial risk.

Determining the insurance policies that are right for your organization is tricky. Join the conversation at Breakfast Club to connect with peers who are also in search of the best policies. We’ll discuss some best practices to consider and direct you to a policy that suits your needs.

Register for Breakfast Club here. 

Jan
25
Fri
Winter Orientation — Business Volunteers for the Arts (BVA) @ The Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Jan 25 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

BVA Orientation – January 2019

New business volunteers must attend a BVA Orientation before starting on a project. We offer the BVA Orientation four times a year— winter, spring, summer and fall on Friday afternoons from 2:00 – 5:00 pm in downtown Chicago.

The Winter application deadline is January 11. Apply here.

For more information about the BVA program, click here.

Feb
2
Sat
Board Training: Arts Organization Structures & Board Responsibilities @ The Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Feb 2 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

BOARD MEMBER TRAINING

Presenter: Kristin Larsen, Executive Director, Arts & Business Council of Chicago

Topics include:

  • Structures of arts organizations and their boards—staffing, income, and programming models
  • Life cycle of arts organizations, from the founding board to the working board and the governing board
  • Relationship between the board and staff, and challenges posed by staffing and board transitions

Price: $150

Advance registration is required as space is limited. We will not accept walk-up registrations. For details on registering for this training, please contact Noemi Garcia at ngarcia@artsbiz-chicago.org.

Feb
5
Tue
Breakfast Club: Advocacy and the Nonprofit Voice @ Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Feb 5 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am

The Arts & Business Council of Chicago convenes a monthly morning gathering for arts administrators to discuss topics and share ideas relevant to the business of art. Breakfast Club is a dynamic opportunity for arts administrators to connect with one another and collaborate on solutions for navigating personal and industry challenges.

In preparation for Arts Advocacy Day, join us to learn how you can approach your legislators to champion the cultural policy issues that are most important to you and your organization. Jonathan VanderBrug, Policy and Research Director at Arts Alliance Illinois, will join the conversation on how your nonprofit organization can use its voice to advocate for important issues such as the CREATE Act or full-funding for the NEA and the NEH without losing your 501(c)3 status. With the upcoming Chicago Mayoral election, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss!

Tuesday, February 5 from 9:00 A.M. – 10:00 A.M.

Register for Breakfast Club here. 

Feb
12
Tue
Headshot Happy Hour @ Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Feb 12 @ 5:30 pm – 9:00 pm

The Arts & Business Council (A&BC) invites you to an evening of cocktails & conversation with The  LinkedIn Professor, Tajuana Ross. Show yourself some love by learning how to create an impressionable LinkedIn profile that stands out! Network with others and get a FREE professional headshot that showcases your personality, builds your personal brand and shows you in your best light!

New year, new YOU, new headshots & libations, too!

Tickets
A&BC Members
 $35
General $50

Registration will close at 12:00pm on February 12, but walk-ups at the event will be accepted!

Get a discount for this event & lots of other great benefits by joining our Membership Program today!

Membership Benefits >>

 

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Feb
13
Wed
On BOARD: Winter Meet the Boards
Feb 13 @ 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Meet the Boards is a networking session for On BOARD candidates and arts organization boards to meet and learn about each other. Attendees discuss the mission and history of the organization, current and upcoming initiatives, and how new board members can contribute to the organization.

Interested organizations must fill out an arts client On BOARD application – the deadline for which is January 11, 2019.

Meet the Boards is by invitation only.

Feb
20
Wed
Lab: Building the Nonprofit Business Plan @ WeWork Grant Park
Feb 20 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Nonprofit organizations are born from creative ideas and passions for social good. To execute your mission and create real impact, you need to have a business plan. A business plan is your guide to defining your organization’s identity, developing solutions to your problems, and setting and measuring goals. You don’t need an MBA to run a successful organization, but you do need a plan to manage finances, be accountable to your vision, organize your team, and generate revenue and control expenditures to keep your ideas and passions alive. “Building the Nonprofit Business Plan” will help you do just that!

Instructor: Irv Michaels, Founder – Michaels Consulting, Ltd.
Click here to read Irv’s bio.

Learning objectives include:

  • Define your identity in the marketplace and your “problem worth solving”
  • Gain a clear understanding of your product / service and its relevance in the market
  • Explore financial aspects of the plan: developing generated revenues and necessary expenses
  • Learn the importance of setting goals, measuring results and responding to inevitable changes
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Presenter Bio:

Irv Michaels majored in accounting at college where his interest in the arts grew. His first job post-college was at Chess Records, where he worked as an administrator and nascent record producer. This led him to the intersection of traditional and creative businesses. He practiced at a local CPA firm, attaining senior partner status, serving entrepreneurial businesses. He 1986, Irv founded Michaels Consulting, Ltd., providing financial, business development, technology and human resources advice to graphic design firms, architecture firms and other creative organizations. The firm’s focus is to help creative businesses thrive.

Certifications: C.P.A.; Strategic LivePlan (business planning application) Expert Advisor; QuickBooks ProAdvisor; TSheets Pro Certified

Memberships: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; Illinois CPA Society; Chicago Creative Coalition; Art Institute of Chicago; Business Solutions Network

 

 

Mar
2
Sat
Board Training: Legal & Fiduciary Responsibilities; Non-governing Boards @ The Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Mar 2 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

BOARD MEMBER TRAINING

Learning objectives include:

  • Non-governing boards and committees
  • Laws governing nonprofit boards of directors
  • Bylaws
  • The role of the director: responsibilities & restrictions
  • Role of the lawyer on the board
  • Fiduciary duties
  • Conflict of interest
  • Directors & Officers insurance
  • Contracts
  • Strategic Planning

Price: $150

For questions about this training, please contact Noemi Garcia at ngarcia@artsbiz-chicago.org.

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Mar
5
Tue
Breakfast Club: Board Coaching @ The Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Mar 5 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am

The Arts & Business Council of Chicago convenes a monthly morning gathering for arts administrators to discuss topics and share ideas relevant to the business of art. Breakfast Club is a dynamic opportunity for arts administrators to connect with one another and collaborate on solutions for navigating personal and industry challenges.

Tuesday, March 5 from 9:00 A.M. – 10:00 A.M.

Board Coaching is back! We know that each board of directors is unique; they carry varied skill sets, they have different financial capabilities, and possess rare connections to the communities they live and work in. It’s no surprise that cookie-cutter board composition templates or governance best practices don’t always apply! All-star Business Volunteers for the Arts Ashleigh Brookshaw and John Bierbusse will join Breakfast Club to provide focused board coaching and facilitate connections between peers who may be experiencing similar challenges.

When registering below, please describe two of your greatest challenges when working with your organization’s board of directors. This may include governance, creation of new bylaws and policies, cohesive understanding of the organization’s mission, etc.

A cereal bar, tea, and coffee will be provided.

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Mar
12
Tue
Annual Benefit Luncheon | Arts & Business and Capacity: Exemplifying Cultural Equity
Mar 12 @ 11:30 am


Pictured: Xavier Ramey

Tuesday, March 12, 2019, 11:30 a.m.
Blue Cross-Blue Shield Building, 300 E. Randolph St., 30th Floor Event Center

 

The Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) invites you to Arts & Business and Capacity: Exemplifying Cultural Equity.

The arts sector has a major impact on Chicago’s culture and commerce, supporting thousands of jobs and adding value to our civic lives. But does it truly reflect the people who call our city home? How can we, as individuals and organizations, contribute to Chicago’s vibrancy by lifting up our cultural diversity? Keynote speaker Xavier Ramey, chief executive officer of Justice Informed, joins this year’s luncheon to share why cultural equity should matter to your business, how it benefits the communities we serve, and why Chicago’s success depends on it. Ricardo Gamboa, award-winning artist, activist, and academic, will moderate discussion.

Come discover how the fusion of arts, our demographic composition, and economic development all tell a story about the vibrancy and future of Chicago!

For more information, email info@artsbiz-chicago.org or call 312-372-1876, ext. 101.

Proceeds from this event benefit A&BC’s capacity building efforts throughout Chicago.

The Arts & Business Council of Chicago recognizes the generosity and lead sponsorship of Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Illinois, MERGE, Segal Consulting, Aon Hewitt, Goodman Theatre, Willis Towers Watson, Boston Consulting Group, the Joffrey Ballet, and Elkay Manufacturing.

Sponsorship Opportunities >>

 

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– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

About Xavier Ramey
Xavier Ramey is the CEO of Justice Informed, LLC, a social impact consulting firm based in Chicago, IL. He is an award-winning social strategist, noted public speaker, and conflict mediator. Combining his background in economics, extensive management and social impact experience, and direct-action campaigning in the Black Lives Matter movement, Xavier leads a company that brings a wealth of experience and network to clients seeking catalyzed strategies for inclusion, philanthropy, CSR, and community engagement. A native Chicagoan, he is a recognizable voice on the topics of community and economic development, policing and policy violence, and connecting the Christian faith to our lived experience.

Xavier served as the lead of the Social Innovation and Philanthropy strategy in the University of Chicago’s Office of Civic Engagement, managed multi-million dollar philanthropic portfolios to stimulate employment, and worked as a nonprofit Director of Development in Chicago’s North Lawndale community. Xavier is a founding member of the #LetUsBreathe Collective, an artist-activist organization committed to addressing State violence against people of color. He is a Board member of Young Chicago Authors, and the newly opened Chicago Center for Arts and Technology.

Mar
23
Sat
Board Training: Fundraising Landscape @ Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Mar 23 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

BOARD MEMBER TRAINING

Speaker: Charles Katzenmeyer, VP Institutional Advancement, The Field Museum

Learning objectives include:

  • Funding landscape for nonprofit arts organizations and sector-wide trends in giving
  • The role board members play in securing funds
  • How to structure the “ask”
  • Creating a donor cultivation calendar

Price: $150

Advance registration is required as space is limited. We will not accept walk-up registrations.

For questions about this training, please contact Noemi Garcia at ngarcia@artsbiz-chicago.org.

 

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Apr
2
Tue
Lab: QuickBooks Online @ WeWork State Street
Apr 2 @ 9:00 am – Apr 3 @ 12:00 pm

Tuesday, April 2 from 9:00am – 12:00pm
Wednesday, April 3 from 9:00am – 12:00pm

QuickBooks Online gives you many ways to improve your accounting efficiency and choose the processes and reports that are most important to your nonprofit organization. This hands-on Learning Lab will show you tips and shortcuts that’ll help you cut down on time spent working, while maximizing the accuracy of your accounting.

You’ll learn:

  • Overall settings and structure
  • User access
  • Memorized and automated transactions
  • Banking downloads and account reconciliations
  • Clients vs. vendors
  • Detail vs. summary transactions
  • Payroll setup, timesheets, and processing
  • Importing options to reduce data entry (i.e. from third-party payroll, PayPal, etc.)
  • Exporting data
  • Financial reports and notes
  • Audit preparation and attachments

And more! This Learning Lab is limited to 10 people. Registration will close once capacity is reached. Attendees must be available for both sessions.

Instructor: Yvonne Afable
Managing Partner, Accounting
Afable Consulting

Click here to read Yvonne’s bio.

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Presenter Bio:

Yvonne P. Afable is the Managing Partner of Accounting Services for Afable Consulting LLC, a firm providing accounting and technology support to not-for-profit organizations and small businesses. She earned her Bachelor’s degrees in Accounting & Finance from DePaul University and is a Certified Management Accountant. After starting her career in public accounting, she decided to focus on the nonprofit industry and joined the management staff of American College of Surgeons and Rotary International.

For the past 18 years, she’s been consulting with nonprofit organizations and small businesses, helping them understand and tell their financial story. Using Intuit/QuickBooks and Sage products, she and her team offer services to meet each client’s needs: accounting system set-up and training, bookkeeping services including payroll processing, audit preparation, financial reporting and analysis, and documentation of fiscal policies and procedures.

Yvonne serves as Treasurer on the board of Kartemquin Educational Films and teaches the Financial Management course at the School of Art Institute and Zumba at LA Fitness, South Loop. She resides in Chicago, with her partner, Jose-Albin D. Afable. They have three children (Nicole, Gabrielle, and Justin) and two dogs (Kona and Kai).

Apr
13
Sat
Board Training: Nonprofit Finances, Budgeting, & Tax Issues @ Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Apr 13 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

BOARD MEMBER TRAINING

Speaker: Megan Angle, CPA & Manager, Porte Brown LLC

Learning objectives include:

  • Financial oversight and safeguarding of assets and nonprofit status
  • Policies: conflict of interest, whistleblower, document retention & destruction, executive compensation, etc.
  • Understanding nonprofit financial statements
  • Taxes including payroll and UBIT
  • Filing with the IRS and other government entities
  • What occurs during an audit and when you need one
  • Managing cash flow

Price: $150

Advance registration is required as space is limited. We will not accept walk-up registrations.

For more information, or accessibility accommodations, please contact Noemi Garcia at ngarcia@artsbiz-chicago.org.

 

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Apr
20
Sat
Business Volunteers for the Arts: Spring Orientation @ Teamwork Englewood
Apr 20 @ 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

Business Volunteers for the Arts® (BVA) connects skilled professionals with arts and cultural organizations in need of management assistance. Are you ready to join our pro bono consulting program and lend your professional abilities? Apply in time for our next volunteer orientation!

Orientations are offered in the winter, spring, summer and fall. Individuals wishing to join must submit a volunteer application, and participate in an introductory interview, prior to an orientation.

Application Deadline: Friday, April 12. Apply here.

For more information on the BVA program, click here.

May
7
Tue
Breakfast Club: Proposal Writing @ The Arts & Business Council of Chicago
May 7 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am

The Arts & Business Council of Chicago convenes a monthly morning gathering for arts administrators to discuss topics and share ideas relevant to the business of art. Breakfast Club is a dynamic opportunity for arts administrators to connect with one another and collaborate on solutions for navigating personal and industry challenges.

Tuesday, May 7 from 9:00 A.M. – 10:00 A.M.

Writing a stellar proposal to government, corporate, and foundation funders can be the key to getting support for your organization and special projects. As institutional funders lean more and more into demonstrable impact, how can arts and cultural organizations secure the funding they need to thrive? Alexandra Nelson of Juno Consulting joins Breakfast Club to guide a peer-to-peer conversation on successes and strategies in proposal writing.

A cereal bar, tea, and coffee will be provided.

This Breakfast Club is at capacity and can not accommodate any additional registrations. If you’d like to be placed on a waitlist, please contact Braden Cleary at bcleary@artsbiz-chicago.org.

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May
15
Wed
Lab: Budgets and Boards @ WeWork State Street
May 15 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

What function does the annual budget play in your organization? What decisions should a board make in setting or approving an annual budget? Although budgeting is a central duty for many boards, the answers to these questions can vary between organizations and different perspectives can lead to confusion and conflict. This Learning Lab will explore several frameworks for organizational budgeting and practices that can make the budget a more useful tool for planning and accountability throughout the year. This will include the processes of creating, approving, monitoring, and amending a budget.

Who should attend:

  • Executive Directors & Finance Staff
  • Board Members & Finance Committee Members

What you’ll learn:

  • How board and staff can create, approve, monitor, and amend a budget;
  • How your budget can be used as a tool for planning, reporting, control, and accountability; and
  • Who among board and staff hold responsibility for these functions.

Instructor: Corrigan Nadon-Nichols / Corrigan Consulting

Click here to read Corrigan’s bio.

For more information, and accessibility accommodations, email Braden Cleary at bcleary@artsbiz-chicago.org or call 312.372.1876 x 105.

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Presenter Bio:

Corrigan helps people create healthy organizations where they can achieve their shared goals. He has assisted dozens of groups through initial formation, start-up, growth, and recovery phases. He provides training and consulting for boards to improve financial, management, and governance systems that suit the unique context and goals of each organization.

Jun
11
Tue
Breakfast Club: Marketing with a Mission
Jun 11 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am

The Arts & Business Council of Chicago convenes a monthly morning gathering for arts administrators to discuss topics and share ideas relevant to the business of art. Breakfast Club is a dynamic opportunity for arts administrators to connect with one another and collaborate on solutions for navigating personal and industry challenges.

Tuesday, June 11 from 9:00 A.M. – 10:00 A.M.

As arts administrators, we’ve all had moments where we feel like our message wasn’t clear, compelling, or different enough to land with the right audience – and get the results we want. Sometimes there can be an easy fix, but more often, these messages miss because they were never thoughtfully aligned with our missions. Business Volunteers for the Arts consultant Ben van Loon joins Breakfast Club to guide a peer-learning conversation around how organizations can truly understand their mission, identify needs, and meet their strategic goals through marketing and communications. Attendees will collaborate on challenges and identify resources to help organizations of all budget sizes market with a mission.

A cereal bar, tea, and coffee will be provided.

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Jul
18
Thu
Summer Bash 2019 @ Bridgeport Art Center
Jul 18 @ 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm

 

 

Thursday, July 18, 2019, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Bridgeport Art Center
1200 W. 35th Street

 

Summer Bash is BACK!

This year’s festivities will take place at the spectacular Bridgeport Art Center, a working space peppered with artist studios, galleries, and sculpture.

Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. with a summer soundtrack by DJ C (Jake Trussell). Throughout the evening, guests will have the opportunity to sip on cool drinks, enjoy live entertainment from The Chicago Cuatro Orchestra Project, peruse a market of local creative enterprises, and mingle with fellow arts supporters – all in support of Chicago’s culture and commerce!

Food truck Tazacos Gourmet Tacos will be on deck with a variety of edible delights for purchase. For those who might find themselves wanting to capture the unforgettable evening, a Vivid Image photobooth awaits! Complimentary après performance sweets are also yours for the taking courtesy of Panache Ganache, culinary creators of decedent urbane cakes and confections.

And just when you think this evening can’t sound any better… The pièce de résistance: UNLIMITED ICED SHANDY, SANGRIA & BEER (brought to you by Marz Community Brewing Co., Aldi’s, and Aloe’$ Truck)!

Summer Bash celebrates the Arts & Business Council of Chicago’s work and the many Chicagoans who make it happen. This year’s festivities also support our goal of reaching all 77 of the city’s community areas, by 2020. Grab your tickets and champion the city’s arts!

      

For more information, email info@artsbiz-chicago.org or call 312.372.1876, ext. 101.
Proceeds from this event directly benefit the Arts & Business Council of Chicago and the Bridgeport area nonprofits they serve.

Our Partners & Supporters

 

The Arts & Business Council of Chicago recognizes the generosity of Bridgeport Art Center and support from Paul Levy, former A&BC board chair and VP, Prairie Management Corporation.

Parking

 

Open parking is available at Bridgeport Art Center’s north parking lot.

About Bridgeport Art Center

 

The Bridgeport Art Center was established in 2001 and is a visually breathtaking creative home for artists, designers, and working professionals. Located in the former Spiegel Catalog Warehouse, this 500,000 square foot building features high ceilings with wood beams, exposed brick, and large windows with incredible city views.  This raw industrial work space is suitable for inspiration, woodworking, metal design, office spaces, and manufacturing / distribution.

Bridgeport Art Center also boasts two stunning event venues and three curated art galleries.  Our goal is to continually serve as a resource for imaginative minds and to be a home to the emerging and evolving Chicago area art scene.

Jul
24
Wed
Learning Lab: It’s Not All About the Give/Get @ WeWork Monroe Street
Jul 24 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

 A superb board member brings a combination of time, treasure, and talent to an organization. So why do we continue to evaluate and prospect board members strictly on financial capacity? If a board of directors is to reflect the community it serves, the sector must consider more equitable models of assessment.

By considering the entire scope of what an organization’s board of directors contributes in a year, organizations can ignite a sense of self-governance that increases committee participation and reduces stress on the Executive Director – all while meeting or exceeding board contribution goals.

In this workshop, you will learn:

  • To streamline your board of directors’ roles and responsibilities in the organization’s annual work plan;
  • To reduce board anxiety around giving capacities and prospecting new donors in their networks;
  • To create a framework for an equitable board of directors that is welcoming to marginalized groups (socioeconomic, gender identity, race, accessibility, etc.); and
  • To design a points-based assessment model that’s not all about the give / get

Presenters: Kristin Larsen / Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Joel Farran / Arts & Business Council of Chicago

Click here to meet the presenters.

For more information, and accessibility accommodations, email Braden Cleary at bcleary@artsbiz-chicago.org or call 312.372.1876 x 105.

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Meet the Presenters:

Kristin Larsen rejoined the Arts & Business Council of Chicago in 2017 after serving as Director of Programs in the early aughts. Prior to returning to A&BC, Kristin was Executive Director of Stage 773 (2013-2017), a performance venue in Lakeview and  Executive Director of Remy Bumppo Theater Company from 2002 to 2012. From 1995 to 2000 Kristin was a business representative with Actors’ Equity Association after many years of being an Equity Stage Manager. Kristin has her BFA in production management from The Theatre School, DePaul University and her MA in facilitating organizational effectiveness in the arts from DePaul University’s School for New Learning. Kristin serves on Americans for the Arts Private Sector Council, The Actors Fund Central Region Advisory Council, Pivot Arts Advisory Council and volunteers with DePaul’s Alumni Sharing Knowledge program and the Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee. Kristin is an active member of the Unitarian Church of Evanston.

Joel Farran is the Chair of the Board of the Arts and Business Council of Chicago. Farran is the former Chief Brand Officer of Health Care Service Corporation.

Jul
27
Sat
Business Volunteers for the Arts: Summer Orientation @ Chicago Public Library – Little Village Branch
Jul 27 @ 9:30 am – 1:30 pm

Business Volunteers for the Arts® (BVA) connects skilled professionals with arts and cultural organizations in need of management assistance. Are you ready to join our pro bono consulting program and lend your professional abilities? Apply in time for our next volunteer orientation!

Orientations are offered in the winter, spring, summer and fall. Individuals wishing to join must submit a volunteer application, and participate in an introductory interview, prior to an orientation.

Application Deadline: Sunday, July 7. Apply here.

For more information on the BVA program, click here.

Aug
21
Wed
Lab: What Is Public Relations and Why is It Important? @ WeWork State Street
Aug 21 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Photo: Dawn R. Stephens

What is public relations? There are many different responses to this question, but arts and culture leaders should be most concerned with managing their organizations’ public image and reputation.

Whether you are connecting with media outlets, community members, or target audiences, a strong public relations plan can help increase your name recognition. By strategically communicating your mission your organization can build audiences and generate revenue like never before.

In this workshop, you will learn to:

  • Define public relations and understand how it affects your business;
  • Increase your brand recognition by using low cost (and no cost!) public relations tools;
  • Implement strategies to develop target audiences for your organization; and
  • Create credibility by managing your image and reputation.

Presenter: Vanessa Abron / Agency Abron Public Relations

Click here to read Vanessa’s bio. 

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Meet the Presenter:

Vanessa Abron is a public relations professional with expertise in securing positive media coverage for brands in national and local media outlets such as Good Morning America, Extra, The Insider, The Huffington Post, The Breakfast Club, the Associated Press, and ABC News to name a few.  Some of her past client work includes, but aren’t limited to, Aflac, Illinois Lottery, Chicago 2016, Pringles, Adidas, Salesforce.com, ComEd, American Optometric Association, Mercedes-Benz, Nike, Interscope Records, Def Jam Recording, Virgin Records and Reebok.  Vanessa’s experience represents a broad range of public relations initiatives in a variety of industries, making her a valuable asset to any campaign. She accredits her success on her passion for continuously building positive relationships with a broad spectrum of individuals combined with her steadfast commitment to ensuring that the media, community and the client all receive mutually beneficial rewards from any project.

Sep
10
Tue
Breakfast Club: Working at the Intersection of “Arts &” @ The Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Sep 10 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am

It’s time for a reality check: “art for art’s sake” may be a thing of the past.

Arts and cultural nonprofits (as well as those who fund them) are shifting to uplift social causes in our communities. Organizations working in areas like arts & housing, arts & health, and arts & veterans’ affairs are now leading the way in America and reframing the role of art in our society. But are you prepared for this new funding landscape?

Join Breakfast Club to learn from organizations working in and exploring this new space: the “arts &” intersection.

Who should attend: nonprofit administrators, creative practitioners, board leadership, and artist-activists

Registration: $5
A cereal bar, coffee, and tea will be provided.

For more information, and accessibility accommodations, email Braden Cleary at bcleary@artsbiz-chicago.org or call 312.372.1876 ext. 105.

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About Breakfast Club
The Arts & Business Council of Chicago convenes a monthly morning gathering for arts administrators to discuss topics and share ideas relevant to the business of art. Breakfast Club is a dynamic opportunity for arts administrators to connect with one another and collaborate on solutions for navigating personal and industry challenges.

Sep
14
Sat
Board Lab: Arts Organization Structures & Board Responsibilities @ Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Sep 14 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

BOARD MEMBER TRAINING

Presenter: Kristin Larsen, Executive Director, Arts & Business Council of Chicago

Topics include:

  • Structures of arts and cultural organizations and their boards
  • Life cycle of nonprofit organizations, from the founding board to the working board and the governing board—board governance, staffing and structure, income generation, and programming models
  • Expectations of board contributions of time, talent, and treasure
  • Relationship between the board and staff, and challenges posed by staffing and board transitions

This training also features a panel of an arts administrator leaders and On BOARD alumni.

Price: $150

Advance registration is required as space is limited. We will not accept walk-up registrations. For questions about this training, please contact Noemi Garcia at ngarcia@artsbiz-chicago.org.

 

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Sep
25
Wed
On BOARD: Fall Meet the Boards
Sep 25 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Meet the Boards is a networking session for On BOARD candidates and arts organization boards to meet and learn about each other. Attendees discuss the mission and history of the organization, current and upcoming initiatives, and how new board members can contribute to the organization.

Interested organizations must fill out an arts client On BOARD application – the deadline for which is August 23, 2019.

Meet the Boards is by invitation only.

Oct
1
Tue
Breakfast Club: Board Coaching @ The Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Oct 1 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am

Each board of directors is unique; they carry varied skill sets, have different financial capabilities, and possess rare connections to the communities they live and work in. It’s no surprise that cookie-cutter board composition templates or governance best practices don’t always apply!

Experienced board coaches from the Arts & Business Council’s Business Volunteers for the Arts program will join Breakfast Club to provide focused board coaching and facilitate connections between peers on issues like:

  • governance and leadership;
  • creation of new policies;
  • creating cohesive understanding of the organization’s mission;
  • being an ambassador for the organization; and more!

Registration: $5
A cereal bar, coffee, and tea will be provided.

For more information, and accessibility accommodations, email Braden Cleary at bcleary@artsbiz-chicago.org or call 312.372.1876 ext. 105.

 

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About Breakfast Club
The Arts & Business Council of Chicago convenes a monthly morning gathering for arts administrators to discuss topics and share ideas relevant to the business of art. Breakfast Club is a dynamic opportunity for arts administrators to connect with one another and collaborate on solutions for navigating personal and industry challenges.

Oct
16
Wed
Learning Lab: Making the Ask @ WeWork State Street
Oct 16 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Leaders in non-profit organizations – board members, executive directors and everyone else – should be comfortable asking for money.  But, too few of them are actively doing it.

In this fast-paced, interactive session, fundraising veterans Christopher Jabin (Dragonfly Advisors) and Charles Katzenmeyer (The Field Museum) will offer a practical framework for identifying and cultivating prospective donors, engaging them in the work of your organization, getting the meeting and finally, … making the ask.

Participants in this session will understand how to:

  • Identify prospective donors for a non-profit organization
  • Build cultivation efforts that help move distant prospects toward being top prospects
  • Request and structure a solicitation meeting
  • Make the ask and answer potential objections
  • Close a gift and begin donor stewardship

Presenters: Christopher Jabin / Dragonfly Advisors
Charles Katzenmeyer / The Field Museum
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Oct
19
Sat
Board Leadership Lab: Nonprofit Finances, Budgeting, & Tax Issues @ Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Oct 19 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Presenter: Megan Angle, CPA & Manager, Porte Brown LLC

Learning objectives include:

  • Financial oversight; policy creation and compliance; and safeguarding of assets
    • Policies: conflict of interest, whistleblower, document retention & destruction, executive compensation, etc.
  • Achieving financial accountability
  • What occurs during an audit and when you need one
  • Managing cash flow
  • Taxes including payroll, UBIT, and changes to GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles)
  • Maintaining nonprofit status through tax compliance – filing with the IRS and other government entities

Price: $150

Advance registration is required as space is limited. We will not accept walk-up registrations.

For questions, please contact Noemi Garcia at ngarcia@artsbiz-chicago.org.

 

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Nov
5
Tue
Breakfast Club: #GivingTuesday @ The Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Nov 5 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am

#GivingTuesday (December 3, 2019) is a global day of giving to nonprofit organizations and causes that are tackling critical issues and bettering communities all over the world. Arts, cultural, and creative organizations often find great success in their #GivingTuesday campaigns, but it can be hard to break through the noise and effectively tell your story to potential donors. Join Breakfast Club to connect with peers on preparing your campaign, hitting your goals, and setting a plan for continued stewardship for your donors.

Registration: $5
A cereal bar, coffee, and tea will be provided.

For more information, and accessibility accommodations, email Braden Cleary at bcleary@artsbiz-chicago.org or call 312.372.1876 ext. 105.

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About Breakfast Club
The Arts & Business Council of Chicago convenes a monthly morning gathering for arts administrators to discuss topics and share ideas relevant to the business of art. Breakfast Club is a dynamic opportunity for arts administrators to connect with one another and collaborate on solutions for navigating personal and industry challenges.

Nov
9
Sat
Business Volunteers for the Arts: Fall Orientation @ Chicago Public Library – Roden Branch
Nov 9 @ 9:30 am – 1:30 pm

Business Volunteers for the Arts® (BVA) connects skilled Chicagoans with arts, cultural, and creativecommunities in need of management assistance. Are you interested in joining our pro bono consulting program and lending your abilities? Apply!

Application Deadline: Sunday, October 13. Apply here. 

For more information on the BVA program, click here.

Orientations are offered in the winter, spring, summer and fall. Individuals wishing to join BVA must submit a volunteer application, and participate in an introductory interview, prior to attendance. 

Nov
13
Wed
Learning Lab: Great Board Engagement and How to Get It @ WeWork State Street
Nov 13 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Merriam Webster defines “Engagement” as “something that engages;” “the state of being engaged;” an “emotional involvement or commitment;” or “the state of being in gear.”  Each facet of this definition speaks to a critical component of board engagement and knowing how to create the right mix of engagement opportunities for your board can be challenging.  This session will help you understand where your board’s engagement-sweet spot is in relation to its evolutionary status and the work you need it to accomplish going forward. 

Participants in this session will learn:

  • Phases of development of nonprofit arts, cultural, and creative organizations
  • How a board of directors typically functions at each phase of development
  • Tailored engagement strategies for boards at each phase of development
  • To motivate board growth

Presenter: Lisa Tylke / Illuminant

Founder and principal consultant with Illuminant, a consulting practice specializing in evaluation, organizational development, planning, governance and fundraising, Lisa has worked in the non-profit sector since 1987. Her background in arts, education and association management informs her consulting work which focuses on the areas of organizational development, assessment, strategic planning, board development and fundraising. As a consultant, Lisa has served over 40 nonprofit organizations. She has conducted independent evaluations of grant giving programs at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and The Chicago Community Trust as well as grant review for The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation and Prince Charitable Trusts. In addition to her consulting work, Lisa has served as Executive Director for the Chicago Dance Coalition, Director of Arts DuPage for the DuPage Foundation and Chief of Staff for the UFHI Foundation. In 2018, Lisa joined Giving Tree Associates as an adjunct consultant working with their team on fundraising, planning and assessment projects. In 2011 and 2014, Ms. Tylke served as a member of the University of Chicago Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies, Civic Knowledge Project team of instructors supporting its Board Leadership Certificate. In her volunteer life, Lisa serves on the board for the Glen Ellyn Children’s Resource Center a literacy organization providing out-of-school educational enrichment services for low-income, immigrant and refugee families living within Illinois School Districts 41 and 89

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Nov
16
Sat
Board Leadership Lab: Legal & Fiduciary Responsibilities; Non-governing Boards @ Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Nov 16 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Presenters:
Patricia Marx, Attorney, Quarles & Brady LLP
Cris Beilstein, Consultant

Learning objectives include:

  • Laws governing nonprofit boards of directors
  • The role of the director: responsibilities & restrictions
  • Bylaws
  • Understanding the importance of Directors & Officers insurance
  • Duty of Care, Duty of Loyalty, and Duty of Obedience
  • Conflict of interest
  • Executive leadership responsibilities
  • Committees and non-governing boards – associate, auxiliary, advisory
  • The importance and process of strategic planning

Price: $150

For questions about this training, please contact Noemi Garcia at ngarcia@artsbiz-chicago.org.

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Dec
7
Sat
Board Leadership Lab: Fundraising Landscape & Arts Advocacy @ Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Dec 7 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

BOARD MEMBER TRAINING

 

Speakers:
Charles Katzenmeyer, VP Institutional Advancement, The Field Museum
Jonathan VanderBrug, Policy & Research Director, Arts Alliance Illinois

Learning objectives include:

  • Funding landscape for nonprofit organizations and sector-wide trends in giving
  • The role board members play in securing funds
  • Identifying prospects and creating an “ask”
  • Creating a donor cultivation strategy
  • Understanding current cultural policies and advocacy tips and resources

Price: $150

Advance registration is required as space is limited. We will not accept walk-up registrations.

For questions about this training, please contact Noemi Garcia at ngarcia@artsbiz-chicago.org.

 

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Jan
25
Sat
Business Volunteers for the Arts: Winter Orientation @ Chicago Public Library - Back of the Yards Branch, Large Meeting Room
Jan 25 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Business Volunteers for the Arts: Winter Orientation @ Chicago Public Library - Back of the Yards Branch, Large Meeting Room

Business Volunteers for the Arts® (BVA) connects skilled Chicagoans with arts, cultural, and creative communities in need of assistance. Are you interested in joining our pro bono consulting program and lending your abilities? Apply!

Application Deadline: Friday, January 17, 2020. Apply here.

For more information on BVA, click here.

Orientations are offered throughout the year. Individuals wishing to join BVA must submit a volunteer application, and participate in an introductory interview, prior to attendance.

Jan
27
Mon
Field Office: North Lawndale @ Chicago Public Library - Douglass Branch
Jan 27 @ 9:30 am – 5:30 pm

Monday, January 27, 2020, 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Chicago Public Library – Douglass Branch, 3353 W. 13th St., Multipurpose Room 1

Calling all North Lawndale artists, creatives, artist-entrepreneurs, culture-makers, and nonprofits! The Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) is coming to you!

Are you interested in growing your creative enterprise or organization? Are you familiar with the services available to you, through the Arts & Business Council of Chicago, or have questions about where to find support for your business? Stop by our next North Lawndale Field Office and have them answered!

A&BC staff will be on-site to share how we may be of assistance to you, through our programs, and refer you to Chicago’s other service providers.

Walk-ins are encouraged. All are welcome.

About Field Offices
The Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) offers Field Offices as part of the 77 Communities Initiative, a realignment of resources to prioritize supporting creative organizations in divested communities. These pop-up offices, held outside A&BC’s downtown location, serve to engage artist-entrepreneurs, creatives, and groups where they are – in community. All Field Offices are free and open to the public.

Feb
8
Sat
Field Office: South Lawndale @ Chicago Public Library - Little Village Branch
Feb 8 @ 9:30 am – 5:00 pm

Saturday, February 8, 2020, 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Chicago Public Library – Little Village Branch, 2311 S. Kedzie Ave., Large Meeting Room

Calling all South Lawndale artists, creatives, artist-entrepreneurs, culture-makers, and nonprofits! The Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) is coming to you!

Are you interested in growing your creative enterprise or organization? Are you familiar with the services available to you, through the Arts & Business Council of Chicago, or have questions about where to find support for your business? Stop by our next South Lawndale Field Office and have them answered!

A&BC staff will be on-site to share how we may be of assistance to you, through our programs, and refer you to Chicago’s other service providers.

Walk-ins are encouraged. All are welcome.

For more information, email info@artsbiz-chicago.org.

About Field Offices
The Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) offers Field Offices as part of the 77 Communities Initiative, a realignment of resources to prioritize supporting creative organizations in divested communities. These pop-up offices, held outside A&BC’s downtown location, serve to engage artist-entrepreneurs, creatives, and groups where they are – in community. All Field Offices are free and open to the public.

On BOARD® Lab: Arts Organization Structures & Board Responsibilities @ Chicago Public Library - Little Village Branch
Feb 8 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Topics include:

  • Structures of arts and cultural organizations and their boards
  • Life cycle of nonprofit organizations, from the founding board to the working board and the governing board—board governance, staffing and structure, income generation, and programming models
  • Expectations of board contributions of time, talent, and treasure
  • Relationship between the board and staff, and challenges posed by staffing and board transitions

This training also features a panel of arts administrators and artists from Little Village who will address emerging issues like governance practices, recruitment efforts, the importance of board diversity, fundraising, and more.

Presenter: Braden Cleary / Director of Arts Services / Arts & Business Council of Chicago

Panel: William Estrada / Artist / Werdmvmnt Studios
J. Omar Magana / Founder & Executive Director / OPEN Center for the Arts

Price: $150

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Feb
12
Wed
Learning Lab: Working at the Intersection of “Arts &” @ Humboldt Park Cultural Center
Feb 12 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Art for art’s sake is a thing of the past. The arts, cultural, and creative sector (including institutional funders) is shifting to uplift civic causes in the communities it serves. Organizations working at intersections like arts and youth development, arts and health, and arts and veterans’ affairs are leading the way in using creativity and culture to improve the social and economic lives of their constituents.  

In this session we will discuss:

  • why artmakers are partnering with existing social service agencies
  • how artmakers are operating in divested communities where resources are scarce
  • the importance of arts, culture, and creativity in “non-arts” organizations
  • how you can thread social practice into your artmaking

Panelists: Calvin King / Founder and Executive Director / Free Lunch Academy

Cate Fox / Senior Program Officer / The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Lauren Krieg / Senior Program Officer / Albert Pick, Jr. Fund

Read the panelists bios.

Registration: $65

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Panelist bio: Calvin King III is a local Chicago business consultant and accomplished playwright with over 30 completed works for the stage. Calvin was very active in theater and writing for the stage during college. After becoming a father, educator, and youth pastor his creative work began to naturally center itself around children and youth. He set out to find ways he could use entertainment in an educational way to help coach and mentor young people to become the absolute greatest version of themselves, one choice at a time. Serving as the Founder and Executive Director of the non-profit Free Lunch Academy, Calvin has developed innovative teaching arts programs where children participate in their own learning and develop better social skills while having fun. Through mentoring his teaching artist staff and partnering with other organizations in the community, Calvin has made it a goal of the organization to eradicate bullying worldwide by October 1, 2025.

 

Panelist bio: Cate A. Fox is a Senior Program Officer at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. At the Foundation, Cate oversees: Culture, Equity, and the Arts and Community Capital awards as part of her work with the Chicago Commitment team.

Previously, Cate served as a senior consultant at The Alford Group, a consulting firm to the nonprofit community. Over seven years with Alford she helped nonprofit organizations, including those in the arts, evaluate programs, assess organizational strength, conduct strategic planning, and increase fundraising. Cate also worked with the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. to revise its international programs and structure.

Cate received a Master of Arts degree in Peace and Development Studies with first class honors from the University of Limerick (Limerick, Ireland), and a Bachelor of Arts cum laude from Hollins University (Roanoke, VA).

Panelist bio: Lauren Krieg is the Senior Program Officer for the Albert Pick Jr. Fund, a private foundation that supports Civic Engagement, Education, the Arts, and Violence Prevention Programming and Healthcare Access for Children and Youth. Lauren is also the Vice President of Iris Krieg and Associates, a philanthropic advisory firm that provides grant management and consultation services to foundations and individual donors. Through this role, for more than eleven years, she has worked for several other Chicago foundations supporting the arts and a variety of other issues. Lauren has served on the Steering Committee of the Arts Work Fund for Organizational Development since 2008 and has been a strong advocate for the use of arts as a tool for improving communities and people’s lives in both traditional and unique ways.

Lauren earned a Bachelor of Arts degrees from Bryn Mawr College in Spanish and Cultural Anthropology and a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership from Framingham State College.

 

Mar
7
Sat
On BOARD® Lab: Legal & Fiduciary Responsibilities of Board Members @ WeWork Monroe
Mar 7 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Topics include:

  • Laws governing nonprofit boards of directors
  • The role of the director: responsibilities & restrictions
  • Bylaws
  • Understanding the importance of Directors & Officers insurance
  • Duty of Care, Duty of Loyalty, and Duty of Obedience
  • Conflict of interest
  • Executive leadership responsibilities
  • Committees and non-governing boards: associate, auxiliary, advisory
  • The importance and process of strategic planning

Presenters: Braden Cleary / Director, Arts Services / Arts & Business Council of Chicago

Patricia Spiccia Marx / Attorney / Quarels & Brady

Cris Beilstein / Consultant / Elevation Collaborative

Price: $150

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Mar
14
Sat
CANCELLED: Think & Do Tank: South Shore @ South Shore Cultural Center
Mar 14 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS SURROUNDING COVID-19.

 

Saturday, March 14, 2020, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Dr.

Do you need help getting your organization or creative enterprise to the next level? Are you unsure how to grow your business, expand your creative practice, or get things done? Get your business-related questions answered at our next Think & Do Tank!

The Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) connects skilled Chicagoans with creative people, creative communities, and creative businesses through Think & Do Tanks – half-day business consulting events and resource hubs designed to address the immediate needs of community-based art makers. Through Think & Do Tanks, and guidance from Business Volunteers for the Arts®, you’ll have the opportunity to tackle the questions and challenges of most importance to you.

What Happens at a Think & Do Tank?
Participants engage Business Volunteers for the Arts®—skilled Chicagoans, consultants, and subject matter experts in the areas of business planning, strategic planning, board governance, marketing, communications, human resources, accounting, and more—via one-hour, in-person consulting sessions. You choose your meeting time (1-4 consulting hours, per event) and area of consulting focus. Expect to walk away with actionable advice, concrete recommendations, and the essential knowledge needed to get things done!

Every Think & Do Tank includes community area-specific activities, networking, and a welcoming space for dialogue. A&BC staff will also be on-site to offer advice, connect you with programs, provide referrals, and help you navigate additional service providers.

Get Help In:

  • Concept & Development Planning
  • Board Governance
  • Financial Management
  • Income Generation
  • Audience Development & Marketing
  • Staffing & Structure
  • Facilities
  • And more!

Who Should Attend:

  • Chicago-area artists, creatives, culture-makers, and artist-entrepreneurs;
  • Community groups, collectives, and organizations (whether you’re a nonprofit or not!)
  • South Shore-area residents, organizers, activists, and change agents!

Consultations are free the day of this event. To reserve a meeting time in advance of the event, register here. Open to all. Walk-ins welcome.

For more information, email us at info@artsbiz-chicago.org.

This Think & Do Tank is presented in partnership with the City of Chicago Park District’s Arts & Culture Unit (ACU).

About Think & Do Tanks
The Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) offers Think & Do Tanks as part of the 77 Communities Initiative, a realignment of resources to prioritize supporting creative enterprises in divested communities. These half-day business consulting events and resource hubs, presented in partnership with the City of Chicago Park District’s Arts & Culture Unit (ACU), serve to engage artist-entrepreneurs, creatives, and groups where they are – in community. All Think & Do Tanks are open to the public.

Mar
16
Mon
Learning Lab: Sexual Harassment Training @ Webinar
Mar 16 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

This Learning Lab has reached capacity. To be placed on a waitlist, please contact Braden Cleary, Director of Arts Services at bcleary@artsbiz-chicago.org or (312) 372 – 1876 ext. 105.

As of January 1, 2020, Illinois employers must provide sexual harassment training to all full-time and part-time equivalent employees on an annual basis in order to be compliant with Illinois employment law. This includes nonprofit organizations! The Arts & Business Council of Chicago has engaged the Illinois Department of Human Rights to deliver compliance training to our clients.   

Participants will engage in a series of thoughtful discussions and exercises about the different perceptions of appropriate and inappropriate conduct. Participants will learn about the two types of sexual harassment, i.e.quid pro quo and hostile work environment, as well as issues including third-party and bystander sexual harassment. The training will encourage employees to report sexual harassment and help build a culture of respect.  

Due to limited capacity, this training is only open to current clients of the Arts & Business Council of Chicago. If you have questions about your client status, please contact Braden Cleary, Director of Arts Services at bcleary@artsbiz-chicago.org or (312) 372 – 1876 ext. 105.  

Registration: Free 

Presenter: Marcio Mendoza / Human Rights Trainer / Illinois Department of Human Rights

Mar
19
Thu
CANCELLED: Arts & Drafts @ Osito's Tap
Mar 19 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS SURROUNDING COVID-19.

 

Thursday, March 19, 2020, 6 – 8 p.m.
Osito’s Tap, 2553 S. Ridgeway Ave.

What’s better than making new connections, sharing ideas, and having a local beer?

Meet us at Arts & Drafts, a quarterly networking event for Chicago’s arts, cultural, creative, and business communities. Each event brings together a unique mix of people and companies, under one roof, for one night only. If you believe in the power of the arts, want to make a difference in our city, or simply feel like getting to know Chicago a little better, this mixer’s for you!

Arts & Drafts is a casual opportunity to network, expand your circle, meet up with friends, and make new ones. Do you have a question about the Arts & Business Council of Chicago, our 77 Communities Initiative, or Business Volunteers for the Arts? Swing by and get it answered!

FREE to attend and open to all. Come for the networking, stay for the reposado.

For more information, email Kenneth Franco at kfranco@artsbiz-chicago.org or call 312.372.1876 ext. 102.

Happy Hour pricing will be available between 6 – 8 p.m.

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Parking

A parking lot can be found next to Osito’s Tap (accessible from Ridgeway). Metered parking can also be found off 26th Street and Ridgeway Avenue.

Special thanks to Osito’s Tap and owner Mike Moreno.

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About Arts & Drafts

Arts & Drafts is a quarterly networking event for Chicago’s arts, cultural, creative, and business communities. Each event brings together a unique mix of people and companies, under one roof, for one night only. The goal: To encourage new partnerships and relationships.

Future Dates:

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About Osito’s Tap

Osito’s Tap, established in 2019, is a speakeasy-style bar focused on the art of craft spirts, craft beer, and craft cocktails. This community-oriented space, set inside a historic grey stone building, was once the front to an underground bookie joint and, during the early 1900’s, home to a Bohemian bar for Czech immigrants. Today’s incarnation of the bar brings in a modern Latin flair and blend of the Little Village neighborhood’s rich cultural history, giving customers a unique experience filed with exotic and rare drink offerings. Osito’s Tap is a grant recipient of the City of Chicago Neighborhood Opportunity Fund.