Getting Started

The Arts & Business Council of Chicago’s (A&BC) services to arts, cultural, and creative enterprises include management consulting, board member training, and professional learning. These programs are built to help Chicago-area creatives improve business, managerial, operational, and organizational capacity.

A Guide to Our Services

Business Volunteers for the Arts® (BVA)
The BVA program recruits and trains skilled Chicagoans interested in volunteering, and matches them to serve on pro bono consulting projects for nonprofits in the Chicago area. Organizations must have proof of General Liability insurance coverage to participate in BVA.

To engage in Business Volunteers for the Arts ® (BVA) you will be asked to attend a meeting with a member of the A&BC staff.  If you are seeking to engage in a BVA Project, we require that the organization be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in good standing with the IRS to begin the application process. A&BC also supports the work of organizations, groups, or projects with a fiscal sponsor that is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in good standing with the IRS. Additional participation criteria may apply to specific programs. Ten projects per quarter are selected – We encourage you to see upcoming deadlines to apply.

On BOARD®
On BOARD® is A&BC’s unique board governance training program focusing on the nonprofit sector’s more significant pressing issues and ethical considerations. Participants engage in six live sessions covering board service’s crucial aspects and getting leadership, financial, and negotiation skills. It is available as a full program (six sessions) or individual training sessions delivered online. 

Learning Labs
Learning Labs are professional development sessions designed to meet the creative, reflective, and learning needs of art makers, cultural workers, and creative practitioners. They provide insightful and practical tools about management, emerging issues, and leading research in the arts and cultural nonprofit field.

smARTscope®
This proprietary online assessment tool helps your organization measure management and oversight capacity, helping you develop a healthy and balanced organization with the resources you have.

Questions?

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