Why weren’t we asked?

 

JFK

The big question is always how do I get funding or help for my cause? Although the answer is often “get involved”, the feeling is often ‘why weren’t we asked?”.

So I am going to spell it out here. To get involved you have to volunteer your time, energy or even some in-kind service. You don’t wait to be asked. You seek out opportunities to collaborate. When you volunteer you meet other committee members and volunteers and you get to really know them if you make an effort. You can then start to create a network of advisors and supporters.

You find out about volunteer opportunities and calls for by reading newsletters and social media. So you have to sign up for those from groups that interest you and you have to actually read those newsletters.  (like the twice monthly SDVAN message: sign up now if you have not done so).  But you don’t have to wait for a call for volunteers/artists, you can suggest a gap that you see that you could fill. You could have a vision for a strategic plan. You could write up a report for use in a grant. You could curate am exhibition. You might even be able to collaborate with that organization to do a joint grant.

And I am not talking about just arts organizations, but also civic agencies and not even just arts commissions but maybe public safety commissions or planning commissions. You could join the local tourist association or the chamber of commerce.

This all takes time and effort, and you have to be willing to give in order to get. Never wait to be asked or you will end up asking, "Why weren’t we asked?”

Get involved and float your own boat on the rising tide.  

By the way: Felica Shaw just announced an Emerging Leaders Arts Advocacy Training Program which is a program of Californians for the Arts and the SD Regional Arts and Culture Coalition. The deadline is Feb15 and accepted applicants will be paid $500! You have to attend 3 training session starting Feb 23 and ending in April. One person will be chosen to go to Sacramento all expenses paid for Arts Advocacy Day in April. Contact teri@caforthearts.org and reference Arts Advocacy Training.  

AND here is my story on how to advocate for your own passion: Americans for the Arts Advocacy 101: Advocating for the Arts 2024