Cultivating a rewarding career in the nonprofit arts industry
As presented to Pinellas County High School Students in the Take Stock in Children Mentoring Program
May 15, 2020
Charitable nonprofits embody the best of America. They provide a way for people to work together for the common good, transforming shared beliefs and hopes into action. They give shape to our boldest dreams, highest ideals, and noblest causes. There are 1.3 million nonprofits whose mission it is to feed, heal, shelter, educate, inspire, enlighten, and nurture people of every age, gender, race, and socioeconomic status. Non-profit organizations foster civic engagement and leadership, drive economic growth, and strengthen the fabric of our communities.
A few well-known non-profit organizations include Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross, and United Way. Each of these has offices locally. These are the large non-profits, ones that often are recipients of greater funding merely because of the magnitude of their reach, the number of varied services offered and the capacity to staff thousands across the country.
Many who work in the non-profit industry found their way there because of their innate desire to help others. Many professions allow us to improve the lives of others by virtue of the tasks required to do the job. Some that come to mind are nurses, doctors, fire fighters, police officers, mental health counselors and teachers. I didn’t envision a career in the non-profit arts industry when I accepted my diploma from University of South Florida. My degree in broadcast news meant that I’d demonstrated proficiency in writing, film editing, interviewing and some of the laws regarding ethics of news reporting. I worked in the newsroom at the St. Petersburg Times (now Tampa Bay Times) throughout college, then joined their Marketing department as a copywriter and designer. Five years post-graduation, I had my first child, and five years after that adopted our second child.
After a 10-year career hiatus to be home with our children while they were young, I was offered a part-time position at Creative Clay. My husband and I were “friends” of Creative Clay. We knew their executive director and director of development. We attended their fundraisers and supported them by purchasing the art created by their member artists. This was a new venture for me. I always joked that I was the ONLY person working there who didn’t have some type of arts background and who wasn’t an artist. I struggle with stick figures and poster board writing. Seriously, I do.
Despite not being employed outside the home for 10 years, I’d spent my time as an at-home parent also volunteering. I was a member of the Junior League of St. Petersburg for 10 years and chaired six committees and sat on their board of directors three times. I also served on the boards of Great Explorations Children’s Museum and Family Service Centers. I now serve on the board of the First Tee of St. Petersburg. Even though my experience with arts nonprofits was nil, I was familiar with the functions of non-profits and how they operate.
In September 2020, I celebrate my 12th anniversary with Creative Clay. Throughout the years, my role has evolved and as anyone who works in the industry will tell you, we wear many hats. We may have one title, but many roles. My title is Public Relations Manager and Grant Writer, but I am an advocate first. In any job, but especially the non-profit industry, advocacy is job number one. The organization that you have chosen to work for is one whose primary goal is to help. And, because it is a non-profit, the funds needed to sustain daily operations and effectively serve clients are derived from the generosity of the community. Businesses, other funding organizations and individuals all support non-profits. Creative Clay’s mission is to help people with disabilities achieve full and inclusive lives through access to the arts by providing expressive, educational and vocational experiences.
Creative Clay’s core program is its Community Arts Program, which serves 50-60 adult artists with neuro-differences each week. Creative Clay also offers additional programs, such as the inclusive Art Around the World summer camp for older teens and young adults, Artlink employment program, Creative Care Arts in Wellness outreach program, and its Pinellas County Schools’ partnership Transition program. Creative Clay’s programming allows individuals of all ages and abilities are mentored, taught and empowered to become working artists who actively create, market and sell their work. The end result is that a formerly stigmatized population, through the art it creates and sells, demystifies stereotypes surrounding those with disabilities and creates a culture of acceptance throughout the community.
There are many careers in the non-profit arts industry:
Teachers – if you have a degree in art and/or art instruction, you can teach one of the many classes offered to individuals who desire instruction. Other local arts organizations such as Morean Arts Center, PARC, Pyramid Art Center and the James Museum employ teachers, either for daily programming, evening and weekend classes and summer camp.
Development/Fundraising – Nearly every non-profit will have one or more individuals responsible for fundraising. As I mentioned above, non-profits rely on the generosity of the local community and beyond to keep their doors open. A development officer or development director is someone whose job it is to cultivate relationships within the community by sharing the organization’s vision and mission, introducing potential donors to the organization through tours and meeting the population served by the organization and positively influencing them so that they will consider donating to your organization, event or endowment fund.
Marketing – This is the team, or in my case the person, who is responsible for communicating the messaging about the organization with public. Some of the responsibilities of the marketing staff include: website management and updates, social media communications, writing and disseminating press releases about events, news, accomplishments and awards, writing industry articles, writing local articles to be considered for publication in smaller, local newspapers.
Curator/Director of Exhibitions – Often and art organization serves individuals who create art as a result of the education and mentoring received as a result of attending the programs. In this case, the art organization, like Creative Clay, will have its own gallery. Creative Clay’s Good Folk Gallery has bi-monthly exhibitions of artists’ work, curated by our Exhibitions Director. All work is for sale, with the artists receiving 50% commission. By virtue of their vision and mission, not all arts organizations will employ this position, but it is one that is available through a career in the non-profit arts industry.
Human Resources – all businesses should have an individual or department that sets and maintains company policies and standards of operation, as well as handle employee issues. This is another career opportunity in the arts industry.
Grant Writer – This is one position that often works in tandem with the CEO and/or Development Director, as the goal is to raise funds. Grants are written for as little as $250.00 up to $300,000 or more, and to local funding sources, private family foundations, governmental entities like the City of St. Petersburg and to other supporting organizations that distribute funds to a variety of non-profits serving other populations such as domestic violence victims, those suffering from food insecurity and poverty and homeless animals.
CEO/Executive Director – Every non-profit arts organization employs someone in this capacity. This is the company’s leader, the one who reports to the board of directors. The CEO manages the day-to-day operations and oversees strategic planning, fundraising and every facet of the business. In the arts industry, having an arts background is not a prerequisite for becoming the CEO of such an organization, but it is helpful. It’s important that a company’s leader understand the nuances of the industry. The arts industry, whether for-profit or non-profit, is an economic driver in any community, and the person at the helm should ideally be well-versed in the unique characteristics of the arts and artists.
In St. Petersburg, there are several museums and arts organizations. They often work collaboratively to support each other. Organizations such as the St. Pete Arts Alliance, Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, Creative Pinellas, and Pinellas Community Foundation all supply funding to arts organizations.
Nonprofit arts and cultural organizations are integral members of the business community. They employ people locally, purchase goods and services in the community, are members of the Chamber of Commerce, and are involved in the marketing and promotion of their regions.
Like all industries, spending by arts organizations has a measurable economic impact. Unlike most industries, however, the arts generate a bounty of event-related spending for local businesses - dollars that land in the pockets of local establishments such as restaurants, retail stores, hotels, and even the local babysitters. One scenario that demonstrates this is when an arts organization debuts an exhibit. They exhibit may open on a Saturday evening. A couple decides that their weekly date night will include seeing this exhibit. They have young children, so they need to book a babysitter. Since it’s date night, they make reservations at their favorite restaurant. Depending on where they live, they may take the subway or bus, taxi, or a ride-sharing company for transportation. The exhibit might have an entry fee. The couple will likely find a piece of art or gift shop merchandise to purchase. Afterward, before heading home to relieve the babysitter, the couple may decide to shop at some of the other retail shops in the vicinity of the gallery before stopping at their favorite dessert place for a sweet end to their evening. Imagine how much money they spent that evening. This is not every scenario for every individual that patronizes the arts and supports arts organizations, but it’s one example of the impact the arts have on the economic viability of a community and the ability for cities and towns to attract visitors who will spend money.
According to the Americans for the Arts, a national organization that supports non-profit arts businesses, 4.6-million jobs are supported by the non-profit arts industry. In addition to the positions I mentioned above as it relates to the jobs at Creative Clay, arts organizations also employ builders, web designers, electricians, accountants, printers and other workers spanning many industries, in addition to artists, curators, musicians, and other arts professionals. Moreover, the economic analysis looks at employment beyond those who work for arts organizations. It also captures the jobs supported across the community because of spending by the organizations and their audiences.
A national poll published last year, Americans Speak Out About the Arts, found that 87 percent of the public believes the arts are important to quality of life, and an impressive 82 percent also believe the arts are important to local businesses and the economy.
There are many opportunities for careers in the arts industry, whether you work for a non-profit or at a business that supports such organizations. Expertise in writing and communication is a must, since there are many platforms for information sharing and fundraising. Knowing your community is also paramount, as well as networking and forming collaborative partnerships. Often, the success of one organization or business is predicated on the sharing of mutual goals, ideas and man and woman power. Partnering with other businesses and groups introduces companies to new friends, fans and potential donors, which is essential to the success of a non-profit organization. Experience in navigating relationships and bringing others together is an asset. Sometimes, the experience and lessons learned from those required group projects in high school and college, is beneficial.
If you are considering a career or volunteer opportunity in the non-profit arts industry, these resources are helpful: National Council of Non-Profits, Non-Profit Leadership Center – Tampa, St. Petersburg Arts Alliance, Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, and Community Tampa Bay.
Any of St. Petersburg’s arts organizations or museums – Creative Clay, Great Explorations, The Dali Museum, The Museum of Fine Arts, The James Museum, PARC, Imagine Museum and Morean Arts Center.