The Arts Management Program offers two Board Member Institute workshops for board members this spring; both take place on April 13, 2013.

Attendees have the option of attending one or both sessions.  Each is session is $25 for board members affiliated with Arts Council of Fairfax County.  Here is the website with registration form:  http://artsmanagement.gmu.edu/board-member-institue.

In the quest for board diversity, most arts organizations will recruit board members with a wide variety of backgrounds—some with business acumen, some with passion for the organization and its mission. This diversity is essential to ensure that the organization’s constituency is represented appropriately. However, the flipside to board diversity is often the time it takes to train board members so that everyone is on the same page. Even board members with prior oversight experience may have trouble transitioning to an arts organization’s unique challenges. It can be difficult for arts organizations to come up with the budget and the time to prepare each board member for the tasks that lie ahead.

The Arts Management Program at George Mason University can help with that process through our Board Member Institute.

The institute can help by providing a broad overview of the way boards work and by helping new board members gain the confidence to effectively govern their organizations. New board members can then apply these concepts to their organization’s individual needs. With the institute’s help, boards can minimize the time needed to train new members and get back to doing the things they do best.

Toward an even deeper understanding, this year we are introducing intermediate training. This level of instruction will primarily focus on the legal and fiscal responsibilities of boards and an understanding of financial statements and the new Form 990 requirements.

The New Board Member Orientation is being cosponsored by the Arts Council of Fairfax County.

Who Can Attend? Board members of an arts organization located anywhere, with less than six months of experience on their current, are eligible for the Board Member Institute’s Orientation session. Any member of an arts board may attend the “Financial Responsibilities” session. Organizations are welcome to send a maximum of two board members to each institute session. Executive or Managing Directors (and/or senior staff) are strongly encouraged and welcome to attend any of these sessions as a complimentary attendee(s) when they are accompanied by a “paying” board member. The sessions are limited to no more than ten (10) organizations per session, so sign up soon!

Board Orientation
Saturday, 4/13
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Location: George Mason University Arlington Campus, Founders Hall
3351 Fairfax Dr 
Arlington, VA 22201

Financial Responsibilities—Boards
Saturday, 4/13
Time: 1:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: George Mason University Arlington Campus, Founders Hall, Room 312
3351 Fairfax Dr 
Arlington, VA 22201

http://artsmanagement.gmu.edu/board-member-institue