ABOUT BOARD SERVICE FOR CA FOR THE ARTS & CA ARTS ADVOCATES

Thank you for your interest in CA For The Arts' & CA Arts Advocates' Board of Directors. Our application for Board membership provides you with information about the role and helps our board learn more about you.

To learn more about our organizations' missions, vision, values, and histories, please visit:
CA for the Arts
CA Arts Advocates

Personal & Professional Narrative

Thank you for taking the time to apply to the CA Arts Advocates (CAA) and CA for the Arts (CFTA) Board of Directors. For reference, Key Definitions pertaining to the organizations' shared strategic plan, Vision 2030, include:

• Creative Economy - We seek policies that support California’s dynamic creative economy, which we define as the basket economy inclusive of all kinds of creative activities, both within creative industries and creative occupations, encompassing people with creative occupations working in the creative industries, as well as workers with creative occupations working in any other industry, and people in a non-creative jobs working in a creative industries as well as culture bearers.
• Creative Worker - We advance the needs of creative workers, which we define as all adults who have creative skills or are in the process of developing those; have received creative education or training (in a variety of contexts); attempt to derive income from those skills; and are in the process of developing or have been actively engaged in creative work including artists, culture bearers and others involved in cultural work.
• Culture Bearers - Culture Bearers practice intergenerational lifeways and living, evolving cultural art practices that educate, exchange, and share in order to preserve ancestral knowledge. In this work, Culture Bearers hold a direct throughline from ancestors and teachers and center sharing their practice with youth. The role of culture bearer is particularly important within ancestral cultures undergoing transition or experiencing threat from outside and dominating culture(s). Culture Bearers accept a responsibility to share ancestral and cultural knowledge. The practice of being a Culture Bearer is distinct from other individual art practices because the practice is a full life tradition (not separate) and includes intergenerational transmission of learning (definition by Indigenous Roots).

Learn more about Vision 2030 HERE.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS PURPOSE

CFTA & CAA is served by an active governance board. The primary role of the Board is to promote and fulfill the organizations' missions, including (but not limited to):

• Establishing mission and direction;
• Ensuring the resources of funds and leadership necessary to implement the organization’s mission;
• Providing strategic and fiduciary stewardship, as well support and oversight of the CEO; and…
• Ensuring the organization is managed in a sustainable, equitable, and community-driven manner.

To ensure all board candidates understand the State of California’s legal expectations for participation on a nonprofit board, please see the Attorney General’s Guide for Charities.

EXPECTATIONS & DUTIES

CFTA & CAA believe that a rewarding board experience provides benefit to the organization, the communities we serve, and to the individuals serving on the board. To that end, in addition to sharing CFTA & CAA’s expectations for board service, we are interested in hearing what you hope to gain personally and professionally by joining CFTA & CAA’s Board of Directors. CFTA & CAA is committed to equity, inclusion, diversity, and accessibility in all our programs, initiatives, and decision-making processes.

CFTA & CAA is a governance board. Prior Board experience is required to apply.

CFTA & CAA’s EXPECTATIONS OF BOARD MEMBERS

• Time & Talent: CFTA & CAA values the time you spend volunteering as a board and committee member, as well as the talent and expertise you bring to this role. Time: Board Members are encouraged to attend and actively participate in all our board meetings in the fiscal year, as well as the annual retreat. Participation on at least one of our multiple board committees is also required. As an ambassador of CFTA & CAA, Board Members are encouraged to promote and attend all CFTA & CAA events and programs.   Talent: We are interested in any special skills or talents Board Members could bring to CFTA & CAA to support our mission and the communities we serve.
• Treasure & Ties: CFTA & CAA relies on the generosity and influence of its Board Members to build membership and sustain programmatic and operational functions. Treasure: The treasure our Board Members contribute may include individual donations, corporate sponsorships, membership, as well as table and/or ticket purchases for events. Membership in CFTA & CAA is required for all Board Members, either personally or through the member’s company or employer. All Board Members are encouraged to give a gift that is significant to them, but there is not a formal board “give” or “get” policy. Ties: The connections and introductions our Board Members bring to CFTA & CAA are vital to the organization’s fundraising efforts and helps grow an inclusive CFTA & CAA circle of members and friends, including assisting in recruiting new leaders and volunteers.