“Art Aid”: Management and Marketing in Visual Arts Education Or…how to avoid the “F” word (Fundraising) Liz Ashworth, Nipissing University

Congratulations! You’re an art teacher…now what do you do? Dust off your unit plans; make a course plan Determine what art supplies you will need for each lesson in each unit Determine amount of art supplies you will need, based on number of students you will teach Check supplies available in the school Find local suppliers first, especially those who have children in your school (keep it in the family) and to avoid shipping costs Go through catalogues to determine best prices and/or use the board’s bulk order (if available)

But before you order, what’s your budget and how do you access it? See your principal (or secretary) Find out deadlines for purchase orders (usually end of June for September) Find out petty cash maximums (usually $100 per trip to the store, including taxes) Look at past budgets (usually on record in the office) Items over $1000 usually need three quotes and rationale (written proposal) Go back to your list of supplies and prioritize (“need” vs. “want”) Fill out purchase orders for supplies to be ordered and go shopping for those you need immediately

Taking Care of Business: Have a copy of all order forms to check when supplies arrive Delegate one person to handle supplies (unpacking, storing) to avoid confusion Organize supplies to find easily and quickly Hide half of supplies until second half of year (for rationing)

Storage Ideas:

What to do if you have a very low budget (less than $20 per student): Get on the budget committee Establish set amounts of supplies for each student to use and monitor use Lock the storage areas to prevent theft (by students and staff) Do not give away “freebies” (supplies for Science Fair, bulletin boards, etc.) Have students/staff bring in consumables (newspapers, containers, scrap fabric, old calendars, magazines, etc.)

What to do if you have a very low budget (cont’d.): Count items at both the beginning and the end of the lesson Have students trade a shoe (or other item of value) for equipment Have a sign out sheet for borrowed equipment Keep track of all supplies by doing an inventory each June Order 1 ½ times what you really need Do not fundraise for “needs”

How to get more money for art education: Display student work everywhere (halls, showcases, administrators’ offices, board office, parent-teacher nights, graduation, local galleries, etc.) Have students create promotional art (school calendar, web site, t-shirts, etc.) Show off individual student work to your principal (often) Create an art club (extra-curricular funds) Have an Arts Night in the spring

How to get more money, cont’d. Collect exemplary work for a school art collection (frame with donated frames) Keep track of how many students take art in relation to other subject areas/total number of students…percentages speak volumes Prepare an information flyer for parents for orientation nights Invite admin into your classroom Celebrate your art students’ successes (both in and out of school)

Promotion Ideas:

More promotion ideas:

How not to get more money for art education: Avoid committee work Under-spend your budget Leave display areas empty Threaten to paint a mural on the principal’s car Using PhotoShop, turn a photo of your principal into the Grinch, and post it in the staffroom Call the head of finance ‘stupid’ in front of the entire board office (I was thrown out of the building for that one)

Art education PD/Conferences: OAEA (Ontario Art Education Association) CSEA (Canadian Society for Education through Art) NAEA (National Art Education Association) InSEA (International Society for Education through Art)

Nurture your inner artist  Take summer/evening art courses See/read art magazines, blogs, links Join local art organizations Attend (and participate in) art shows Make time for your own art!