“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 course plan Dust off your course plan Determine what art supplies you will need for each lesson in each unit 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 Determine amount of art supplies you will need, based on number of students you will teach Check supplies available in the school 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 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) 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) See your principal (or secretary) Find out deadlines for purchase orders (usually end of June for September) 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) Find out petty cash maximums (usually $100 per trip to the store, including taxes) Look at past budgets (usually on record in the office) Look at past budgets (usually on record in the office) Items over $1000 usually need three quotes and rationale (written proposal) Items over $1000 usually need three quotes and rationale (written proposal) Go back to your list of supplies and prioritize (“need” vs. “want”) 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 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 Have a copy of all order forms to check when supplies arrive Delegate one person to handle supplies (unpacking, storing) to avoid confusion Delegate one person to handle supplies (unpacking, storing) to avoid confusion Organize supplies to find easily and quickly Organize supplies to find easily and quickly Hide half of supplies until second half of year (for rationing) 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 Get on the budget committee Establish set amounts of supplies for each student to use and monitor use Establish set amounts of supplies for each student to use and monitor use Lock the storage areas to prevent theft (by students and staff) Lock the storage areas to prevent theft (by students and staff) Do not give away “freebies” (supplies for Science Fair, bulletin boards, etc.) 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.) Have students/staff bring in consumables (newspapers, containers, scrap fabric, old calendars, magazines, etc.)

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

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.) 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.) Have students create promotional art (school calendar, web site, t-shirts, etc.) Show off individual student work to your principal (often) Show off individual student work to your principal (often) Create an art club (extra-curricular funds) Create an art club (extra-curricular funds) Have an Arts Night in the spring 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) 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 (high school only)…percentages speak volumes Keep track of how many students take art in relation to other subject areas/total number of students (high school only)…percentages speak volumes Prepare an information flyer for parents for orientation nights Prepare an information flyer for parents for orientation nights Invite admin into your classroom Invite admin into your classroom Celebrate your art students’ successes (both in and out of school) 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 Avoid committee work Under-spend your budget Under-spend your budget Leave display areas empty Leave display areas empty Threaten to paint a mural on the principal’s car 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 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) Call the head of finance ‘stupid’ in front of the entire board office (I was thrown out of the building for that one)

How to become more “art savvy”: Take summer courses Take summer courses Take an evening course Take an evening course Watch “Art Attack” Watch “Art Attack” Read art magazines Read art magazines Attend (and participate in) local art shows Attend (and participate in) local art shows Try a few ideas from the course pack Try a few ideas from the course pack Keep experimenting! Keep experimenting!

Professional development programs: Artsperience ( Artsperience ( Haliburton School of Fine Arts ( grams/Haliburton/HSTA) Haliburton School of Fine Arts ( grams/Haliburton/HSTA) grams/Haliburton/HSTAwww.flemingc.on.ca/pro grams/Haliburton/HSTA OSEA (Ontario Society for Education Through Art) ( OSEA (Ontario Society for Education Through Art) (