Guild Request for Proposals (RFP) for Executive Search

The National Guild is seeking a search firm to assist us in finding a visionary, human-centered Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with experience leading an organization through transition, specifically towards adopting a shared leadership model and building an anti-racist organization.

The Guild’s newly adopted racial equity guiding principles and policies call for a redistribution of power within the organization; we are committed to structures, policies, and practices rooted in sharing and equalizing power so that we can create new equitable solutions, innovations, and insights.

The CEO reports to the Board of Trustees and is responsible for effectively leading the Guild as well as overseeing all financial and operational aspects of the organization, defining strategic opportunities, and developing a shared vision for the Guild’s future. They also serve as the public face of the organization and play a leading role in building and maintaining collaborative relationships with the community arts education field and allied sectors, deepening the organization’s commitment to racial justice and effectively communicating the Guild’s mission.

More info and requirements for proposals from search firms can be found in this job posting: https://nationalguild.org/job-board/jobs/request-for-proposals-rfp-for-executive-search

Please help share with your networks! Proposals will be accepted until Friday, November 20th.

Announcement from the Board of Trustees: Jonathan Herman Leaving the Guild

National Guild for Community Arts Education

Announcement from the Board of Trustees

September 24, 2020

Jonathan Herman, CEO of the National Guild for Community Arts Education, has announced that he is leaving the organization after 25 years of service.

Jonathan has served as the Guild’s executive leader since 2004 and as a member of the staff since 1995. Over this time Jonathan has seen this 83-year-old organization through many transformations, including a name change in 2010 (from the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts). During his tenure, the organization launched and supported national initiatives in creative aging, leadership development, arts in education, and creative youth development. The Guild’s membership increased in diversity and grew to include over 400 community arts education organizations across 47 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Canada.

Jonathan’s decision to leave his position was announced to the Guild’s Board of Trustees and staff in early 2020. A public announcement was planned for March, but it was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Guild’s board chair, Duffie Adelson, stated that “Jonathan has served the Guild with passion and devotion over the past 25 years. He has led the organization through challenges, many successes, and significant growth during his tenure. We are extremely grateful for his service to the Guild, to our members, and to the field. We wish him all the best and much happiness in his next chapter.”

Adelson continued by stating, “Even in the midst of the pandemic and the accompanying economic and social crises, the Guild is in a strong position to make this transition. Our staff and board represent a wealth of experience, energy, passion, and commitment to the Guild’s mission and values. The organization is financially stable, with the resources to navigate this leadership change as well as the challenging years ahead.”

The Board of Trustees is in the process of launching a national search to identify the Guild’s next CEO. The details of this search and process will be shared transparently with the field.

Jonathan’s last day with the Guild will be November 20, 2020, which coincides with the 2020 Annual Meeting. The board sincerely expresses its gratitude to Jonathan for his 25 years of dedicated service to the Guild and to the field of community arts education.

You can read a letter from Jonathan to the field here.

Jonathan Herman Farewell Letter

September 24, 2020

Dear Colleagues,

I’m writing to let you know that I will be stepping away from my role as CEO of the National Guild on November 20th, following the 2020 Annual Meeting. It has been my delight and privilege to serve as a Guild staff member for the past 25 years, including as CEO since 2004. These years have been a gift. I feel blessed to have worked, lived and grown with an organization that I am so fond of. The people I have worked alongside at the Guild have been such wonderful and generous colleagues, mentors, partners, co-conspirators and friends. I extend my warmest appreciation to you.

You may already have heard this news. I began to discuss my departure back in January and an announcement was planned for March, which was then delayed by COVID-19. My decision to leave the Guild was driven by personal and family priorities as well as my desire to make space for the next generation of leadership. I firmly believe that the Guild is in a strong position and poised for a vibrant, thriving future.

Over the years, the Guild has demonstrated its ability to respond and innovate. I am particularly proud of the ways we have grown and broadened our tent. I am so grateful to work with a stellar, highly skilled staff that is motivated, energized and committed to learning and to transforming the Guild so it can most effectively contribute to the fulfillment of our mission. I am so pleased to have worked closely with current and former trustees who bring critical leadership, vision, energy and support to the institution.

Most of all, I am continually inspired by the work that our members and networks do to ensure arts education is accessible and embraced as essential for human development and healthy communities. This has been especially true these last challenging months.

While I am looking forward to new challenges and opportunities, I know that I will always remain committed and connected to our shared mission. I had very much been looking forward to celebrating the end of my tenure at the Guild in person at our annual conference in NYC in November. I regret this missed opportunity but encourage you to reach out to me anytime.

Thank you for everything you do to expand creative opportunities and enliven communities across the country.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Herman

CEO

National Guild for Community Arts Education

jonathanherman@nationalguild.org

212.268.3972

Destiny Arts Center Featured in New York Times

August 11, 2020

Destiny Arts Center was featured in a beautiful piece in the New York Times that captures how for the young artists at Destiny, dance and activism are intertwined and rooted in the traditions of Oakland. Their year-end project, a feature-length piece called “The Black (W)hole", went through a process of transformation—first in response to the pandemic, and then to join with the protests for racial justice.

"'I feel like I dance a lot harder knowing what I’m dancing for,' said Dinah Cobb, 15."

“When I was dancing I felt like I was bringing in all the spirits from those people—George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin,” [Ny’Aja] Roberson said. “I felt like I was dancing for all of the young lives that couldn’t be with us right then and there.”

Read the full article here.

Creative Art Works new Remote Public Art Youth Employment Program

August 20, 2020

Although the NYC Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) was suspended this year, Creative Art Works (CAW) developed a Remote Digital Public Art Youth Employment Program and committed to providing jobs to over 50 teens and young adults as direct hires. By the end of the summer, each Youth Apprentice (YA) completed a personal digital portfolio consisting of two social justice posters, their contributions to a collection of inclusive stock photography with an emphasis on images of People of Color and the LGBTQ+ community, and a video artist statement.

In addition to learning serious skills for the digital workplace, YAs grappled with challenging topics and crafted compelling messages about social justice issues, including racial and gender equality, animal rights, domestic abuse, child labor, climate change, family separation, mental hygiene and drug addiction, and the rising cost of health care.

The program wrapped up with two virtual culminating events which were attended by over 100 guests, including CAW board members, NYC school principals and teachers, and representatives from program partners. Thirteen YA’s were honored with awards for their art or their teamwork.

Erika Atkins will be the new ED of Bloomingdale School of Music

August 7, 2020

A big congratulations to Erika Atkins, who will be the new Executive Director of member Bloomingdale School of Music in New York City! Erika previously worked at Opening Act where she served for 5 years, most recently as Deputy Director, as well as at Guild members Levine Music and New Victory Theater / New 42nd Street. The Guild recently partnered with Erika as part of a planning committee made up of NYC arts and cultural administrators that conducted a survey on racial equity in arts organizations during the pandemic (look out for results of that survey and related programming soon).

We're thrilled to see Erika's leadership continue at Bloomingdale!

View Bloomingdale's announcement on Facebook here.

Guild Trustee Helen Eaton Receives AFTA 2020 Arts Education Award

June 19, 2020

Congratulations to CEO of Settlement Music School and vice chair of the Guild's Board of Trustees, Helen Eaton, who has received the 2020 Arts Education Award from Americans for the Arts. This award is part of AFTA's Annual Leadership Awards, which recognize the achievements of individuals and organizations committed to enriching their communities through the arts.

Here's a quote from Helen's acceptance video:

"If we really are committed to our missions and to our core values, then we must continue our work in the ongoing, transformative process of becoming anti-racist organizations. Black lives matter. So what does it mean to be part of a solution for anti-Black violence and systemic marginalization? Institutions like ours must ask these questions every day and in every context, while being open to feedback that can lead to real and lasting change. Our community is counting on us. We know the arts can be a catalyst for social change, and so we must be ready to teach, learn, and lead in service to our communities."

Watch Helen's full award acceptance video here.

Guild Trustee Derrick Gay receives AMS 2020 Montessori Ambassador Award

March 12, 2020

Congratulations to educational consultant and Guild trustee Dr. Derrick Gay, who has received the AMS 2020 Montessori Ambassador Award from the American Montessori Society. The award honors an individual who, through their work in a variety of arenas, is fostering a landscape in which Montessori education not only thrives, but flourishes. Here's a quote from his remarks upon accepting the award:

"I consider myself fortunate to have served and advocated in the education space over the past 23 years, and consulting with organizations across many sectors (education, nonprofit, finance, law, the arts) for the past 11 years. If I had to impart one lesson to empower individuals to design and support inclusive environments, I would share this: Inclusion is always intentional. Cultivating a sense of belonging and connectedness is not an organic function of our belief that we are good people. Moreover, while Montessori undoubtedly values inclusion, this belief should not be confused as an action. Inclusion always requires the ongoing intentional efforts of each and every one of us in the community in partnership with each other."

Read Derrick's full remarks here.

Reports on CYD Funding from Mass Cultural Council and CYD National Partnership with Creative Generation

Three new reports on funding for creative youth development work: Mass Cultural Council has released Read Equity in Funding: Perspectives from the Field of Creative Youth Development During COVID-19, and the CYD National Partnership has released Building Pathways to Funding: A Strategy Towards Expanding Funding for the Creative Youth Development Field and Mapping Skill to Will: Approaches to Funding Creative Youth Development in the United States.

Throughout the summer, Mass Cultural Council hosted weekly, national calls for the Creative Youth Development (CYD) field. Major themes that surfaced in those calls included the issues of equity and funding, which led Mass Cultural Council to focus several national calls on equity in the funding of CYD work. Their takeaway was that funders’ work would be more effective if they worked together with the field as collaborators, offering thought partnership and finding ways to innovate practice. They’ve compiled their findings from these conversations into a report on Equity in CYD Funding. Read Equity in Funding: Perspectives from the Field of Creative Youth Development During COVID-19 on Mass Cultural Council’s website.

As part of the Creative Youth Development National Partnership’s effort to help CYD practitioners and funders better understand how their work fit together, as well as fit within the general funding landscapes of arts/culture and education/youth development, the Partnership’s National Action Blueprint team has created two briefs with actionable tools for CYD practitioners and CYD funders to effectively partner with each other. Read Building Pathways to Funding: A Strategy Towards Expanding Funding for the Creative Youth Development Field and Mapping Skill to Will: Approaches to Funding Creative Youth Development in the United States on the CYD National Partnership website.

Announcing the 2020 Youth Summit Planning Team

The planning team for the 2020 National Young Artists Summit (NYAS) has been selected! NYAS is a full-day, virtual Summit, entirely designed and led by young people across the country, which provides opportunities for young artists ages 13-20 from a range of artistic disciplines to connect, create, and celebrate.

View the photos and bios of this year's planning team of 11 young artists from across the U.S.