Arts & Business Council

Regardless of one’s employment status—for profit, nonprofit, self-employed artist or seeking employment—it has been a challenging year where work is concerned. For many of Chicago’s cultural organizations it looks to be another difficult year ahead. Rather than push professional development aside for better days, under these circumstances it can be a way for arts administrators to learn a new task, participate at a national conference or attend career trainings.

Lucky Plush Productions is a recipient of professional development funds from the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation through a fund from the MacArthur Foundation. They applied to help offset expenses to attend the Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) Conference in New York City this past January. Artistic Director, Julia Rhoads, explains, “With this funding, Lucky Plush was able to perform in a showcase at the conference.  It was terrific!  There was a good buzz around our work with a recent Dance Magazine mention, and as a result, the 120-seat venue was standing room only, and 12 presenters were in attendance.  The support allowed us to capitalize on a professional development experience precisely at the time that we were ready for it.”

Likewise, A&BC recently focused on the professional growth of its development staff. Development Manager, Michelle Scott, joined the Development Leadership Consortium, a nine-month program offered through Ter Molen Watkins & Brandt. Director of Development, Kristie Willis completed a certificate program through Northwestern University’s School of Continuing Studies. She was able to pursue the certificate with funding support from the Driehaus Foundation to offset her tuition. “I was given the rare opportunity to look at the forest and not just the trees,” notes Kristie. “Often, when my days get busier, I have a tendency to become short-sighted and focus on crossing tasks off a list. However, this style doesn’t foster strategic or creative thinking, although creative thinking is exactly what we need to be doing in a period of change.”

The key takeaway from these examples—funding support is available for organizations that want to engage in professional development. “A few years ago the Driehaus Foundation awarded additional grants to a few organizations that asked for special support for professional development,” explains Foundation program officer, Peter Handler. “We recognized that there was a similar need for this kind of support from a number of our grantees. The MacArthur Foundation agreed to fund this effort, and last year we began offering small professional development grants to our grantees. So far, requests have been broad, from attending national conferences to software training.” For more information about professional development opportunities at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation through a fund from the MacArthur Foundation, call your program officer at the Driehaus Foundation.