Arts & Business Council

The Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) strives over time to provide each of its arts organization clients with a carefully thought-out sequence of services that coincides with the group’s capacity, developmental stage and increasing proficiency—what we like to call a “continuum of care.” An excellent example is A&BC’s ongoing relationship with Chicago’s Oistrach Symphony Orchestra (OSO).

The OSO, whose mission is to provide training for young musicians making a transition from university to their professional careers, first approached the Arts & Business Council of Chicago as a new client in the fall of 2009. Having only been incorporated for four years and being managed almost exclusively by the founder, OSO was looking to take its start-up organization to the next level of organizational capability. OSO began its engagement with A&BC, as do most arts organizations, through the Business Volunteers for the Arts (BVA) program.

A&BC assembled a team of volunteer consultants to guide OSO through its first-ever strategic planning process. After a few months of hard, focused work, a comprehensive three-year strategic plan was developed that clearly identifies the organization’s artistic, financial, educational and marketing goals from 2010 – 2013.

This initial project served as a launching pad for OSO to become more professionalized and sustainable. Margaret Renas, OSO’s Executive Director, describes this project’s importance, noting that it provided “an invaluable roadmap to grow and develop the organization and to make previously undefined and unspecified plans a reality.” Additional outcomes of this project included the creation of budgets and financial projections as well as the convening of formalized board meetings, which previously had not occurred.

As an outcome of the strategic planning process, marketing was identified as the next major management area that needed attention. As a result, a second BVA project and expert volunteer team was formed to work with OSO to develop a cohesive marketing plan. This plan outlined innovative low cost/no cost tactics for gaining more exposure and expanding OSO’s audience. OSO has begun implementing these tactics and they have already seen positive results. The organization’s Facebook fan count has increased and ticket sales for its upcoming summer concert have shown growth. The recommendations from the consultants also shaped the decisions OSO made for its newly launched website.

While working with the BVA consultants, OSO also realized the need to develop its governing board. However, being new to the nonprofit field and the position of Executive Director, Margaret felt that it was necessary to become more knowledgeable herself about board structure and governance before beginning the recruitment process. During the past two years, she has attended all of A&BC’s board development-related Workshops. Then, in the spring of this year, OSO was accepted as a participating organization in A&BC’s On BOARD program, a training and placement program for business executives looking to serve on a nonprofit arts board. It was not until after the completion of OSO’s two BVA projects that they were best positioned to be an appealing candidate for the On BOARD program. Although they have not found out yet if they have received a placement (graduation is on June 16), this opportunity has provided them additional exposure to the business community that they would not otherwise have enjoyed.

Margaret admits, “OSO wouldn’t be where it is today if it wasn’t for the support of the Arts & Business Council.” A&BC is there for its clients all along the way to support and nurture them and to see them grow and thrive.