A group set up to advocate for the arts in Richmond will soon be looking to replace half of its board of directors.
The Richmond Arts Coalition (RAC), which formed in 2005, is taking applications, with three of its six-strong volunteer board either “timing out” or having to resign for personal reasons.
Two of the three board members in question are at the tail-end of the maximum of three, two-year terms, while the third member is having to take a back seat due to a family illness.
All of them, said RAC chair Linda Barnes, are long-term board members and a fresh injection is urgently needed in the coming weeks and months.
“We’re hoping for people who bring a skill set to the board; they don’t necessarily need to be artists, more that they support the arts and realize the benefit of it to the community,” said Barnes of the kind of people the RAC is looking to attract to the board.
“We’re looking for people with experience in business, non-profits and dealing with budgets.”
Although RAC holds its AGM in March, it’s taking applications for the positions right now.
“You would have the opportunity to bring the community together, bring together people of all cultures, backgrounds and ages,” added Barnes of the position’s reward.
“The arts are a way to connect people without language.”
She said the board tries to meet monthly for about two hours and members try to take part in one or two events a month.
“You would be the face of the organization, trying to bring different groups together and being an advocate for the arts; the latter of which is probably the most important part of the role,” said Barnes.
The biggest issue, she said, that the arts community in Richmond continues to face is space for the artists, whether it be for performing or creating.
“Real estate in Richmond is mainly for the rich, and artists tend not to be rich. We need to work hard at creating that space to allow artists to flourish.”
RAC employs an executive director and administrative assistant. Anyone interested in joining the RAC board should email Barnes before Nov. 15 at [email protected].
