By Meg Peters
Review Co-Editor
While the internal restructuring of the Orion Art Center (OAC) is a bit abstract at this point, one thing is for sure’the OAC is looking to expand.
‘We have had a great growth year in 2015, our agenda and calendar for 2016 is literally bursting at the seams,? Treasurer Amy Cole said. ‘We need as much help in executing the big ideas we have as possible.?
New board members, grant writers, program directors’there are ample positions available for the upcoming year, and the OAC encourages the community to come take a look.
The OAC is hosting a ‘Meet and Greet? opportunity on October 29 for community members interested in supporting the art center, whether in a full time capacity or as a volunteer. The Meet and Greet will take place at the OAC, located at 115 S. Anderson St. from 7 to 8 p.m.
Also upcoming is the annual Open Community Board Meeting on November 7 at 9 a.m. where community members are invited to meet the Board of Directors, learn about the OAC mission and upcoming calendar items.
‘Those are the two events where we really get the community feedback,? Cole said. ‘We want your feedback. We want to know who is interested, and we want to know how you want to engage with the art center.?
Not to mention, more community involvement can increase the art center’s opportunity for funding.
‘We want the art center to be financially solvent. It’s the most important thing for us to support the art center so we can in turn support the community,? OAC Board President Yolanda Garfield said.
Her main goal: improving the art center’s ‘financial stability through the creation of volunteer subcommittees.
These committees could range in responsibility from fundraising to grant writing, advertising, and social organizers, including committees for specific events, such as one for the Holiday Market just around the corner.
The OAC is also looking to expand their board of directors by two positions, taking the seven person team up to nine. Volunteer board members meet once a month, and help direct the OAC’s long term goals and ventures.
The restructuring could also see a shift in directorial responsibilities, Cole said, including the option of having multiple program directors rather than one executive director.
Managing the entire OAC’its artists and art shows, educational children’s classes, community outreach, the slew of different events and fundraisers, advertising and Dragon on the Lake’cannot be handled by one person, Garfield echoed, and that the responsibilities need to be broken into additional positions. ?
Previous Executive Director James Jenkins? six month contract ended October 5, and was not extended. However he may stay on to help the OAC’s business and marketing side, he said.
Garfield said the OAC was thrilled to have Jenkins as their temporary executive director, and doesn’t know anyone ‘who could have done the job the way he did.?
‘But how many things can one person do,? she asked.
The final restructuring is still undetermined, however, the OAC is also open to the idea of having one director and one manager, Garfield said.
?’We would need somebody who is very comfortable with the artists, the shows and educational aspect, and we need somebody who is able to pull in the grants and connect with the DIA.? It’s just a lot of different tendrils that we’d like to put out into the community,? she said.
Garfield said the OAC must be more efficient with the daily, weekly and monthly operations within the art center, and invites all prospective leaders to attend either of the two events.
‘We’ll take as many people as we can,? Cole added. ‘There are many different areas we would love to have more community involvement.?
Even for the current volunteers and employees, Cole encourages everyone’s fresh ideas to help reorganize talents to best direct the art center’s programs.
‘As much as it takes to make plans, we need to listen,? she said.
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