Do you enjoy art? Do you like to be involved and take part in your community?
If so, then the Canadian Mountain Arts Foundation (MAF), an umbrella organization for the arts in Canmore, has space on its board for new directors and is looking for you.
MAF, a non-profit, volunteer-run organization, oversees the Canmore artsPeak Arts Festival, the Vic Lewis Band Festival, Live on 7th concert series and the Canmore Cultural Directory.
As a result, directors work with festival directors to ensure those events run smoothly and – with enough directors – take on new projects, according to Conrad Habing, a Canmore artist and MAF director.
“A big part of it is just making sure these big events we are already doing are successfully administrated and well looked after,” said Habing. “They all have strong festival directors in each case, but along with that comes general governance, making sure the money is correctly accounted for.
“These people have the things they need to go forward. The more directors we have, the more we can spread this around so these new initiatives can get more attention.”
MAF director Barb Parker said the board needs a treasurer who understands finance and can present reports, but does not have to have bookkeeping skills, as MAF currently does have a bookkeeper.
Overall, the board is seeking individuals with experience serving on boards and with board governance.
“We’re also happy to take people who want to gain board experience. It can be entry level or someone who is new to town. It’s an excellent way to know the community. You get a broad look at the artistic community,” she said, adding volunteer directors do not have to have a background in the arts.
“We’re looking for a variety of people with long-term visioning skills and those looking to just get working and do the job. There’s range on the board for a variety of people,” Parker said.
The board meets on the third Thursday of every month, while working committees do meet more often – but the time commitment is flexible.
Parker said directors could give as little or as much as they are able and recent strategic planning has allowed the organization and its volunteers to work well as a team with “a rising level of excitement about what is possible in the future”.
Also, artists of any stripe who are not in the Cultural Directory, which is free to join, and would like to be, can contact Parker at [email protected]
“We compile a list of those people in order to facilitate communication within the arts community. I’d like to make sure that anyone new to town understands that directory is on our website,” she said.
For more information about the MAF, go to www.mountainartsfoundation.com
Directors serve a one-year term and then can renew their commitment at the annual general meeting, which will be held at the Georgetown Inn, Thursday, April 28 at 7 p.m.
Anyone curious about the organization or who is considering joining the board are welcome to attend, as is the general public.
