If you work with a non-profit organization, there are many ways that you can add an exciting new dimension to your organization’s work by building relationships with the women artists in your community. Here are a few simple things to try:

DEVELOP ONGOING RELATIONSHIPS WITH WOMEN ARTISTS

• Assign someone on your staff to stay informed about local women’s arts events.
• Invite women artists to serve on your committees or board.
• Invite women artists to participate in workshops about grant-writing or business skills.  

INCREASE AUDIENCES FOR WOMEN ARTISTS 

• Publicize events featuring women artists in your newsletters & social media.
• Find artists who are creating work about the issues you fund and feature their work at your events.
• Create “artist of the month” interviews in your newsletters. Do a SWAN Day feature.
• Organize groups of staff, donors, or grantees to attend events by women artists.

HIRE WOMEN ARTISTS

• Hire women artists to create unique materials for your campaigns such as posters, billboards, songs, dances, poems, quilts, or installations.
• Hire women artists for part-time office jobs or shared jobs.  Many artists are looking for part-time work with a decent salary that will give them time for their art.

CREATE ARTS AWARDS AND GRANT PROGRAMS

• Create a special arts grant or award program so that artists are not competing with social service organizations.  Create a special SWAN Day award.
• Give general operating support to arts organizations or give awards to individual artists for their body of work.
• If you are giving small amounts, think about using a nomination process or contest instead of application forms.  If you use application forms, make them simple and relevant for artists.

If you would like more help figuring out ways to include women artists in your work, WomenArts will be happy to assist you.