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Join Us!

Join Us!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WITH ACAC

TO APPLY

Send questions or apply with a letter of interest and resume to Stewart Ikeda and Christine Noah at chair@artsarlington.org. Please indicate your level of interest (occasional events, committees, Commissioner appointment, etc.).

Seeking committed individuals to work with ACAC in various roles
The Arlington Commission for Arts & Culture seeks residents, business owners and nonprofit leaders who are passionate about the arts. Bringing together several previously separate cultural entities including Arlington Cultural Council, Arlington Public Art, Artlinks, and Poet Laureate, ACAC promotes and develops arts and culture programs, events, and resources, in order to create a sustainable and vibrant arts scene that engages and attracts artists, residents, businesses and visitors.  The Core Commission generally meets one evening each month; additional periodic subcommittee meetings are held around such activities as grant-making, fundraising, public art installations, performance programs and festivals, artist networking and development, destination marketing and communications, and Arlington Cultural District planning. ACAC especially seeks both Commissioners and subcommittee members willing to volunteer their skills in the areas of fundraising and development, grant-making, digital media or marketing. ACAC strives to expand access to and promote cultural equity in the arts, and to have Committee membership reflecting the diversity of our town.

WHAT'S INVOLVED IN BECOMING A COMMISSIONER?

A minimum commitment for a full voting ACAC Commissioner role is approximately 3-4 hours a month in meetings (one monthly commission meeting on the first Thursday of each month and at least one subcommittee or working group). Most will also assist with one or more "all-hands" seasonal events such as Town Day, Live Arts events, and/or special awards, recruitment or strategic planning events. Candidates are encouraged to observe at least one monthly ACAC meeting before submitting an application, resume and letter of interest.

Visiting and volunteering to support one event or subcommittee meeting your personal skills and interest is an EXCELLENT way to get to know the Commission and determine the right fit for you; most subcommittees will have a NON-commissioner co-chair who may work with and eventually become a commissioner after working on several substantive projects!

HOW TO APPLY

Process and timelines vary by role, but generally an applicant will submit a formal letter of interest to the co-chairs indicating which role they'd like to be considered for and set up a call or meeting. If it’s a good fit, the chairs would then introduce the candidate, make a recommendation and take a vote at the next full commission meeting and if approved would send word of the vote to the appointing authority, usually the Town Manager, who might interview them. With the TM's approval, the person is formally voted on in a meeting of the Select Board, then undertakes a mandatory online Ethics Certification certification and goes to be sworn-in at Town Hall. They can then be a voting commissioner at the next monthly meeting.

NON-COMMISSIONER OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED

We welcome volunteers of all walks and interests who love to see the arts and culture flourish in tour town, but have specific needs for people with experience and interest in the following committee and working group roles:

Marketing Committee: Help with messaging and communications for ACAC, contribute to ArtsArlington.org and social media channels, promote live arts events townwide, contribute to destination marketing campaigns, more. Design, web, PR, media industry, event marketing  skills are all welcome! 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Taskforce: Help develop policies and practices of cultural equity and inclusion, Commission-wide, that expand accessibility and participation in the arts in Arlington. Conduct outreach to artists, audiences, and partners that reflect the diversity of our town. Experience in DEIA, community and bilingual outreach, ADA accessibility a plus. 

Fundraising Committee: Help apply for grants, organize fundraiser parties and Chairful auction, and otherwise help support the cultural programs and community work of the Commission. Experience in nonprofit, development, business outreach, grant writing especially valuable. 

Grants Committee: The committee is responsible for awarding grants each year to support local artists and cultural entities in realizing projects that otherwise might not get off the ground. The Committee generally meets on the second Monday of the month, 7:30-9:00 pm. Come to one or two meetings and if it seems like a fit, submit a short letter of intent and your resume to the Committee at ArlingtonCulturalCouncil@gmail.com

Community Engagement Committee: Combines Public Art (Pathways, Utility Boxes, Youth Banners, Artists-in-Residence), LiveArts Arlington (busking, Garage Band), and Festivals (i.e., Fox Festival & Parade, Town Day Planning, Haiku in the Heights, etc.) 

Arlington Cultural District Managing Partnership: Supports programming and build out of the area of town designated a Cultural District by the MCC. Generally supports/promotes cultural programs, businesses and organizations within the district.

Poet Laureate Committee: One representative of ACAC participates on the committee to help recruit, select, and promote projects by the Town Poet Laureate.