Love the Arts? Share your (business) skills with Chicago's creatives

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The Arts & Business Council of Chicago is looking for skilled Chicagoans to support local artmakers and creatives rebuild from the effects of the pandemic.

Through our Business Volunteers for the Arts (BVA) program, you can assist on a variety of issues related to audience development, marketing, communications, strategic planning, business planning, & financial planning.

We're looking for individuals interested in working on both long-term (2-6 months) and short-term consulting engagements that range from 1-4 hours long.

Take your next step today: Apply Here https://artsbiz-chicago.org/volunteer/bva/

All volunteers must attend an Orientation, The next Orientation is Saturday March 2 from 9:30am-to 1:30pm.

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BVA volunteers have experience in a variety of vocational fields, including nonprofit and business administration; marketing, media relations, and public relations; strategic and business planning; accounting and finance; leadership and talent development; real estate and asset management; visual and UX/UI design; and human resources.

Volunteers are onboarded through A&BC’s orientation process, matched with available projects, and
provided guidance through the consulting process. Individuals can volunteer their services in two ways:

1. BVA Projects: Volunteers serve on team-based consulting projects consisting of groups of 2-5. These projects last between 2-6 months long. Consultants and Art Partners agree on deliverables and an
anticipated completion date prior to the project’s start.

2. BVA On-Demand: Our one-on-one consulting allows volunteer consultants to serve as coaches and thought partners to help problem solve and address challenges on a short-term, one-off basis.


Projects launch in person, and typically subsequent meetings are virtual. On-Demand takes place by phone or virtually.

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A&BC currently has over 120 active BVA volunteers.

In 2022, 60+ of our volunteers were matched to serve on one of 16 BVA projects, time valued at $358,365 - a 16% increase from 2021.

Our 2023 volunteers worked on the following campaigns: 3 Marketing / Communications Plan, 3 Strategic Plans, 2 Board Development Plans, 2 Financial Plans, 2 Business Plans, 1 Staffing Plan and 1 Facilities Plan.

A&BC continues to diversify its volunteer corps to better represent the communities and Arts Partners we serve. Of the 85% of the 130+ volunteers whose zip codes are known and/or within Chicago, 15% live on the Southside; 15% Loop; 7% Westside; 31% Northside.

Volunteering with the A&BC can help individuals:
- Apply and practice their skills across a variety of projects, working with diverse artistic disciplines
- Get back in touch with their entrepreneurial instincts
- Sharpen their project management and team building skills
- Network and connect with peers in Chicago's business and arts communities
- Get involved and give back in a personally satisfying way
- Make a difference in Chicago’s arts community

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What our Volunteers say about the unique value they find through the A&BC that they do not find elsewhere":

• The opportunity to connect with great people around the city of Chicago.
• A focus on ALL the arts. They're all important, and it's great to see what's happening in areas that maybe don't get as much press.
• Connecting with other people interested in supporting the arts through organizational capacity development.
• The connection between business professionals and art institutions.
• Using my business skills to help accelerate growth and development of arts organizations.
• Opportunity to get as involved as my time and expertise allow.
• Chances to apply my professional skills with organizations that might not otherwise have the resources to afford them.