How to Build an Arts Education Nonprofit: A Learning Plan for Creating the Q Arts Foundation

My mom was an inspiring artist and teacher. She taught ceramics for over 20 years at a Sacramento high school, where she was affectionately known as "Q." Before she died last fall from brain cancer, I promised I would create a foundation to carry on her legacy. Now I have to figure out how to do it.

The Plan

1. Read up: Nothing innovative here, but I love books. Currently, Draw It With Your Eyes Closed and Joseph Beuys in America occupy my desk. I’m always on the hunt for more food for thought.
2. Meet the community: I’m trying to connect with every creative professional, arts instructor, and nonprofit expert I can, hoping to get them to share their creative advice with me, and their skills with our students.
3. Do it: First class starts in June! My lesson plans involve skills I’ve never practiced, so I’m going to get to learn them, because I have to.
4. Learn by doing it: The summer class is a prototype, which should be excellent but won’t be perfect. Same goes with the foundation itself.
5. Do it better: Rinse, repeat.

How will you share your learning plan with the community?

The Q Arts Foundation will be organizing creative classes, not only for younger students but also for the entire local community, so the success of my learning plan will crucially depend upon sharing with the community. I'll also report on the foundation's progress on its website: www.q-arts.org.

Discussion

We live in Covington, KY where a foundation was started 90 years ago by Margruetta Baker-Hunt. It nurtures the community with classes for all ages and has educated thousands of local people. It continues to grow and thrive today. I believe the community in Sacramento would benefit greatly from such an effort. Leslie Cusick was a long time friend, devoted instructor and tireless champion of creativity in young people. Her memory will be well served with such an organization. Sincerely, Nancy and Michael Carver

by nancy.carver.79

12 months ago | Reply

Thanks for all the support! The strict text limits don't allow much room for explanation of the details of the learning process, but it also includes: 1. Participation in Sacramento's new Flywheel Creative Economy Incubator (was just accepted on Wednesday!) 2. Workshops with the Sacramento Region Community Foundation on details of nonprofit development 3. Organizing a Skillshare school for Q Arts and promoting teachers 4. Continued involvement with the Sacramento Entrepreneurship Academy (just graduated last month) and its board members and affiliated entrepreneurs. 5. Attending Skillshare classes in SF and Sac on relevant topics. 6. Various workshops and events I have already attended and will continue to search out, including the Skillshare Penny Conference in New York, New Orleans Entrepreneurship Week, Amplify Action art teacher workshop in Brooklyn, Maker Faire Bay Area, etc. I guess all that falls under #2, Meet the community.

by matcusick

12 months ago | Reply

This is an important (and beautiful) step in the right direction. Wonderful idea!

by nhtSAC

12 months ago | Reply

Def. important to expand learning from the classroom and into real world skills. Love it. Good luck!

by jpratt

12 months ago | Reply

This is powerful. Empowering young people by giving them access to ideas and people that will change their lives, while providing a way for more experienced people to give back. Love it.

by ericullrich

12 months ago | Reply

This is a great idea that deserves tons of support!

by jamunro6

12 months ago | Reply

Fun and important work you're doing - I love the wonderlab idea and am excited to hear how it progresses. How is student outreach going and have you talked with Adolfo @ breakthrough?

by miguelpv

12 months ago | Reply