Updates from the International Caucus Chair 2014
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WCA International Caucus Update
September 8, 2014
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Welcome to those of you who are new members!  Please check out our WCA International Caucus website for lots of information about our programming and members.

The after-glow of Half the Sky: Intersections in Social Practice Art continues as our delegates document and evaluate this project. Mido Lee aims to have our documentary video completed this fall. Christine Giancola is completing the archiving of the thousands of photos taken by her and our documentary team. Other delegates are collecting information so that we can share with you a more thorough evaluation of the project.

Much of the near-future focus for our International Caucus is shifting to our quickly growing UN Program under the guidance of Maureen Burns-Bowie. Several of its members recently attended the UN DPI/NGO Conference in NYC (see below). The committee has plans for programming at the Humanicy Conference at the UN in December and an international post card show (more details in the next update).


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WCA International Caucus Annual Meeting Agenda
Thursday, February 14, 2014, 9-11 a.m.
Essex Park East Gallery
Essex Inn, Chicago, Illinois

Agenda
I.             Welcome and Introductions (request for scribe and photographer for meeting)
II.          Results of and additions to IC Questionnaire
III.         Discussion and decisions about structure and future of IC
IV.         International Panel at CAA 2015? 2016? V.         UN Program overview and meeting announcement (11:30, location) 

Questionnaire results
1.   CAREER DEVELOPMENT
  •  Members are interested in: learning how to get on the international curating circuit; learning how to get the most out of the caucus
  • Amy Bauer is willing to assist with a workshop 
  • Gaby Berglund Cardenas has written an article about boosting creativity and will share the link to it when it is published and is considering writing a short how-to article for us about project management
  •  “I would like to see: member's interviews about their career histories, working habits, a day in their lives, etc”
  •  Curators advise on specific issues. Maybe adding a column: "Ask the curator"?
  • “I would like to see information about what is happening internationally with women in the arts, projects that other women artists could become more involved in, etc. Those things could be topics for a web conference too. People could sign up to participate, send in questions beforehand so speaker(s) could address specific things as well as provide some general information”
  • Bonnie MacAlister could provide some content about examples of new media, how to make a gif..
  • User guides to implementing the UN Millennium Development Goals into an exhibition, resource books on voluntarism, 

2.   COMMUNICATIONS/CONNECTIONS (website, FB page, updates, gallery….)
  • FB Page – what are the parameters for usage? Can we post announcements? “Have members post/announce/email calls/ideas for collaborations. I think we need to collaborate together more. It will tighten the bond of the groups.” “I often hear about interesting calls for art here, I enjoy reading announcements about other artist's exhibits or accomplishments, interviews on publications, etc.  On the other hand, I don't think it should be used to post photos of our artworks for feedback.”  “As I want to be an active member I have notifications ON so I find it annoying and a waste of time when it's for feedback on member's artworks. We are too many and if each of us were to do that ... Maybe members who feel they want and need constant feedback should open a group for just that. “ “More content from the IC website onto the IC FB page”  Bonnie MacAlister has been posting content on the IC FB page and is willing to continue to do so.  
  • Member Gallery – Simone Kestelman is willing to assist, gallery should include 1-5 images for each artist as resource for curators and collaborators, Gaby Berglund Cardenas would like to be involved; a gallery for members involved with projects related to the UN (see Art & Activism pages under the UN tab on the IC website) Laura Phelps Rogers would like to be involved
  •  Website – separate pages for Half the Sky – with frequent updates – was appreciated; make the website more visual with things like the member gallery; is there a way to have an option for members to be notified when there is new content; Have a page for show opportunities
  • Connecting/sharing information with WCA chapters about the International Caucus and our UN Program; International Caucus members speaking at their local chapter meetings; submitting articles for chapter newsletters 
  • More information about the UN, how our programs connect to the UN, about our NGO status
  • Have buddies from other areas of the country, in other chapters
  •  Do a better job of making every member feel important. Run the caucus in a nurturing, supportive way. More follow up with IC members after national meetings 
  • Skype into chapter meetings to talk about IC and UN Program 

3.    INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS

  •  Encourage same leadership team to take on next project with new workers in training
  •  Develop virtual meeting forums for development of new ideas and development of existing projects
  •  UN DPI/NGO event in August at the UN, possibly with KIK, International Ribbons around Culture of Peace
  • An international conference every 3-4 years?
  •   “As an international member I often find a problem the shipping of artworks with a frame, so my challenge is to be creative and try to think of alternative mediums for participation. Even though reputable galleries such as A.I.R. gallery in NYC accepts acrylic corners and pins for displaying artworks, I was told in for example Identity call for art that pins wouldn't be acceptable. I respect that but it is challenging for future projects.”

4.  CAUCUS STRUCTURE

  • Finding leaders by connecting with academia (students, professors, retired professors)
  • Organizations to emulate? Perhaps Soho20 Chelsea in NYC.

5.   FUNDRAISING


6.    VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT/SUPPORT/RECOGNITION

  •   A mini-show for volunteers?
  •  Virtual meetings, regional gatherings
  • To encourage volunteers, offer them discounted or free conference attendance

7.   IC PROGRAMMING/VISION

Update and Questionnaire February 2014


I have started reading new books and articles about the many career and personal benefits of international collaborations, participating in non-profit organizations, taking on leadership roles in their projects and on their board and committees. Much of this information is freshened up for our current economic climate. 

This dovetails with the impressive growth of WCA's International Caucus, the increasing number of its active members and our international opportunities.

We need a bigger plan and we need your input to create it!

In preparation for our annual meeting in Chicago (February 14th, 9-11 a.m., Essex Inn's Essex Park East Gallery), please look over the pages of our website    consider your experience of the International Caucus and share your honest feedback by February 9th so I can provide an anonymous collection of the responses for our meeting attendees in Chicago and to fuel our creation of the future of the International Caucus. 

Please respond to any or all of the following 7 questions and email them to [email protected]:

1. Providing career development opportunities is part of WCA. We do this through opportunities in our projects, leadership positions and training materials, such as those I have begun putting on our website for fundraising and exhibitions.  
  • Is there career development information you could offer our members?  Via a video we could link to the website?  A synopsis of how-tos? 
  • What kind of career development offerings would you like to see?  How would you see that assistance being delivered?   

2. Community, connections and teamwork within our national and international membership:
  • How does the IC website work or not work for your needs?
  • Do you use the IC Facebook page? Any thoughts about it? 
  • We have tried these kind of emails and a Mailchimp version (which ended up in many members' spam or promotions folders). Any suggestions for sharing information?  
  • Karen Joy has offered to help set up an online gallery for our IC members on our website, in which each member would have one photo with a line about her and a link to a website of blog. Would you participate? Would you like to help make this happen? 
  • Other suggestions for staying connected?

3. Each of our international opportunities have been built from the ground up with many unknowns to learn about and incorporate to make them successful. Any thoughts/suggestions to support/improve future international endeavors?

4. We have a successful structure of committees for Half the Sky, but we now need to expand and strengthen an overall caucus administrative structure as well as develop a plan for training and succession in leadership. Please see ourStructure & Committees web page for the current status of this structure. 
  • Leadership team: Steering Committee or Executive Committee or? What positions should be on this leadership team?  Chair? Vice-Chair? Fundraising/Finance Chair? Membership? Fundraising Director?  Exhibitions and Projects Director? 
  • Succession in leadership: In most non-profits, leadership comes up through the ranks. Volunteers find compatible niches within to share and learn skills and broaden their understanding of the organization before taking on larger roles. How should we nurture this for a sustainable caucus?
  • What other leadership positions should be considered? Membership Director? Publicity/Promotions Director? Social Media/Communications Director? Website Director?
  • Do you know of an organizational structure that we could emulate? A strong, successful, small-but-growing non-profit that appears to support innovation and rewarding opportunities for its membership/employees?
  • Which positions would you be interested in learning about and/or taking on? 

5. Fundraising is a large part of any project and non-profit organization. 
  • Caucuses are able to charge dues, like chapters, to help underwrite and/or provide seed money for programming. WCA chapter annual fees run from $10-$30 per member. What are your thoughts about dues?
  • Grant-writing is becoming an increasingly important necessity for WCA as a whole as well as for our caucus. Do you have grant-writing skills you could share with the IC?  Would you be willing to head up a team to train and then facilitate grant research and writing? 

6. We are totally volunteer-run. How should we encourage, support and recognize our volunteers in order to make our caucus something in which our members wish to actively participate? 

7.  What attracts you to the International Caucus? What would you like to see done differently? In what kind of programming would you like to participate in/ create/lead with the International Caucus? What is your vision for the future of the International Caucus?

8. Our agenda for our International Caucus meeting in Chicago will focus on this planning for the future of our caucus, but will also include information about our growing UN Program and a discussion about a possible panel about international projects at a future CAA/WCA Conference. Any other agenda items you would like to see us include in our two hours together?

Thank you in advance for your input! Welcome to our new members and, if you have not renewed your WCA membership for 2014, please do!