SPACE is seeking collaborative and thoughtful individuals who are eager to serve our cultural region and shape the future of our field through specialized volunteer service work as part of SPACE. Join us in amplifying and advocating for Portland’s longest-running independent contemporary arts center. Our organization and its constituents value experimentation and equity.
Extended deadline for nomination is Thursday, April 29th at 11:59pm. “Office Hours” with our staff as a drop in information/question session will be on Tuesday, April 27th from Noon-1pm.
Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89645569815
This is the first time SPACE has invited open nominations from the general public; our internal committee will review all eligible candidates who self-nominate in addition to those internally nominated by current staff and board, or currently serving on committees.
In 2021-2022 we seek to fill the following open positions:
- 5 Board Members-at-large, each willing to step up to chair a Board Committee or take a leadership position on the Board at some point during their three year term. Each board member can have a maximum of three terms.
- New Board Committee members- Volunteers who are willing to sit on a specialized committee that may meet on a monthly, quarterly, or ad-hoc basis and more directly assist and consult with SPACE’s staff in operations of the organization. Board committees include Human Resources, Communications, Finance, Development (Membership/Fundraising), Fundraiser Party, Governance, Building, Executive, and our forthcoming Capital Campaign and 20th Anniversary Committee.
- Additional community volunteers with specific skills that align with the priorities below, who are willing to advise staff.
SPACE’s recruitment priorities in 2021 for nominees are one or more of the following:
- Legal experience (land/property use, nonprofit, organizational/business governance, employment law)
- Leadership or Executive Experience
- Development/Fundraising experience, contacts, thank you/stewardship volunteerism
- Locally at member level
- At endowment and/or capital campaign level
- With national arts and philanthropic foundational relationships
- Organizational or business finance experience
- Event, auction, or fundraiser coordination/execution experience
- Contemporary local/national/international art and cultural expertise
- Building renovation and maintenance experience
- Event influencers and those highly engaged in cultural goings on
Board Prospect Criteria
- Diversity across age, race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, gender, sexual orientation, languages spoken, ability, and cultural expertise
- Demonstrates values in alignment with SPACE mission and values
Board Nomination Expectations
- We seek board members who are aligned with our recruitment priorities above, organizational values, and strategic goals towards our 20th Anniversary. Our 2022 Anniversary will include a special season of programming, a building revitalization campaign, and a renewed effort for organizational stability for SPACE’s third decade in downtown Portland.
- We seek board members who bring one or more of the 3 T’s: Time, Talent, and/or Treasure (personal, in-kind, or foundational giving). Future nominees will provide a perspective that broadens our ability as a board to be stewards of SPACE. From a financial perspective, we expect all board members to prioritize SPACE in their giving or volunteerism/advocacy for fundraising.
- We hold an expectation for board members to ultimately hold board officer, executive committee, or committee chair roles.
- We seek board members who exhibit positive working styles (e.g. respectful of others, thoughtful, inquisitive, innovative, work with integrity, and value equity).
- We seek board members who will be advocates, champions, patrons, representatives, and active networkers for the organization as well as our staff and artists.
- We invite all board members to approach the board work and organization with a spirit of curiosity as we bring SPACE into the future.
- We expect board members to attend most if not all meetings annually and offsite strategy sessions, fundraisers, and house parties.
- Board meetings occur 10 times a year (currently on Wednesday evenings at 5:30pm). Committees meet monthly, quarterly, or on an ad-hoc basis depending on their committee needs as determined internally by the committee. Board members are expected to serve on or chair a committee as part of their work.
Committee work is a great way to try out board work with a lower time and workload commitment, and can be an introduction to future board consideration. As we approach SPACE’s 20th anniversary in the year ahead, we believe this is an especially exciting time to join us in strengthening our organization to support Portland’s art and culture, statewide artists through our grant making initiatives, and the many innovative national artistic voices we invite to our home in downtown Portland.
Thank you for your potential interest or sharing this with members of the community who can help strengthen SPACE for the betterment of the audiences, artists, and staff we work with. The Interest Form can be found here. Please share your interest with us before Thursday, April 29th at 11:59pm.