me arts ed

Strategic plan and executive director search

Augusta, ME, June 2012 –The Maine Alliance for Arts Education announces a new strategic focus for the organization.

Now in its 34^th year of serving the arts education community in Maine, the Maine Alliance for Arts Education (MAAE) has just completed an organizational assessment to determine how to best meet its mission to encourage and strengthen educational excellence in visual art, music, theater, and dance in all Maine schools and communities.

With the retirement of long-time Executive Director, Carol Trimble last December, the MAAE Board of Directors has used the transition time before hiring a replacement as an opportunity to assess the needs of the arts education community in Maine and MAAE’s core strengths as an organization. Going forward, MAAE will focus its strategic efforts in two key areas: Advocacy and Professional Development. MAAE acknowledges its many partners throughout Maine for providing invaluable assistance and support during this planning process.

Going forward, MAAE will work in collaboration with established and new partners and networks of educators, parents, arts organizations, communities, and supporters to advance arts education in Maine guided by these two priorities:

1.     Advocacy

Proactively influence arts education policy at the state and national level through monitoring and lobbying legislation that affects arts education, and, over time, developing and supporting advocacy strategies at the local level among schools, parents, community partners, arts organizations, and cultural institutions to sustain and improve arts education.

2.     Professional Development

Support arts educators, classroom teachers, school administrators, and parents to improve and promote arts education in all Maine schools by planning and implementing professional development activities through workshops, conferences, training, distribution of resource information, and other innovative programming.

In order to strengthen its statewide mission, the Board has also decided to phase out, over the next few months, two regional programs: Building Community Through the Arts in the greater Bangor and Penquis areas, under the leadership of Susan Potters, Education Director, and Learning (Arts) in Community (LINC) in Hancock County—as well as the Imagination Intensive Communities (IIC) program.

To meet its new goals MAAE is seeking a new Executive Director to lead the organization into the future. For more information about Maine Alliance for Arts Education or the search for a new Executive Director please visit our website www.maineartsed.org

Executive Director Job Description

Background

The Maine Alliance for Arts Education (MAAE) is a statewide organization affiliated nationally with Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network. Its mission is to encourage and strengthen educational excellence in visual art, music, theater, and dance in all Maine schools and communities.  In May 2012, the MAAE Board decided that the future work of the organization will focus on a statewide level through Advocacy and Professional Development.

Executive Director Position Description

MAAE is seeking an Executive Director to work with the Board of Directors to carry out its new strategic plan. Initially (the first three months at two days a week) the ED will focus primarily on fundraising for financial sustainability and basic organizational management. With the expectation of an expanded work schedule, the ED will then lead the organization in implementation of its two new priorities: Advocacy and Professional Development.

Job Responsibilities

Initial three-month period:

• Work with the Board to secure funding for MAAE, including but not limited to writing grants and pursuing public and private sector funding
• Manage the organization, including
  • Communicate with Board of Directors, Alliance members, staff, and the public
  • MAAE’s database, finances, and website

Qualifications

Position requires:

• Experience and demonstrated success in fundraising and grant writing
• Ability to work collaboratively with such partners as the Maine Department of Education, Maine Arts Commission, schools, parents, and community and professional arts organizations

Computer skills, including word-processing, database management, and

• spreadsheets for fiscal reporting
• Experience in using social media, electronic newsletters, etc. in innovative ways to connect with the public and arts education constituencies
• Understanding and ability to oversee fiscal responsibilities (monthly balance sheet reports, preparing annual budgets, and budget forecasting)
• Ability to work independently (office-in-home) on a regular schedule, with Executive Committee

The initial three month contract will be a two-day per week position, at the completion of which the Board expects to expand the ED position to a permanent, long term contract at three to four days per week. The position reports directly to the MAAE Board of Directors.

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, résumé, and two letters of recommendation to the following email address MAAEDIRSEARCH@roadrunner.com by June 30, 2012. The position will remain open until filled.