board management

NOTES – ACCA Meeting – 6 May 2020 – COVID-19 Check-in

Attendees

Janis B., Erica B., Lucy W., Lindy S., Leslie T., Victoria S., Jane N., Roger G., Cate P.

Brief go round for introductions.

Agenda:

1. Report on Actions by ACCA
2. Supporting the sector – CCA application
3. Supporting each other – discussion

Theme: How can ACCA members help in the recovery? What would be helpful for recovery in the medium and long term? How Can ACCA work with funders and ASOs in supporting the arts in Canada?

1. Actions taken:

VS: These meetings, Mass Culture panel, other panels, CCA sign-up and lately lots of work on the application. Also individual member CCA sign-up, participation in the LEAN initiative, Jane Marsland discussion, SB Business and the Arts interview – discussed 3 phases (Youtube video Business and the Arts) isolation will last for still some time for the arts. SB stressed collaboration and coming together.

VS: ACCA member consultants are well placed to Listen, Learn, Reflect, Share. CCA and arts community concerned about vulnerable orgs. – the more at risk. ACCA has developed customized team consulting idea. CCA wants us to collaborate with ASO’s – made link to CHRC. (Pan-Can, multidisc.). CHRC said yes and are on board. Other ASOs may be involved down the line. Having conversations about how the next steps will develop.

VS: Proposal – team consulting to 25 to 50 orgs + blogs and PD workshops/webinars/etc. for orgs are at risk, small budget. CHRC will manage the selection process. Timeline this fall to end of January 2021.

JN – Openings in January? Vaccine issue. Digital is being put forward – with push-back from the community. Seems like Ivory Tower making decisions about how this rolls out. Need to make aware.

1. – will gather pertinent info through this – and be able to formulate solutions and respond.
2. – Concern – politicians will talk to the guy they know – may not understand the spectrum of issues. 75% of audiences will stay home. Doesn’t work for large scale performance. Working with Janet Sellery on safety. Some will do better (small). Mirvish – announced opening in January – optimistic.
3. – Scenario planning – some say 70% capacity. Smaller venues could take advantage. Need someone to standardize protocols for theatre openings.
4. Jurisdictional differences – CITT – JS update.

LT – Example of theatre commandeered by local authority. Suggest JS on a panel.

VS – Panel on safety. Yes.

CP – now to July – what challenges – there may be some positive: as we gather information, and using it to evaluate the need and adapt the offer we make to the arts groups. Keep it organic and share the learnings.

RG – Could run it to March and report mid-way.

VS – report but share as we go.

1. – look to future model – new models – was in the language put forward by CCA. Arts orgs may fail a lot in the fall.

JB – operating close to precarity. 3 months max cash. – this is 6 months to two years.

1. – the notion of not-for-profit needs to change.

JB – need to band together with other National service organizations CITT for example.

1. What other areas should we reach out to? Could add value to what we offer. Health / safety? Need to build partnerships and collaboration.

VS – not duplicate. Need to offer what isn’t already out there.

1. – Offering consulting for free is a slippery slope. Q – what is the Programming Committee supposed to be doing – what audience are we aiming for?

LW – skills development and topics of interest of our clients.

VS – Note any programming will be In kind support to the project  – prior to grant result

1. – Particular niche for ACCA – Governance issues – support from Boards at this time is different – ACCA could communicate with Board chairs, offer guidance and support – especially if organization can no longer operate as before. How do they run an organization on bare bones, or a legacy wrap up, merger – etc. Second: demand redistribution: there will be whole swaths of demand that will be gone. Need some learning and research. Also key in the future Social cohesion aspect.

LW – Arts Firm work on COVID 19 – will share discussion paper.

VS – presence of Board members in our project. Always a staff and board person – need both for any substantial change.

CP – Yes – system change – relation to Board governance.

LS – A lot of governance issues in this. Also have questions about CAPACOA consultants.

1. – Expecting feedback from them

LW – Another meeting in two weeks?

All agreed.

Close of meeting.

COVID Check-in #4 2020.05.06