2017-08-07

Authors

Dee Boyle-Clapp
leads training programs in a variety of arts management topics for state arts agencies, teaches in Arts Extension Service arts management degree and certificate programs, and conducts Arts Extension Service research projects. Dee is a sculptor, installation artist and has over 25 years of experience in the arts. She holds bachelor's degrees in art and art history from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, an MFA in sculpture from UMass Amherst, and a Master's in Nonprofit Management from Regis University in Denver, Colorado.
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Making Sustainability in the Arts a Priority

I was in Scotland presenting at the Association of Arts Administration Educators conference with colleagues from two other countries on Sustainability and the Arts when Donald Trump pulled the US out of the Paris Climate Accords. The conference became a reminder that not only is it incumbent upon all of us to step up and save the planet. We have to lead. My online course "Greening Your Arts Nonprofit Organization" shows you how.
If we individually go green, our collective effort would be important, but if we green our arts institutions as well, our impact will be exponential. Many organizations are enormous consumers of a wide array of products, electricity, heating oil, water, and instigate a lot of patron transportation activity. Arts organizations are leaders in their communities, and they can lead by example and inspire individuals and other organizations to also do their part. Greening not only reduces the detrimental carbon load on the planet, but also frees dollars that could be spent on better pay for staff members, more scholarships, additional open hours, and additional green initiatives.

Internationally, many arts organizations are already doing their part to cut their carbon footprint. And for all those who are not, fortunately there are easy steps all organizations can take towards a sustainable future. But where does one get the information needed to trim your arts organizations carbon footprint?

At the AAAE conference, I presented how my online course Greening Your Arts Nonprofit Organization offers just that information. It is offered this fall and can be taken as part of the 100% online Certificate programs in Arts Management of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. In Greening, I teach my students how to:

  • Increase efficiencies that can reduce their arts organizations electric/heating bills by 50% or more.
  • Eliminate use of toxic chemicals.
  • Trim water use, or address runoff or water capture.
  • Engage and support a healthier staff, patrons, and community.
  • Create local alliances to support arts institutions.
  • Personally and collectively work to save our planet.
  • Save money, find money, and increase donor support.
In addition, students focus on areas unique to their institution, geography, budget, facility, as well as programmatic concerns (safe art supplies, cleaner concessions, proper gallery lights, etc.).

Click here to register for Greening Your Arts Nonprofit Organization: http://www.umass.edu/aes/course-overview/section/class/greening-your-nonprofit-arts-organization-41308

All information on the online Certificate programs in Arts Management can be found here: http://www.umass.edu/aes/degreescertificates/online-certificate
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