ORLANDO, Fla. – November 1, 2022 — United Arts of Central Florida announces the Diverse Leadership Pipeline to help diversify board leadership positions at local nonprofit arts and cultural organizations. This new program will connect individuals who may be a good match based on their interests and skill sets but also based on their diverse perspectives.
“This program is designed to help ensure the leadership of Central Florida’s arts and cultural community reflects our diverse population,” said Jennifer Evins, president, and CEO of United Arts. “Central Florida is one of the most diverse communities in the United States, and we feel like we are missing out on the leadership and perspectives of many skilled and passionate people who want to be engaged in our local arts, science and historical organizations. We hope this will be the beginning of an incredible connection for all of us.”
The vision of United Arts is to increase access to the arts for all people of Central Florida by 2025. To achieve this vision, United Arts has set strategic goals to be more intentional about diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility and this program is an important pathway.
“Central Florida is home to so many passionate professionals who have a wide array of skills and perspectives,” said Sheldon Dutes, United Arts board member. “Providing an opportunity for everyone to come together and use their talents to create greater access to local performances and museums will ensure our creative communities keep thriving for decades to come.”
At the core of arts and culture is diversity, but equity cannot be achieved without the inclusion of diverse people in the decision-making process at the board leadership level. The Diverse Leadership Pipeline is a direct response to a need brought to the attention of United Arts by local arts and cultural organizations.
“I’ve worked in the nonprofit sector for 20 years and it has always been a challenge to attract diverse board talent,” said Pamela Schwartz, executive director at the Orange County Regional History Center. “I’m happy United Arts heard the feedback from the arts community that we need help with board recruiting. This pipeline is incredibly important.”
For Central Florida residents who are interested in serving as a volunteer on the board of directors of a local arts and cultural nonprofit, the Diverse Leadership Pipeline offers the opportunity to self-nominate on one common form with the opportunity to designate the organization(s) where they wish to be considered for board service. United Arts will forward this information to the organizations of designated interest so they can consider your application for board leadership. The pipeline also includes profiles on the participating organizations so the unique board service expectations for time, talent, and resources are included.
If your nonprofit arts and/or cultural organization would like to be included, please reach out to Sean Thurman, Marketing & Communications Director at United Arts: Sean@UnitedArts.cc. For more information on the Diverse Leadership Pipeline and to self-nominate, please visit: https://www.unitedarts.cc/diverse-leadership-pipeline/
About United Arts of Central Florida
United Arts of Central Florida is the local arts agency uniting the community and fueling the arts. With the help of individual donors, corporations, foundations and public funding, United Arts inspires creativity, builds community and strengthens the economy in Central Florida. United Arts is proud to facilitate arts education programs for all ages and provide critical funding and comprehensive marketing for local art, science, and history organizations and individual artists. Leading the second largest collaborative fundraising campaign in the country and uniting over 30 of the region’s cornerstone arts and cultural organizations, United Arts is dedicated to ensuring the arts are for all.
For more information, visit http://www.UnitedArts.cc or call 407.628.0333.
