Interested in learning more about impact as it relates to artists? The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) is pleased to announce its free workshop offering in partnership with Spark Impact, an organization that works to build flexible, scalable, and replicable systems for both groups and individuals. 

This workshop will be taught by David Lavin, Director of Spark Impact, and will take place on Tuesday, April 13, 2021, from 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM EST. It will focus on “Communicate Impact for Individual Artists” and participants will come away with practical tools and tips to aid them in their practice as artists and creatives.

The workshops will be recorded and shared with all previously-registered participants after each session. The recording will be available for viewing up to one month after the scheduled date, but not available for download.

This workshop is now fully booked. Please click here to sign up for the waiting list to be informed of any cancellations.

Workshop Description:

Social impact is at the heart of what drives many artists to create art in the first place, but many don’t know how to communicate that impact, let alone evaluate it credibly. Especially for those working in public spaces, in education, or with institutional support, it can be incredibly valuable to learn to understand and effectively communicate the impact of your creative endeavors and can help build relationships with stakeholders–from community-members to benefactors.

We will discuss the basics of communicating about impact in the arts, introduce some common tools to understand your impact, show you how these tools can benefit you and your audience or community, and offer some tips on how to approach impact-focused communication to get your art more reach and support.

Audience: This workshop is geared toward individual artists. Whether you are an artist who wants to understand how best to frame your work within the overall benefits of the arts or a socially–engaged artist and want to learn how to measure the impact of your work, this workshop will offer you practical tools and insights into furthering your goals. During this workshop you will learn:

• About the benefits of having a clear (and credible) impact message and how to define it. Having a clear impact message can help you connect more deeply with the communities in which you make art, draw wider audiences/participants, get more favorable press and attract financial backers to your projects. Learn how.

• How to develop an impact-based communication strategy that meets the needs of those who are interested. From donors and government funders to community members, many people want to understand the impact that art can make on their community. Understanding their priorities can help you tell more compelling stories about and with your art.

• When you should consider impact-evaluation and why. Impact evaluation can help you access grants, fellowships, and partnership opportunities. Evaluation can be incredibly helpful for this and other reasons but isn’t necessary or appropriate for everyone. 

• How to contextualize your work within the broader benefits of the arts. Experiencing or participating in the arts has been shown to have myriad benefits. Even for art that is not explicitly activist, impact messaging can help you attract resources by helping funders, partners and audiences understand how it can serve their community.

Presenter: David Lavin, Director of Spark Impact

Date: Tuesday, April 13, 2021, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM EST*

Location: Zoom Webinar Platform

Program Fee: Free

Speaker Bio:

David Lavin, Founder and Director of Spark Impact 

For over 15 years, David has worked across sectors to develop social impact strategies, implement meaningful programs and create impact measurement systems for organizations in the U.S. and Latin America. He is particularly focused on economic inclusion and advancement, race and gender justice, education and the arts, and creating community around meaning and purpose. 

David has taught Social Impact Strategy, Measurement, and Evaluation at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). He holds a Master of International Affairs degree in Economic and Political Development from SIPA, received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, and studied composition and music education at Berklee College of Music. 

Also a musician, for many years David lived in Seattle, where he designed music education curriculum for youth, taught lessons, created teacher training and evaluation systems for arts organizations, founded a recording studio, and fronted a rock band.

Image: David Lavin, Founder and Director of Spark Impact Photo credit: Jody Christopherson