Special Event: Craigslist Foundation this Saturday

[indyarts at lists.artsandmedia.net]

Dear Friends ... Independent Arts & Media would like to let you know about an event known as the Craigslist Foundation Nonprofit Boot Camp.

It happens THIS SATURDAY, August 18, at UC Berkeley. You will have to throw down some change to get in, but, for anyone interested in exploring and extending the possibilities of cultural work that's focused on mission and issues rather than pure profit, this event is for you: 

     CRAIGSLIST FOUNDATION NONPROFIT BOOT CAMP 
     August 18, 2007, 8:30am-6:30pm, UC Berkeley
     http://www.craigslistfoundation.org/eflyer07/EFLYER.htm


We at Indy Arts have long held that the nonprofit option provides intriguing opportunity for socially minded DIY folks to channel their creative energy into meaningful projects that benefit the community at large.

There are advantages and drawbacks to going the nonprofit route. Although doing so keeps a venture focused on charitable purposes, sometimes nonprofits can move beyond being well-managed charitable enterprises, and morph into "corporatized" entities with topheavy, hierarchical methodologies that are not always beneficial for certain sorts of grassroots/community-level media and culture programs. 

And then there's the flip side -- running a nonprofit that's primarily driven by volunteers. Finding, motivating, coordinating and retaining that volunteer energy is enormously difficult -- but when it works, the benefits can be literally transformative for your project. 

These issues need to be investigated -- and solutions can be developed within the nonprofit arena itself.

You will find few venues for this inquiry better than the Craigslist Foundation boot camp. The collective knowledge-base of the attendees and presenters is remarkable. 

Here are the details. Do check them out:

     CRAIGSLIST FOUNDATION NONPROFIT BOOT CAMP 
     August 18, 2007, 8:30am-6:30pm, UC Berkeley
     http://www.craigslistfoundation.org/eflyer07/EFLYER.htm


Best wishes, 

The Indy Arts Crew

p.s. We will be providing you with an update on all our programming in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!!