JumpstART is a new online resource and reference guide for arts administrators, community arts organizers and all arts organizations. Consider JumpstART your starting point for maintaining a healthy infrastructure for your organization.
JumpstART will tell you how to:
- Conduct a Basic Community Arts and Cultural Inventory
- Develop a Community Arts Council
- Develop Bylaws for an Arts Council or Arts Organization
- Build A Firm Foundation: The Non-profit Board of Directors
- Develop Partnerships
- Create A Crisis Communications Plan
- Learn about Grants and Grants Etiquette 101
- Use Financial Management Checklists
For emerging arts organizations: JumpstART outlines the basics of starting a community arts council and strategies for community arts development.
For emerging and established arts organizations: JumpstART is designed to provide accessible information on issues and topics particularly relevant to arts management. Additional resources are listed for more in-depth information. This guide can be used along with organization development services provided by Oklahoma Arts Council’s Cultural Development Office.
How to use JumpstART
- Print information on specific topics of interest.
- Compile printed topics to form a resource book for board members and/or staff.
- Share topics with co-workers and peers.
- Check back for new topics to be added to JumpstART.
Chapter 1
How to Conduct a Basic Community Arts and Cultural Inventory
- Convene Community Citizenry
- Identify Arts and Cultural Assets
- Assign Benefit to Community
- Document and Publicize Results
- Examples of Community Arts and Cultural Resources
Chapter 2
How to Develop a Community Arts Council
- The Role of a Community Arts Council
- The Local Arts Council Structure
- Function of the Board of Directors
- Operating and Program Funds
- Lay the Foundation: Conduct a Community Arts and Cultural Assessment
- The Next Step: Build the Organization
Chapter 3
Developing Bylaws for an Arts Council or Arts Organization
- Purpose of Bylaws
- Why Bylaws are Important
- Setting Policies: Bylaws Articles
- Approval and Adoption of Bylaws
Chapter 4
A Firm Foundation: The Non-profit Board of Directors
- Support the Organization’s Mission
- Ensure Financial Stability
- Ensure Accountability
- Ensure Efficiency and Effective Organization Operation
- Uphold Ethical Standards of Conduct and Operation
- Open Meetings and Open Records Acts
- Maintain a Positive Image of the Organization
- Develop and Implement a Strategic Plan
- Board Development
- Programming
- Staff
- Compliance with IRS
Chapter 5
Partnerships
- Ingredients for a Successful Partnership
- Benefits of Effective Partnerships
- The Downside of a Dysfunctional Partnership
- Why Partnerships Fail
- Warning Signs of a Failing Partnership
- The Ineffective Partnership: Repair of Withdraw?
Chapter 6
Crisis Communications Planning
- Do You Really Need A Crisis Communication Plan?
- Before the Crisis
- During a Crisis
- After the Crisis
- Advice for the Spokesperson
- How to Make a Crisis Worse
Chapter 7
Grants and Grants Etiquette 101
- Early in the Process
- Take Time to Prepare
- Submitting Your Application
- Communicating with the Funding Organization’s
Grant Staff
Chapter 8
Financial Management Checklists
- Organizations with Budgets Greater than $25,000.
- Organizations
with Budgets Less than $25,000
Chapter 9
Resources
- Oklahoma Arts Council’s On-Site Facilitation Services
- Organizations
- Publications
- E-zines

