Neo-Indie Arts Festival

Re-Named, Re-Vamped

2009-10-08T05:35:00.000-07:00

The Neo-Indie Arts Festival has been re-named to the Greater Washington Indie Arts Festival. The new website will appear at www.dcindieartsfest.org later this fall. Thanks for your interest!

Greater Washington Indie Arts Festival Board of Trustees and Employee Requirements

2009-09-12T19:31:00.001-07:00

Hey, everyone! Many of you have expressed interest in contributing to the Greater Washington Indie Arts Festival in one way or another, whether as a Board of Trustee, an employee, or volunteer. Now let me go into a few of the specifics. After you have read this message thoroughly and asked any necessary questions, please send me a message (either via Facebook or to stoddard.christine@gmail.com) stating your name, mailing address, phone number, and whether you would like to be a Board of Trustee, employee, or volunteer. Regardless of which position you choose, you'll be helping out artists from the Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Richmond areas and have something to add to your resume in the process.

First, I'll begin by clarifying the difference between each of the three positions. A Board of Trustee essentially serves as an advisor and decision-maker. S/he suggests what steps the President (me) should take in order to organize and successfully host the festival. This means responding to online surveys I create, participating in online discussion boards or chats, answering event-related emails I send out, and attending in-person meetings and fundraisers when possible. It is not essential that every Board of Trustee and employee respond to every survey, for example, but their participation is always greatly appreciated. (They should be responding at least to surveys/questionnaires at least 75% of the time.) The Board of Trustee is also a diplomat. S/he goes out into the community to speak about the festival, writes articles about it for local newspapers and blogs, and does whatever else s/he can do to best represent the festival. Overall, his/her job is to encourage artists to register for the event and local patrons of the arts to make donations. Each member will be compensated $100-$500 depending a year depending upon his/her level of commitment in terms of responding to online questions/messages, coming to in-person meetings/fundraisers, promoting the event, etc. Payment is deferred. If you are interested in a career in the non-profit sector, an excellent way to begin is as a Board of Trustee member. You will undoubtedly learn a lot about the D.C. arts scene.

An employee has a regular position within the festival. Current positions include artist recruiter, accountant, web designer, and PR/marketing representative. If you are willing to do this on a low-pay ($100 to $500 a year) or volunteer basis, that is preferable. Salaries are negotiable, but, please keep in mind that payment is deferred until the Greater Washington Indie Arts Festival gets on its feet (anticipated within 1 year for a $15,000 salary, 2 years for a $20,000-$25,000 salary). Both you and I will keep careful track of your efforts, tasks, and hours until then. This is a wonderful way to begin a career in the non-profit sector, especially if you are interested in running a non-profit of your own one day and want to learn about management. It's also a good way to learn about the local media and the D.C. arts scene.

Volunteers do whatever they can whenever they can, but have a much more casual commitment--anywhere from one hour a year to 150+ hours a year. I will contact volunteers for random festival-related tasks: staffing fundraisers, selling T-shirts, setting up for the festival, etc. You dedicate yourself on a case-by-case basis. This is the best option for people with limited Internet access and/or limited spare time. This is not the best option for really exposing yourself to the behind-the-scenes work of organizing the festival and meeting artists from all over the area on a regular basis.

The primary form of communication between the President, Vice President, the Board of Trustees, and other employees will be via email and the Facebook Greater Indie Arts Festival Facebook group. All members of the Greater Washington Indie Arts Festival are asked to check their email everyday or as often as possible. Volunteers are asked to be polite and respond to phone calls or emails, but, again, they may choose to withdraw their services at any time. In the event that the President calls a fundraiser, at least three Board of Trustees must be present. The rest of the help will come in the form of other available Trustee members, employees, and volunteers. Possible fundraising events may include (but would not be limited to) bake sales, car washes, raffles, and benefit dinners. All fundraisers would take place in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C.-Richmond area.

Please let me know if you have questions! I hope to hear from you soon.

Name Change

2009-06-22T16:07:00.000-07:00

The Neo-Indie Arts Festival has been re-named to The Greater Washington Indie Arts Festival. Plans for the 2010 festival are currently in the works. Please check out our Facebook group, 2010 Greater Indie Arts Festival, and be sure to join it. We need as MUCH help as possible and appreciate all of your suggestions.

Photos

2009-06-18T16:01:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Patrick O'Connor, we have photos from the 2009 Neo-Indie Arts Festival. Check them out here.

TODAY: 2009 NIAF

2009-06-13T07:50:00.001-07:00

The 2009 Neo-Indie Arts Festival is today, June 13! WANNA SHOWCASE YOUR TALENT? Show up at TJ Community Center (3501 2nd St. S., Arlington, VA) @ 5 p.m. to register for free. WANNA VOLUNTEER? Show up at TJ Community Center (3501 2nd St. S., Arlington, VA) @ 4:30 p.m. We appreciate it! WANNA CHECK IT OUT? Show up at TJ Community Center (3501 2nd St. S., Arlington, VA) b/w 6:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Free admission. Film*Theatre*Music*Photography*Visual Art*Poetry*More Questions? Email Christine Stoddard at stoddard.christine@gmail.com http://neoindieartsfestival.blogspot.com

CALL FOR ARTISTS...yeah, you.

2009-06-10T06:03:00.000-07:00

Are you an actor, filmmaker, poet, storyteller, painter, sculptor, dancer, or artist of any literary/visual/performance kind? If so, the 2009 Neo-Indie Arts Festival wants you to showcase your talent on June 13! Simply show up at Thomas Jefferson Community Center (3501 2nd St. S., Arlington, VA) at 5 p.m. to sign in and set up. There is NO fee to enter, so practice your monologues, touch up your collages, tune your guitars, and revise that latest short story. We will have display walls, a stage, a performance floor, a movie screen, and tables. The event will be free and open to the public from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., June 13, so invite all of your art-loving friends and family! If you have any questions, visit our website (http://neoindieartsfestival.blogspot.com) or send an email to founder and coordinator Christine Stoddard (stoddard.christine@gmail.com).

Art lovers, meet your community service requirements!

2009-06-08T14:58:00.001-07:00

If you love music, theatre, film, poetry, painting, and other forms of literary/performing/visual arts, then come help set up and manage the 2009 Neo-Indie Arts Festival on June 13 in Arlington, VA. We need people to help set up tables and chairs, direct artists, put up the stage, stand watch of art, clean up and more! Earn community service hours for National Honors Society, youth group, high school graduation requirements, or any other need. Simply show up at Thomas Jefferson Community Center (3501 2nd St. S., Arlington, VA) at 4:30 p.m. on June 13. Bring any papers you need signed to get volunteer credit. This is not a paid gig, but it is a good opportunity to support a creative, non-profit cause. Thanks so much for your interest and hope to see you there!

Internship with 2010 Neo-Indie Arts Festival

2009-06-08T14:51:00.001-07:00

Are you a young artist (high school, college, or recent college grad) seeking professional experience in your field? Perhaps you have internship requirements for your major, need to amp your resume, and/or want to network in the D.C. art world to learn more about local galleries, publications, and creative organizations. If so, you might be the perfect candidate for the 2010 Neo-Indie Arts Festival internship program (http://neoindieartsfestival.blogspot.com. Responsibilities would include writing ads, designing posters, contacting local artists, talking to local businesses, updating the NIAF blog, working the day of the actual festival, and producing your own artwork to exhibit in the festival. What would you get in return? Exposure at the 2010 Neo-Indie Arts Festival, your biography/artwork/picture featured on the NIAF blog, your name mentioned in all NIAF acknowledgments, the opportunity to accept a full-time job once the Neo-Indie Arts Festival gains official non-profit status, and more. You must live in the Washington, D.C. or Richmond, VA metropolitan areas in order to participate in this internship. Hours are flexible and will vary according to how quickly and thoroughly you complete assigned tasks. If this interests you, please contact founder and coordinator, Christine Stoddard (www.christinestoddard), by sending her an email, a copy of your resume, and samples of your artwork [visual/literary/performing] (links or attachments). There will be a phone and an in-person interview.

We are still recruiting artists!

2009-05-28T04:03:00.001-07:00

We still need artists of all kinds---poets, musicians, storytellers, painters, jewelry makers, sculptors, actors, etc.---for the 2009 Neo-Indie Arts Festival!

Interested in showcasing your creativity?

2009-05-19T04:44:00.000-07:00

If you would like to showcase your visual, performing, or literary talent, or sell your artwork, you can either send an email to stoddard.christine@gmail.com with your NAME, PHONE NUMBER, EMAIL ADDRESS, TYPE OF ARTWORK, WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE SELLING, LENGTH OF YOUR PERFORMANCE (IF YOU ARE PERFORMING) or fill out this online form:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=lVZmj1J7YYmjKZ94XUu47w_3d_3d

Please Support the Neo-Indie Arts Festival

2009-05-18T17:21:00.000-07:00

The Neo-Indie Arts Festival is a totally non-profit, youth-friendly alternative arts festival. From independent film to slam poetry to comedic skits to live music to paintings to photography to dance and more, NIAF celebrates all forms of visual, performing, and literary independent arts. It is the only event of its kind in the Washington, D.C. area. Currently, the event is in its second year. Please support NIAF by making a contribution today. Donations of all sizes are appreciated and will be used to cover the costs of this year's event, as well as future festivals. Thanks so much and peace.

2009 Neo-Indie Arts Festival

2009-05-18T13:49:00.000-07:00