Lisa Bergh as the arts ambassador for SMAC's North region

SMAC Introduces new Arts Ambassador

Please help us welcome Lisa Bergh as SMAC’s new Arts Ambassador for our North region, which covers the counties of: Big Stone, Swift, Lac qui Parle, Chippewa, Kandiyohi, and Meeker!

SMAC Arts Ambassadors are a new initiative to build relationships, connections and networks with groups and communities that SMAC has not been successful in serving or reaching. The job includes priorities of creating connections with BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) and/or LGBTQIA2S+ artists and organizations, artists with disabilities and/or other groups or communities historically excluded in the region.

Lisa (pronouns she/her) has built a life and career invested in and devoted to the arts. Lisa values the communities she is involved in and understands the relationship between thriving artists and thriving communities. Her work as a visual artist, arts administrator, curator, rural arts advocate, and educator informs the processes that build arts programming from the ground up using the perspectives of audience, funder, and artist.

As an educator Lisa has taught in both community and academic settings, from preschool children to adults, meeting students where they are in the creative process. She currently serves as the art instructor for Ridgewater College in Hutchinson. Lisa served as the Executive Director for the Hutchinson Center for the Arts for 6 years building creative programs for both artists and the community. She is the co-founder of 2 grassroots community projects: ARThouse, and The Traveling Museum, focusing on connecting visual artists to new opportunities engaging communities. Lisa regularly serves on grant review panels for organization and civic entities including the State Arts Board, SMAC, Forecast Public Art, and Percent for Art Projects.

Lisa maintains a robust studio practice and exhibits regularly throughout the upper Midwest.

“I am thrilled to join the southwest Minnesota arts council team as an Arts Ambassador. I look forward to helping artists, organizations, and communities access tools to bring ideas to life.”

Lisa Bergh holds a BFA from the University of Arizona and an MFA from San José State University. She currently serves on the New London Spicer Educational Foundation Board and New London Human Rights Commission.

Learn more at www.lisabergh.com

JOB OPPORTUNITIES: SMAC Seeks Arts Ambassadors

SMAC is looking for TWO more ARTS AMBASSADORS! Two contract positions are now open for arts-engaged community members to serve 6 counties – one Central and one South – in the SMAC 18 county region.

The role of the SMAC ARTS AMBASSADOR will be to build relationships, connections and networks with groups and communities that SMAC has not been successful in serving or reaching. The job will include a priority of creating connections with BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) and/or LGBTQIA2S+ artists and organizations, as well artists with disabilities and/or other groups or communities historically excluded in the region. This outreach position will have flexible hours and schedule, and includes a monthly stipend + mileage reimbursement.

The Central position covers the counties of: Yellow Medicine, Renville, McLeod, Lincoln, Lyon, Redwood

The South position covers the counties of: Pipestone, Murray, Cottonwood, Rock, Nobles, Jackson

More details:

Independent contractor status with no work comp or benefits
Contract timeframe from October 1, 2021 – July 1, 2022; with 3-month and 6-month review
30-50 hours / month with reporting due by the end of each month (estimated $20/hour) Reported hours include travel time
Mileage reimbursement
Total budgeted/month = $1000 per position
Similar to SMAC Board members, Arts Ambassadors will not be eligible to apply for/receive individual SMAC grants during their contract term

If interested, please contact Nicole DeBoer, SMAC Executive Director: nicole@swmnarts.org