The Women Artists' Forum encourages women artists by providing an accepting and inclusive community in which they share their skills, knowledge, and enthusiasm about art.

History

The Women Artists' Forum originated in 1997 when two Baltimore artists, Marge Feldman and Frances Aubrey, envisioned making art in an environment of support and encouragement, rather than in the isolation typical of most artists’ work. They quickly discovered other women who felt the same.

Members find WAF motivates them to refocus on their art, gives them courage to work toward more ambitious goals, and supports them in new endeavors whether taking leadership roles, marketing their work, or redirecting their creative efforts.

WAF is open to any artist who believes she can benefit from membership. The only requirement is that she is serious about her art.

About Our Organization

Currently the Women Artists’ Forum has 80 members with a colorful array of ages, artistic styles, and media. This diversity provides opportunities to share new techniques, sources of inspiration, and concepts. Friendships and exchange of support and information happen naturally when members are active in the group.

Since the group’s inception, decisions have been made by consensus. Member volunteers coordinate all WAF activities within a flexible structure (Guidelines, 2003), which stimulates group-activated solutions and relies on a free flow of ideas. To keep in touch with members’ expectations and priorities, comprehensive surveys guide coordinators in planning.

Monthly newsletters, group e-mail announcements, and this interactive website keep members up-to-date. Members of Women Artists’ Forum meet monthly for engaging presentations, often at a local church or school or, depending on the nature of the presentation, at members’ homes and studios, museums, a fine print workshop, or a digital imaging business.

Presenters include gallery owners and curators, local and not-so-local professional artists, art career development specialists, workshop leaders, art historians, and WAF members, many of whom have unique skills and approaches. Topics have ranged from Getting Your Work into a Gallery, Nontoxic Media, and Making Your Own Frames to Women Artists of the Twentieth Century, Motivating Art Through Yoga, and Art Therapy.

Frequently, materials are provided for members to experiment on their own. In a recent workshop on Beaded Prayers, inspired by a concurrent exhibit at the Baltimore Museum of Art, each participant designed and made her own beaded fabric amulet after a demonstration and slide presentation by the workshop leader.

WAF sponsors small critique groups that meet regularly. In these groups, members discuss the direction, content, impact, and skills employed in their own work and that of others.

WAF provides regular venues for exhibiting members’ work. Juried and screened group exhibitions have been held at Baltimore City Hall, the Boston Properties building, the Gallery Unicorn at the Towson Unitarian Universalist Church, the Resurgam Gallery, the Columbia Art Center, and the Hoffberger Gallery at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, among others. Currently, members’ solo or small group exhibitions are scheduled on a continuing, rotating basis at a local restaurant. Often, members partner with each other to exhibit in galleries or alternative spaces.

Women Artists' Forum Guidelines

ARTICLE 1 - NAME AND LOCATION
The name of the organization is Women Artists’ Forum (WAF). WAF is based in the Baltimore, Maryland, area.

ARTICLE 2 - MISSION STATEMENT
The purpose of the Women Artists’ Forum is to nurture and encourage women artists by providing an accepting and inclusive community in which they share their skills, knowledge and enthusiasm about art.

ARTICLE 3 - MEMBERSHIP

1. Membership is open to women only.
2. Active members are those who have paid their annual membership dues.
3. Only active members are entitled to participate in WAF activities such as decision-making, critique groups, exhibits, website listing, etc.
4. Newsletter subscribers are not active members.
5. Women who are not members may attend two (2) general membership and /or critique group meetings as a guest. Attendance at a third meeting requires active member status.

ARTICLE 4 - DUES

1. The amount of annual dues is proposed by the executive committee and approved by mutual agreement of the membership.
2. Dues are payable annually in the month of September. Members who join between Jan 1 and March 31 will pay an amount reduced by 1/4. Those who join between April 1 and June 30 will pay 1/2 the annual dues.
3. Dues must be paid by September 30. Dues not paid by October 31 will cause the membership to become inactive.

ARTICLE 5 - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

1. The executive committee consists of President or Co-Presidents, Vice-President, Recorder, Treasurer, Program Coordinator, Exhibition Coordinator and General Publicity Coordinator.
2. Executive committee meetings are held at least six (6) times a year and are open to all members of WAF. All members who attend have an equal opportunity to contribute to discussions and decisions.
3. Decisions are made by mutual agreement of all members in attendance, not by majority vote.
4. Any three (3) members of WAF may call a special meeting of the executive committee.
5. The executive committee may establish or modify positions or ad hoc committees in order to accomplish any purpose that is in the best interest of WAF.
6. A quorum of five executive committee members is required in order to make decisions.

ARTICLE 6 - SELECTION OF COORDINATORS

1. Every even-numbered year, a slate of nominees is assembled by a nominating committee and presented to the membership at the March general membership meeting. The nominating committee, assembled and headed by the outgoing President(s), consists of two members of the executive committee and two members-at-large. If unable to recruit a nominating committee, the slate will be assembled by the executive committee.
2. The slate and a ballot are presented in the April newsletter, and the slate is announced at the April general membership meeting. At this time, additional nominations are accepted from any member. When the slate is thus completed, a vote is held to approve the slate.
3. At the May general membership meeting, the new leaders are elected by ballot. Absentee ballots must be mailed in and received by the date of the May meeting.
4. Responsibilities of all incoming leaders commence at the end of the June meeting. June, July, and August are a transition period during which outgoing leaders assist new leaders as needed.

ARTICLE 7 – COORDINATORS’ DUTIES
Note: Any coordinator may recruit members for a committee to assist with her duties. Positions in addition to those listed here may be added as the current coordinators’ see fit.

Members of the Executive Committee:

1. President(s) - Sets agendas for and leads executive committee meetings and general membership meetings. Keeps an overall perspective on the current needs and issues of the Women Artists’ Forum. Delegates responsibilities as needed. Maintains ongoing communication with other leaders to keep the organization running smoothly. Send art-related information to the membership via e-mail.
2. Vice President - Aids president and oversees critique groups.
3. Recorder - Takes minutes at all general and executive committee meetings. Sends typed minutes to executive committee members and Newsletter Editor.
4. Treasurer - Receives and deposits all income in WAF checking account. Presents monthly treasurer’s reports and annual budget to executive committee. Presents annual report to the membership in the newsletter and opens the budget to discussion at a general membership meeting. Monitors and advises leaders regarding budgeted allocations. Disburses funds for WAF expenditures.
5. Program Coordinator - Presents list of proposed programs to the executive committee. Clears dates with President(s). Supplies monthly article on upcoming program to Newsletter Editor. Greets and introduces presenter(s) at general meetings. Writes thank-you notes to presenters.
6. Exhibition Coordinator - Recruits a committee to run all aspects of exhibits, including creating a budget, keeping members informed, having invitations designed and distributed, facilitating jurying or screening, billing exhibiting members, overseeing reception, and informing Publicity Coordinator.
7. Publicity Coordinator - Expands public awareness of WAF by serving as a liaison between WAF, the media, and the rest of the art community. Responsible for brochures. Creates and distributes press kits. Places and maintains display containers of WAF brochures. In charge of WAF’s mailing list and the improvement and expansion of this list.
8. Membership Coordinator - Maintains membership list. Responsible for the reminder to membership of September renewal. Follows up in October to collect dues from those members who have not paid. Mails welcome packets to new members to encourage participation of new members in WAF activities. Greets members at general meetings and supplies nametags. Responds to requests for information from prospective members. Coordinates a “Getting to Know You” party when she and the executive committee think it is necessary.
9. Venue Coordinator - Finds venues for WAF exhibitions. Maintains slide registry. Presents all contracts with venues to the executive committee for approval before signing.
10. Newsletter Editor - Establishes monthly newsletter deadline. Collects information. Writes and edits material for publication. Arrival of newsletter follows executive committee meeting and predates general meeting by 7-11 days.
11. Web Mistress - Maintains WAF website. Redesigns site as needed. Updates information about WAF events, exhibits, and general meetings monthly. Maintains separate sections of the website for members’ art and for members’ exhibitions.
12. Education and Information Coordinator - Maintains and makes available WAF’s collection of art-related information.
13. Newsletter Copier and Distributor - Obtains original of monthly newsletter from Newsletter Editor. Copies newsletter, buys postage, obtains mailing labels and assembles mailing. Mails newsletter in time to be received by membership 7-11 days before general meeting.
14. Historian - Collects, catalogs, files and stores all paraphernalia relevant to each exhibit. She does the same for newsletters and other documents of WAF history such as photos, letters, news clippings, releases and other publicity pieces and contracts.
15. Hospitality Coordinator - Keeps paper goods and buys a snack, drinks and ice for each general meeting and sets up food table. If she is unavailable, she recruits another member.
16. Social Correspondent - Sends cards and/or flowers on behalf of WAF at the request of the President(s).

ARTICLE 8 - FINANCES

1. All money paid to WAF is placed in a general operating fund.
2. All funds are kept in a WAF checking account maintained by the Treasurer.
3.   Moneys unused are carried over to the next year’s budget.
4. The WAF fiscal year is August 1st to July 31st.
5. Prior to September lst, the WAF executive committee compiles a budget of estimated expenses for the coming year. The Treasurer notifies each coordinator of the budget for her area of responsibility.
6. Any expenditure not budgeted requires approval by the following -
   • 0 - $100 - Treasurer and President(s).
   • Over $100 - Treasurer, President, and another executive committee member.
   • Over $300 - All members at an executive committee meeting.
   • Over $500 - All members at a general meeting.
7. Treasurer presents a written report to the executive committee once a year, on or about August 1st.

ARTICLE 9 - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE VACANCY

It is the responsibility of the President(s) to fill a permanent or temporary vacancy on the commitee.

ARTICLE 10 - DISBANDING

1. A decision to disband WAF must be made by majority vote of the general membership.
2. All monetary assets will be donated to the National Museum of Women in the Arts or a similarly directed organization in the Baltimore area.
3. All physical assets will be donated to Baltimore City Public Schools.

ARTICLE 11 - GUIDELINES
These guidelines may be revised at any time by majority vote of the general membership.