FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	  Contemporary Craft Announces Emerging Black Arts Leaders ProgramStrip District Arts Organization Committed to Increased Diversity in Museum Employment	  PITTSBURGH, PA – June 21, 2016 – In June 2015, the first comprehensive survey of diversityin American art museums was released by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in partnershipwith the Association of Art Museum Directors and the American Alliance of Museums. Thereport illustrated a troubling underrepresentation of people of color on museum staffs, with only4% of museum curators, conservators, and educators identifying as African-American. TheSociety for Contemporary Craft’s (SCC) new Emerging Black Arts Leaders program addressesthis staggering disparity by awarding a one-year apprenticeship, which pays a monthly stipend,to a talented emerging arts leader of color.
“We are committed to providing employment and mentoring opportunities for young individualsof color,” says SCC Executive Director Janet McCall. “By ensuring these emerging artsmanagers are prepared to successfully enter the leadership pipeline, we are ensuring a futurewhere the demographics of museum employees more closely match the vibrant diversity of oursociety as a whole.”The new position builds upon the organization’s demonstrated success in enhancing thedevelopment of future arts leader through a variety of scholarship and internship program aimedat the next generation of arts managers. Through on-the-job training in a professional artsorganization, the apprentice will gain the artistic and business skills required to succeed in thefield today. The program also provides mentoring from SCC staff and artists, professionaldevelopment, and networking opportunities within the regional arts community. In addition tohands-on experience in managing a contemporary art gallery program, the apprentice will learnto navigate the intricacies of a complex nonprofit environment, and assist with exhibitionopenings, artist lectures, visiting artist workshops, and fundraising events.
The Emerging Black Arts Leaders program evolved from two successful SCC models: the JudyG. Cheteyan Scholar program, which has provided a paid internship to an outstanding art or artsmanagement student every summer since its inception in 2002, and the Windgate FoundationStudio Apprenticeship launched in 2012 in SCC’s education department.
- more 	  EmergingBlack Arts Leaders, 2	  	  A complete job description for the Emerging Black Arts Leaders apprenticeship can be found onSCC’s website (www.contemporarycraft.org) under Opportunities - Internships. Preferredapplicants should identify as black, African-American, and/or of African diasporic origins anddemonstrate a commitment to pursuing a career in arts management. Applicants should berecent college graduates (having completed a BA or equivalent, within the last three years), butcandidates with alternative experience may be considered. To apply, candidates should submitan essay about how this opportunity will enhance his/her career path and submit at least twoprofessional recommendation letters that demonstrate their future promise as an arts leader.
Applications will be accepted through July 31, 2016. The final candidate will be notified byAugust 10, 2016 with the apprenticeship period starting September 1, 2016.
The Emerging Black Arts Leaders program is generously supported by the Opportunity Fund(www.theopportunityfund.org).

ABOUT CONTEMPORARY CRAFTPresenting contemporary art in craft media by regional, national, and international artists since1971, the Society for Contemporary Craft (SCC) offers cutting edge exhibitions focusing onmulticultural diversity and non-mainstream art, as well as a range of studio workshops,community outreach programs, and a retail store. Through its mission of engaging the public increative experiences through contemporary craft, SCC offers meaningful art opportunities formore than 145,000 people a year through four core values: providing vital support forartists; filling critical gaps in public education; sharing cross cultural perspectives; and using artto build community. SCC is located at 2100 Smallman Street in the Strip District of Pittsburgh,PA. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. The satellite gallery is locatedin the “T” station lobby of BNY Mellon Center in downtown Pittsburgh, and is open daily from6:00 am through midnight. Exhibitions and informal, hands-on art activities in the Drop-InStudio are always free to the public. For more information, visit www.contemporarycraft.org orcall 412.261.7003.
###Please contact Norah Guignon at nguignon@contemporarycraft.orgfor additional details