os member guide

Welcome to OPENSOURCE! It is our ambition as a group to help those interested in becoming an active member at OPENSOURCE feel as though the process in which things operate is as transparent as possible. What you are reading is nearly identitcal to our Not-for-Profit Narrative Business Statement and outlines a Statement of Purpose, a Need and General Philosophy, and an explaination of our Administration practice.

Please note that these are not a set of rules, but rather principles we like to share, and are always open to redesign.

1. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE OPENSOURCE Art is an alternative art space accommodating a variety of non-traditional, community-oriented art projects and events within Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. Using our current location as a home base, we intend to host and support a diversity of projects: artists' workshops and lectures; short-term art exhibitions and events by local, regional, and national artists; and arts-based community outreach activities. We intend to initiate and support local, national, and international projects, whether independent artists or students and faculty from the local schools.

2. NEED AND GENERAL PHILOSOPHY

3. ADMINISTRATION

Access to space for the presentation of art is limited and highly confined to institutions dependent upon conventional modes of operation and large financial restrictions. The need for a space for presenting art in which relationships between artist, facilitators and audiences can be established without monetary exchange is crucial to finding alternative ways of understanding art and its varied meanings.

OPENSOURCE’s administrative practice has, until now, been straightforward. A group of active members—i.e., those who choose to volunteer their time to help maintain and facilitate the purposes set forth by the founders of OPENSOURCE—communicate in person on a bi-weekly basis to discuss upcoming events, financial concerns, and any issues related to the rental or maintenance of the OPENSOURCE space. Our meeting time is divided in two hourlong periods; the first dedicated to an administrative agenda, the second to philosophical, creative, and critical discussion of OPENSOURCE activities and concerns. This second hour also functions as open, publicly advertised, meeting where anybody may approach OPENSOURCE with a proposal to use the space or participate inour ongoing activities. As members we share responsibilities and agree to communicate as effectively as possible about our commitments and abilities. This process works to distribute duty as evenly as possible. Between meetings, OPENSOURCE members communicate in person or via email. As a group we try to limit serious discussion of activities until a rough proposal is presented. This logic follows practical concerns of being productive volunteers and insures clarity between that which is proposed and those whom evaluate its realization. Our decisions operate on a simple majority rule and are always open to debate.

With this in mind, OPENSOURCE Art exists in order to create the possibility that art might be defined by those whom it impacts and by those who are rarely given a voice in conventional museums and commercial gallery spaces. Originally started as a public space for the display of any and all art projects, OPENSOURCE initiates its programs through open calls to the general public, inviting them to use the space. OPENSOURCE takes proposals and submissions from anyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or age, and without prejudicial reference to a person's past experience with OPENSOURCE or the creative arts.

Anybody who puts forth a proposal is asked what it is they want from OPENSOURCE and what OPENSOURCE can do for them.

Proposals are then evaluated, on the understanding of the purpose presented to OPENSOURCE, by a group of participating members who decide between proposals on the basis of simple majority vote.

Active members help facilitate the production of the agreed-upon proposal. This includes, but is not limited to publicity/promotion, space preparation, communications, solicitation, event staff and coordination, curatorial advice or direction, administration, etc.

Though OPENSOURCE operates in ways not unlike a conventional art gallery, OPENSOURCE attempts to distance itself from the limiting functions of most commercially run spaces. OPENSOURCE creates and fosters activities that challenge our prescribed notions of art, its meaning and its role in a capitalist and consumer-based economy. Although it has common financial needs, and expects its members and board members to raise funds for its operations, OPENSOURCE acts without any formal financial or commercial affiliations and strives to avoid the presentation of art objects and activities as consumer products.

In the spring of 2006, we began the process of incorporating as a Not-for-Profit corporation, registered with the State of Illinois; we also began the process of applying for Tax-Exempt (501(c)(3)) status with the Federal Government. As a result of this process, we are currently drafting by-laws, electing our first governing Board, and electing volunteer members to annual terms as officers. These positions will be unpaid, democratically elected, and for limited terms.

For more documentation of events please visit our website at: http://opensource.boxwith.com If you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask a current member or contact us at: opensource@boxwith.com